I haven't been able to lure ole yellow mouth from the depths using top water baits last few times out. Are top waters effective this time of year, or are the Trout too sluggish this time of year?
-
dPop (205.188.209.166) from TEXAS says Yes
They can be under the right conditions. The warming trends after these fronts are good times. We actually got them to come up and take topwaters Monday. That was the first trip in about 2 weeks. Got them on super spooks about 2 weeks ago then the bite went to corkies, then back to the spooks Monday. Topwaters will still work, year round.
POP
-
BlowUP (198.216.118.40) from ALABAMA says Topwaters
You just got to chunk them and believe, sometimes you may not catch as many but most of the time they will be good ones.....if the all surface ones don't do it, go to a jointed thunderstick or some other floater that goes a little subsurface when you work it...sometimes that little(2 to 3 inches) under, then float back up does the trick...also may slow down(I don't like to fish slow myself) but alot of others do.........my suggestion hope it hooks you up......Merry Christmas God Bless keep on chunkin'''' BlowUP
-
mike d. (168.215.165.130) from TEXAS says what depths are best?
You speak of successful catch's but do you necessarily have a desired depth you prefer? I would guess 4-6 feet.
-
BlowUP (198.216.118.40) from ALABAMA says depths
I generally wade, so water in the 1 to 3 feet,,sometimes casting out across a trough that is a little deeper, most blowups are as the plug comes into the shallow water.....work for me
-
boat_money (208.18.250.2) from TEXAS says top water with a trailer...
anyone ever try a dog or a popper with a weightless plastic trailer(rigged with just a hook) tied on. i know that it compromises the top water bait's action, but it seems to me that the very slow falling plastic from any activity on top would be irresistable. the reason i ask, is to find tried and successful method of where to tie the trailer(ie the eye of the tw bait, the rear hook eye, etc.)
-
BlowUP (198.216.118.40) from ALABAMA says trailer
done it many times and has been successful, but I think it hurts the action of the surface plug somewhat,,,also sometimes tangles, but it is a productive technique....I like to use a white bucktail with a hook and a small split shot, this can be deadly.....
-
Ernest (67.98.169.94) from TEXAS says Attachment Points
I tie to the rear hook eye. When I tie up front, the tangles increase dramaticly. One of my buddies removes the rear hook and attaches to the rear hook eye in place of the hook. He claims that with this rig, most hook ups are on the trailer anyway and that the top water is just to get their attention. I just remove the middle hook on all three treble baits and tie the trailer to the hook eye for the rear hook.
-
spindoc (67.8.157.243) from FLORIDA says trailers
I will use a trailer on a topwater from time to time and have found it to be fairly effective. To make rigging easier I use about a two foot long fluorocarbon leader with a speed clip on one end and a jig head attached to the other. If I want to add the trailer, I simply snap the speed clip onto the front hook eye. This preserves the walk the dog action of the topwater. If you pin it on the back you can't walk the dog. A gambler soft plastic works best for me but I have caught fish on trailing spoons, DOA shrimp, corky devils, shad tails, and bass assassins. To avoid tangles you have to stop your casts as the trailer is swinging around the topwater just before it hits the water. I agree with Ernest in that most fish are caught on the trailer but I will occasionally catch one on the topwater so I leave the hooks on.
-
spindoc (67.8.157.243) from FLORIDA says to answer your original question
Topwaters can be very effective in the winter. It really doesn't matter how cold the water is, but how long the water has been cold. A sudden 7-10 degree drop in water temperature will slow trout down a bit, but once the temperatures remain relatively stable, they will attack a topwater with gusto. If the water temperatures have been in the low 50's for a day or two its business as usual. However, if the water temperatures recently dropped from the mid 60's to the low 50's, you probably are not going to catch them on top. Read McTrout's article in the latest Gulf Coast Connections if you haven't already. He is right on. Three weeks ago I caught a 9.9 lb 32" trout in one foot of water that was 56 degrees first thing in the morning and have seen this pattern repeated over and over.
-
Phish (24.174.115.61) from TEXAS says Speed Clips
Interesting stuff, gentlemen. Thanks for the info.
Spicdoc - have you ever had any problems with the Speed Clips? I tried them twice, using 20 lb. fluorocarbon. Both times the lure (jighead) came off when playing a fish. I like the convenience they provide, but I just don't trust them.
Phish out
-
Gary Zoch (208.187.72.35) from TEXAS says Speed Clip - Reliability
My regular fishing partner uses Speed Clips most of the time and I use them about 20% of the time (searching for a hard bait that will work best that day/situation). Under these circumstances we have experienced about 99.5% reliability (my bet is it's reliability is a least as good as that many direct knot changes would have resulted in, over the past 5 years).
There is one exception, the Corky lure family. Paul Brown uses a thin diameter wire to make his wiring harness. The lure will stay attached most times until, after a fish is caught for the first time on that lure. Subsequent hook-ups result in a "unacceptably" high percentage of disconnects during the fight. What we believe is happening is that we are inadvertently partially opening the clip in the process of un-hooking the fish. The reason we believe this to be the case is that on numerous occasions we have simply thrown the lure off during the cast within 5 casts of catching a fish.
Obviously, the simple remedy is to make sure the clip is properly closed after unhooking each fish. However, we have found that we are not disciplined enough to do this 100% of the time during the "heat of the battle" in a active school of fish.
Based on the quality of fish you are likely to catch with a Corky, we have personally decided to always direct tie Corkies. Best of Luck!
-
NeDep (207.44.129.5) from TEXAS says check out the "spin link" at breakawayusa.com
It looks like a small paperclip but is very stout.Provides plenty of action on lures and has never failed me.Really nice on the night wades when little or no light is needed to make a quick switch.
-
Phish (24.174.115.61) from TEXAS says Sorry
I meant Spindoc. Sorry about that!!!
Thanks Gary and NeDep for your replies.
Phish Out
-
Skipper (64.95.210.58) from TEXAS says Going fishing
Thats all I need to hear. I am going fishing tonight, and plan to use top water. ( I would have went anyway, just needed an excuse )
-
mike (198.81.26.134) from TEXAS says going fishing
I notice you said going fishing TONIGHT, I have had very little success top water fishing at night without a trailer, using cured shrimp as a trailer in the dark puts out enough odor to get the sleeping fish biting, but, your top water lure isn't really much of a top water lure anymore.
when every I go night fishing, I always try to take cured shrimp, I have tryed fresh dead and live bait with very little luck (usually feeding the crabs), but put a cured shrimp on the bottom or behind singing spoon and "presto" instant fish.
-
spindoc (67.8.157.243) from FLORIDA says speed clips
The remedy to the speed clip problem is to take a small file (I bought a good set at radio shack of all places), and file each exposed end on the circular part to a taper (tapering up from the circular loop). This allows even small diameter wire loops such as those found on corkies to ride up over the end instead of getting caught inbetween were they will easily come off.
Since I have been doing this, I have only thrown off one fat boy and no other lures. This was on an old speed clip that was used multiple times. Multiple lure changes reduce the recoil of the springing action making it more likely that a lure can be thrown off. I have never actually lost a fish due to speed clip failure however.
-
Phish (24.174.115.61) from TEXAS says Hmmmm
I like your thinking. That is a genuine tip if there ever was one.
Thanks for the info.
Phish Out
-
Super (66.69.167.249) from TEXAS says spindoc
Jay, go here: http://ronsutton.org/gemini1.htm....
I have used these clips for years and have never lost one or a fish. Zero failure rate.They are stainless, can use them for extremely long time with multiple changes and not fatique the clip. I use the one with the swivel and its great for bass assassins to eliminate the familiar line twist. Only problem I've had is with el cheapo jig heads that have small eyes. I use the BA jig heads with no problems. If more action is desired add a split ring to the eye of the jig head.Try 'em you'll love 'em.
-
spindoc (67.8.157.243) from FLORIDA says Genie Clips
I actually bought some of these clips but they are a little too big for my liking. I wish they would make some about half the size. They do look reliable.
-
sandman from TEXAS says spindoc...
Try the 'snood' clips. They are the small ones and they work well.
