Topwater time!

[Mark Phillips]

I've popped a handful of surface lures into the bucket for my next trip. Always look forward to some surface takes, irrespective of the fish size, it's what lure fishing is all about. What are people using these days? I still seem to be stuck with using American surface lures, the SG 3D Snake and Buster Surface Glider aside, I can't really think of much choice of decent size surface lures from EU companies?

[Sir Rom Lien]

Poe's Giant Jackpot and Awaker.
Homemade flaptail type.

[Steve Dennington]

There aren't many big topwaters available over here and I suspect that there's a solid reason for that - they're just not very popular.

I make large topwaters (the one in the attached pic is an 8", 5oz, WTD style bait made from western red cedar) but only in very limited numbers, simply because they don't sell as well as smaller baits.

[Mark Phillips]

There aren't many big topwaters available over here and I suspect that there's a solid reason for that - they're just not very popular.

I make large topwaters (the one in the attached pic is an 8", 5oz, WTD style bait made from western red cedar) but only in very limited numbers, simply because they don't sell as well as smaller baits.

Yes, you're probably spot on with that. BTW, the finish on that lure is incredible.

[andrew_nagel]

My arsenal of outright topwater lures is limited. I use Poes Giant Jackpots, Bucher Top Raiders and Mouldy's Hawg Wobblers. I don't come across any situations where one of those will not fit the bill.

[Tony McTaggart]

As mentioned poes jackpot, big fork top cat (my favourite)

[davelumb]

Giant Jackpot or Dave Scarff's Top Doctor and Hawg Wobbler are the only topwaters I've had consistent success with. Pike seem to wise up to walk the dog lures pretty quickly though IME.

[Ratty46]

Hawg wobbler, Spro rat (bigger one), whopper Plopper.

Can use Real eels, 4plays, and Miuras as sub surface and surface lures , even tho they aren't surface lures.

Like Dave said I find if they haven't seen them before they go mental for them, but it doesn't take long before they ignore them.

Hawg is king for me, I have one that is about 20years old, imported by a friend for me. Caught many many fish on it, it's absolutely battered

[stubbojo]

the simple floating frog does it for me , they love eating frogs ,and i think it looks natural .......

[Steve Dennington]

There aren't many big topwaters available over here and I suspect that there's a solid reason for that - they're just not very popular.

I make large topwaters (the one in the attached pic is an 8", 5oz, WTD style bait made from western red cedar) but only in very limited numbers, simply because they don't sell as well as smaller baits.

Yes, you're probably spot on with that. BTW, the finish on that lure is incredible.

Thanks. I think it's down to the low numbers of large pike on a lot of waters and whilst jacks will readily hit large subsurface lures, they seem reluctant to do the same with topwaters

I'm currently working on a batch of topwaters (crawlers, WTD and propbaits mainly) but the majority will be nowhere near as large as the one in my previous post.

[Gary Coggon]

Jackpot, Hawg Wobbler, Top Raider, largest Jitterbug, Frogzilla. Meaning to try Savage Gear 30 cm floating Snake for a change.

[Mark Phillips]

Hawg wobbler, Spro rat (bigger one), whopper Plopper.

Can use Real eels, 4plays, and Miuras as sub surface and surface lures , even tho they aren't surface lures.

Like Dave said I find if they haven't seen them before they go mental for them, but it doesn't take long before they ignore them.

Hawg is king for me, I have one that is about 20years old, imported by a friend for me. Caught many many fish on it, it's absolutely battered

Have you tried the smallest Hawg Wobbler? I've had a few really good chub on them.

Thanks guys. Looks like we all seem to have similar lists, which is reassuring. In no particular order of effectiveness, I use: Jackpot, Topcat, Scuttlebug, Top and Super Top Raider, Dancin' Raider, Hawg Wobbler, Frogzilla, Creepin Tom, SG 3D Snake, Buster Top Water and Smity Slap Tail. I never take all those, usually pick what I want based on the conditions. I do like a Jackpot for distance or on windy days, Top Raider on a choppy surface and calm water, the Scuttlebug or Slap Tail. I tend to use Hawg Wobblers on drains, clack, clack, clack That's all aimed at pike of course, for chub I like jitterbugs all day long and have caught perch off the top on Hula Poppers of all things.

[andrew_nagel]

I forgot to mention I have a handful of Heddon Zara Spooks too. I assume this is what was copied and scaled up when creating the Giant Jackpot for musky. The Sppoks are smaller, lighter and plastic. Catch plenty of pike though.

[Dave R]

I’ve collected a lot of topwaters over the years but I’ll admit to having limited success on them! My best catcher is probably the Top Doctor (discontinued). My latest acquisition is a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 190 which really looks the part, like a refined Bucher Top Raider. IME (albeit limited) windows of opportunity for topwater fishing are quite limited and you can only carry so many pike lures. This isn’t helped by having to travel long distances and cover normal eventualities.

I’ve done a lot more topwater fishing for bass, this being my mainstay method for years. That might explain why I’ve collected so many pike topwaters. My general rule for bass is poppers in rough water and WTD walkers in calm water. In their larger sizes both poppers and walkers may be difficult targets for pike to hit due to their erratic movement. As a consequence I’m erring towards prop baits like the Whopper Plopper which can be fished with a steady retrieve.

I have a Hawg Wobbler which casts like s**t and a Smity Slap Tail whose rear blade continually fouls the hooks, plus ducklings and bats by Savage Gear and various frogs by others. This is an area of the market where manufacterers really capitalise on gimmicks! I just wish I had more local opportunities to try all these lures as there is certainly no better experience than catching off the top.

[Mark Phillips]

The smallest Hawg Wobbler in comparison to the standard size, as I said above, a great lure for big chub. Note the modification that removes the unnecessary third treble and re-positioning of the belly treble.

[Mykke]

The Hawgs are a staple to us over here (I live close to where they make them) and I have a few sizes. They are my go-to when I can see the pike but they refuse to chase.

I did just pick up a Combat Rat yesterday that I'm excited to use. A buddy of mine caught his PR pike last season on it.

[Dave R]

The smallest Hawg Wobbler in comparison to the standard size, as I said above, a great lure for big chub. Note the modification that removes the unnecessary third treble and re-positioning of the belly treble.

Thanks for sharing Mark - re-positioning the belly hook hanger looks like a good idea. My one Hawg Wobbler is the magnum version (8 1/2”, 3oz) which is a real lump, much bigger than other 3oz lures.

Re: the Smity Slap Tail, have you any tips to avoid the tail blade fouling the rear belly treble? I find this happens so regularly that this lure is unusuable. There is limited scope for repositioning hook hangers on the Smity. Removing the rear belly hook might work or alternatively remove the blade?!

[Ratty46]

The smallest Hawg Wobbler in comparison to the standard size, as I said above, a great lure for big chub. Note the modification that removes the unnecessary third treble and re-positioning of the belly treble.

I think I have the size below the FT one in same colour, I have two more but they are bigger.

I am Looking forward to some chub hunting when it warms up and the rivers re open

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

Have they finished spawning yet?

Cheers Alan

[Mark Phillips]

The smallest Hawg Wobbler in comparison to the standard size, as I said above, a great lure for big chub. Note the modification that removes the unnecessary third treble and re-positioning of the belly treble.

Thanks for sharing Mark - re-positioning the belly hook hanger looks like a good idea. My one Hawg Wobbler is the magnum version (8 1/2”, 3oz) which is a real lump, much bigger than other 3oz lures.

Re: the Smity Slap Tail, have you any tips to avoid the tail blade fouling the rear belly treble? I find this happens so regularly that this lure is unusuable. There is limited scope for repositioning hook hangers on the Smity. Removing the rear belly hook might work or alternatively remove the blade?!

I changed the blade on mine to a slightly bigger colorado some years ago, which has helped almost eliminate the issue. I find checking the cast just before it hits the water helps. I wouldn't remove the blade, as I think that's a big part of the lures action. I probably only use one a few times a year, but it's a good one for calm conditions.

[Dave R]

The smallest Hawg Wobbler in comparison to the standard size, as I said above, a great lure for big chub. Note the modification that removes the unnecessary third treble and re-positioning of the belly treble.

Thanks for sharing Mark - re-positioning the belly hook hanger looks like a good idea. My one Hawg Wobbler is the magnum version (8 1/2”, 3oz) which is a real lump, much bigger than other 3oz lures.

Re: the Smity Slap Tail, have you any tips to avoid the tail blade fouling the rear belly treble? I find this happens so regularly that this lure is unusuable. There is limited scope for repositioning hook hangers on the Smity. Removing the rear belly hook might work or alternatively remove the blade?!

I changed the blade on mine to a slightly bigger colorado some years ago, which has helped almost eliminate the issue. I find checking the cast just before it hits the water helps. I wouldn't remove the blade, as I think that's a big part of the lures action. I probably only use one a few times a year, but it's a good one for calm conditions.

This got me thinking and not having any spare colorado blades to hand, I fitted a very short length of shrink tube over the junction of the blade swivel and hook hanger loop. This doesn’t impede rotation of the swivel and I’m optimistic it will solve the fouling issue. For those who don’t know what a Smity Slap Tail looks like here it is with shrink tube modification.

[Dave R]

For anyone looking for a new propbait option here is a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 190 alongside a Bucher Top Raider. My first impression of the Whopper Plopper is good….time for some clearwater testing!

[Mark Phillips]

Here you, this is mine. Now I think about it, I can't recall a single instance of the tail fowling the rear treble since I changed the blade. Like all my older lures, I've also upgraded the split rings and fitted modern trebles.

[bio-haul]

Aswell as the usual frogs & ploppers, gonna have some fun with the Uma Deathroll.

Uma.jpg

[Andy D]

I've popped a handful of surface lures into the bucket for my next trip. Always look forward to some surface takes, irrespective of the fish size, it's what lure fishing is all about. What are people using these days? I still seem to be stuck with using American surface lures, the SG 3D Snake and Buster Surface Glider aside, I can't really think of much choice of decent size surface lures from EU companies?

I'm a big fan of topwater! Rather than seeing it as a season specific presentation I'm more of the opinion that it is generally the best shallow water presentation there is. The fish caught dont have to be small either if you're prepared to get out a couple of hours before daybreak. Other than the depths of winter,which tends to be just january and February nowadays,there is always a topwater in my bag. As for the lure itself...I love rat lures and the like and enjoy catching on new lures but as with most topwaters the hooks are in the wrong place. People often bemoan topwaters due to the fish lost. I do not have this issue. I use a big bulbous 12cm plug pulled across the surface and 9 out of 10 end up on the bank. The weather has been all wrong in recent weeks as in high pressure, bright warm days and cold clear nights. The easterly winds were the nail in the coffin. However a couple of days ago everything changed, gentle southerly, close on double digits through the night and thick cloud. I went out for the first time this month and had a 104cm 2nd cast at 02:35 and a 114.5 at 03:20 and spooked another good fish up against the bank. If the fish are shallow topwater is king. If you want to catch the bigger fish on topwater the early hours are prime time. ÀLWAYS use a surface lures with a rear hook

[Andy D]

the simple floating frog does it for me , they love eating frogs ,and i think it looks natural .......

Simplicity is key with topwaters imho. I find unlike other presentations that bigger topwater lures do not attract bigger fish. I also find that a more subtle approach is beneficial. Sometimes a fish may stalk the lure right to your feet. I do not want to be chucking a bomb and spooking the fish and any others in the vicinity but rather just keep casting and letting the fish think that there is a run of 'something ' and to eventually make up its mind to strike.

[Mark Phillips]

the simple floating frog does it for me , they love eating frogs ,and i think it looks natural .......

Simplicity is key with topwaters imho. I find unlike other presentations that bigger topwater lures do not attract bigger fish. I also find that a more subtle approach is beneficial. Sometimes a fish may stalk the lure right to your feet. I do not want to be chucking a bomb and spooking the fish and any others in the vicinity but rather just keep casting and letting the fish think that there is a run of 'something ' and to eventually make up its mind to strike.

My experience is a bit different, as larger top waters, specifically walk the dog type lures, have caught me the bigger fish. The Topcat is one of the bigger surface lures and that 100% sorts out the bigger ones and conversely, I can't recall catching many small pike on one. The big jackpot is a bit like that as well. The subtle approach, I get that, but only on a flat calm day, else for me it's full on, kick up some water and make some noise; that soon gets their attention and I find follows to top waters to be quite rare. Setting the hooks is the only gripe with some lures, although I am mentally trained not to do that until I feel the weight of the fish. I actually had my first fish of the new season yesterday on a top water, which was nice. Only a low double, but it was a brutal take at distance over very shallow water.

[fishder]

I love the takes on top water lures i have found if they are having it any floating walk the dog type lure works frogs as well but hook ups on frogs can be a problem.

[Davecott83]

Although I’ve not done much on top waters. Bucher top raiders have caught me most of the fish I’ve had

[Andy D]

the simple floating frog does it for me , they love eating frogs ,and i think it looks natural .......

Simplicity is key with topwaters imho. I find unlike other presentations that bigger topwater lures do not attract bigger fish. I also find that a more subtle approach is beneficial. Sometimes a fish may stalk the lure right to your feet. I do not want to be chucking a bomb and spooking the fish and any others in the vicinity but rather just keep casting and letting the fish think that there is a run of 'something ' and to eventually make up its mind to strike.

My experience is a bit different, as larger top waters, specifically walk the dog type lures, have caught me the bigger fish. The Topcat is one of the bigger surface lures and that 100% sorts out the bigger ones and conversely, I can't recall catching many small pike on one. The big jackpot is a bit like that as well. The subtle approach, I get that, but only on a flat calm day, else for me it's full on, kick up some water and make some noise; that soon gets their attention and I find follows to top waters to be quite rare. Setting the hooks is the only gripe with some lures, although I am mentally trained not to do that until I feel the weight of the fish. I actually had my first fish of the new season yesterday on a top water, which was nice. Only a low double, but it was a brutal take at distance over very shallow water.

Agree with the splashy topwaters in rough conditions,it can trip up some very nice fish.