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Last week I saw a big grasshopper land in my pond, followed by a big explosion as a big bass hit the top of the water and gulped the insect.
It told me it was time to put a topwater lure on and hit the lake.
Most anglers would say that topwater bass fishing is about as exciting as it gets. Watching as you work a topwater lure across the surface of the water and having a lunker bass pop the lure is something you can’t get enough of.
While fishing Bull Shoals with Charlie Campbell, I saw a master with a Zara Spook at work. Charlie cast his “Spook,” and we watched as a big largemouth busted through the surface and inhaled the lure. Minutes later, Charlie held up a 5-pound largemouth which he released saying, “There will be plenty more.”
For more than an hour, Charlie had some fast and furious action while Jerry Fisher and I watched. Fisher tried his luck and switched from a spinner lure to a tiny torpedo since he couldn’t work the Spook like Charlie. He caught his first bass of the day moments later as the lure started splashing through the surface, and a big bass literally sprayed the water for 10 feet from us as it attacked.
While we watched, Charlie cast the Spook near the shore, and a big bass busted the lure and did a tailwalk toward our boat before sending the lure back to Charlie. It looked like it could have been a 6- or 7-pounder.
Before we decided to pick up the ultralight rods and change from topwater to jigs to catch crappie for dinner, Charlie ended up with 10 bass from 3 to 6 pounds all caught on a Zara Spook.
Charlie said, “Not everyone has enough patience to use a topwater lure, but once you have a big bass pop the surface to attack your lure, you will understand why so many bass anglers love this time of year when topwater fishing hits a peak.”
Although Charlie is a master at working the spook, he said, “There are many surface lures that catch fish, including two old favorites, the Hula Popper and a Jitterbug. Cast a lure and let it sit for a few seconds and then bring the lure back and get ready for the big explosion.”
Like most Zara Spook anglers, Charlie used the “walking the dog,” technique, which is very effective. The “Spook” zigzags across the surface as the angler twitches the rod in the retrieve.
Last week I saw a big grasshopper land in my pond, followed by a big explosion as a big bass hit the top of the water and gulped the insect.
It told me it was time to put a topwater lure on and hit the lake.
Most anglers would say that topwater bass fishing is about as exciting as it gets. Watching as you work a topwater lure across the surface of the water and having a lunker bass pop the lure is something you can’t get enough of.
While fishing Bull Shoals with Charlie Campbell, I saw a master with a Zara Spook at work. Charlie cast his “Spook,” and we watched as a big largemouth busted through the surface and inhaled the lure. Minutes later, Charlie held up a 5-pound largemouth which he released saying, “There will be plenty more.”
For more than an hour, Charlie had some fast and furious action while Jerry Fisher and I watched. Fisher tried his luck and switched from a spinner lure to a tiny torpedo since he couldn’t work the Spook like Charlie. He caught his first bass of the day moments later as the lure started splashing through the surface, and a big bass literally sprayed the water for 10 feet from us as it attacked.
While we watched, Charlie cast the Spook near the shore, and a big bass busted the lure and did a tailwalk toward our boat before sending the lure back to Charlie. It looked like it could have been a 6- or 7-pounder.
Before we decided to pick up the ultralight rods and change from topwater to jigs to catch crappie for dinner, Charlie ended up with 10 bass from 3 to 6 pounds all caught on a Zara Spook.
Charlie said, “Not everyone has enough patience to use a topwater lure, but once you have a big bass pop the surface to attack your lure, you will understand why so many bass anglers love this time of year when topwater fishing hits a peak.”
Although Charlie is a master at working the spook, he said, “There are many surface lures that catch fish, including two old favorites, the Hula Popper and a Jitterbug. Cast a lure and let it sit for a few seconds and then bring the lure back and get ready for the big explosion.”
Like most Zara Spook anglers, Charlie used the “walking the dog,” technique, which is very effective. The “Spook” zigzags across the surface as the angler twitches the rod in the retrieve.
Dale Henderson, Independence, learned to fish topwater lures when he was 10 years old. Henderson, 67, has used a topwater lure on ponds and lakes across the state with a 9-pound largemouth bass his largest catch.
“It’s my favorite way to fish,” he said. “I started my kids fishing by using a topwater lure because the lures are easy to cast and don’t get hung up on the bottom and usually the fish hook themselves. Recently my son caught his largest bass while using a Jitterbug just as the sun was setting. It was an 8-pounder from the Lake of the Ozarks.”
Topwater fishing isn’t restricted to bass. Other fish also hit the surface lures, including some excellent fishing for bluegill. Gent Thomas, Harrisonville, spends more time fishing with a fly rod and popping bug than anything else.
“Using a popper on a pond is as much fun as any kind of fishing I have done,” Thomas said. “You can be assured of action, and those bluegill are excellent eating.”
Topwater fishing is nearly as hot as the weather.
