Big rat

[Rammer223]

Been out on top water this week contact with maybe twenty fish two landed sometimes just following other slurping at it I assume this is the way of things with topwater, also seen what I believe to be a twenty couple times now in the same area reel long thick fish just sits in open area within weed can’t get it interested in anything which is killing me lol as would be pb ,any tips for topwater to improve my ratio as seems poor to me, and for getting the big one interested

[andrew_nagel]

A slow top water can sometimes get a fish that's lying up interested. A standard size Hawg Wobbler is what I use for this. Other than that, try at night. I fished a water years ago where I took a lot of fish on top waters to mid doubles in daylight, but all the better fish came a couple of hours into dark - several 20s and a 30.

[paintman]

The Savage frog surface lures are supplied with what is effectively a 'stinger' which clips onto the double hook to extend the hook further out behind the lure to try & deal with 'tail nippers'.
https://www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk/ ... oup%20%231
If that's what's happening with the rat might a stinger attached to the rear treble ring & bait elasticed to the tip of the tail work?

[Steve Dennington]

The key to getting good surface hook ups is to resist the urge to strike at a blow-up on your lure. The best thing would be to wear a blindfold Obviously that's not practical, but you need to condition yourself to only strike when you feel the hit, as you would with sub-surface lures.

Oh, and I would recommend never, ever, using weedless frogs if a low conversion rate is to be avoided. I have just one and haven't used it for years - it's a absolute last resort lure for me.

[Ratty46]

never strike, rod tip high create an angle, slow retrive let them hook themselves, you will always miss a few, but with something like a hawg as Andrew suggested, with super sharp trebles you will hook up enough. If you dont, make sure the hooks are always sharp, carry a stone sharpener or file

also agree on after dark, even in winter, night time can be the right time, even more so for the bigger fish.

[Rammer223]

Great stuff absolutely need be be patient on the strike ripped it away loads times, not considered holding rod high give it a go,ordered a dwag cos why not lol,rat gets loads of attention just not converting into fish on the bank had lots good doubles following, all very exciting and frustrating

[andrew_nagel]

Back in the 80s Mark Houghton used to make imitation rat lures shaped like a topwater cigar type body and wrapped in fur. They were wired to have legs and a treble on each rear leg and one on the tail. They cast well because the fur took on weight with the water, and they caught a lot of pike - the fur looked great in the water when paused - it "breathed" a bit like marabou does spinnerbaits.

[Mark Phillips]

The key to getting good surface hook ups is to resist the urge to strike at a blow-up on your lure. The best thing would be to wear a blindfold Obviously that's not practical, but you need to condition yourself to only strike when you feel the hit, as you would with sub-surface lures.

Oh, and I would recommend never, ever, using weedless frogs if a low conversion rate is to be avoided. I have just one and haven't used it for years - it's a absolute last resort lure for me.

Last resort

Use the right lure. The Frogzilla hook up rate is about 1:3 if you know what you're doing. Also, when they miss or come off, most times they'll go again. I use them all time on drains and rivers early season, before it gets too warm to be targeting pike. I'd rather be getting takes and missing a few, as opposed to getting no takes at all.

[Steve Dennington]

Use the right lure. The Frogzilla hook up rate is about 1:3 if you know what you're doing. Also, when they miss or come off, most times they'll go again. I use them all time on drains and rivers early season, before it gets too warm to be targeting pike. I'd rather be getting takes and missing a few, as opposed to getting no takes at all.

I think I know what I'm doing with them, but have had takes under the rod and lifted into them so hard that I lifted the pike's head out the water, only for the frog to fly over my shoulder. One in three is about right as an average, but I consider that a poor conversion rate.

Your attitude to weedless frogs is much like some of the guys I fish with - that you'd rather have the takes and miss them. It's fun, they say! I wish I could share that outlook, but I find fishing frogs infuriating and the polar opposite of fun!

[Rammer223]

The Hawg Wobbler landed but I have to say it seems to pull hard to the left when I tried it think going to take some playing with to get it running true

[Steve Le maitre]

The Hawg Wobbler landed but I have to say it seems to pull hard to the left when I tried it think going to take some playing with to get it running true

I know it's not the ideal thing to have to do on a new bait, so, unless the lip is deformed its probably just a matter of undoing the three screws and realigning the lip and pop the screws back in their new home.

[davelumb]

The Hawg Wobbler landed but I have to say it seems to pull hard to the left when I tried it think going to take some playing with to get it running true

I know it's the ideal thing to have to do on a new bait, so, unless the lip is deformed its probably just a matter of undoing the three screws and realigning the lip and pop the screws back in their new home.

Or tweaking the line tie?

[Ratty46]

The Hawg Wobbler landed but I have to say it seems to pull hard to the left when I tried it think going to take some playing with to get it running true

slow the retrieve, and check the lip is lined up, if you go to fast they kind of don't get the action

[Rammer223]

The lip does look a little off centre kind of expect them to be all good to go when spending hard earned did not have gear on the bank to tweak and took off as was disappointed by its action or lack of will give it another go

[Mark Phillips]

Use the right lure. The Frogzilla hook up rate is about 1:3 if you know what you're doing. Also, when they miss or come off, most times they'll go again. I use them all time on drains and rivers early season, before it gets too warm to be targeting pike. I'd rather be getting takes and missing a few, as opposed to getting no takes at all.

I think I know what I'm doing with them, but have had takes under the rod and lifted into them so hard that I lifted the pike's head out the water, only for the frog to fly over my shoulder. One in three is about right as an average, but I consider that a poor conversion rate.

Your attitude to weedless frogs is much like some of the guys I fish with - that you'd rather have the takes and miss them. It's fun, they say! I wish I could share that outlook, but I find fishing frogs infuriating and the polar opposite of fun!

If you're getting one in three, then you do know what you're doing. That's pretty good! Even one in five is fine with me, as I've said before, they'll often have several goes with those type of lures. I can't see how that could be infuriating, it's action and better than flip all I also quite like it when they keep going at them and eventually you nail one, very satisfying. I suppose it's not unlike using the livescope and seeing fish reacting to your lure but not taking them, again, it happens and is quite an eye opener when first start using the technology. Certainly adds another dimension to the fishing and I guess some people will also claim that's infuriating. By the way, it's not an attitude, it's a mindset

[Andy D]

Been out on top water this week contact with maybe twenty fish two landed sometimes just following other slurping at it I assume this is the way of things with topwater, also seen what I believe to be a twenty couple times now in the same area reel long thick fish just sits in open area within weed can’t get it interested in anything which is killing me lol as would be pb ,any tips for topwater to improve my ratio as seems poor to me, and for getting the big one interested

We've all been there...and here is my solution...use a lure with the hooks in the right places! Topwaters tend to have both hooks on the underside which is the cause of the problem. I love jointed rat style lures due to their action and noise but they are terrible for keeping fish on. My solution is to use a floating plug as a topwater. One hook on the belly, one hook on the a**e end, sorted. They litterally hook themselves. If you do want to persevere with the rats or any other lure with the hooks on the underside try adding an extra split ring and changing the hooks for a pattern with a longer shank. This will give more clearance and movement in the hook and a better hook hold.