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The most important part when fishing topwaters for smallmouth is to do the opposite as largemouths on the strike. For largemouths on a missed strike I prefer to leave the topwater in the area like it is stunned.
For smallmouths I learned to do the opposite...I keep working the lure, often even faster, when they are hitting it but not hooking up. Keep working it until they pull it under and your rod tip loads up, then set the hook. As Tag said, smallies lose interest fast; and if you stop the lure after they miss it they usually lose interest and move away.
ciao,
Marc
I like that for SM too Marc. If they don't get a hold of it (and I didn't freak out and set hook) then I speed it up to imitate an injured fish that is desperately trying to get away. If the fish hasn't grabbed it within 4'-6' then I kill the bait for a few seconds. I have had SM take 3-4 shots at it before they finally get a hold of it. I want to emphasize that when I say speed it up I mean as fast as I can walk it, you can't walk a bait too fast for a SM.
Marc Marcantonio said:The most important part when fishing topwaters for smallmouth is to do the opposite as largemouths on the strike. For largemouths on a missed strike I prefer to leave the topwater in the area like it is stunned.
For smallmouths I learned to do the opposite...I keep working the lure, often even faster, when they are hitting it but not hooking up. Keep working it until they pull it under and your rod tip loads up, then set the hook. As Tag said, smallies lose interest fast; and if you stop the lure after they miss it they usually lose interest and move away.
ciao,
Marc
ok answer me this...
has anyone caught a quality fish on a follow up? with more than 1 in the boat, its often easy to do, but has yet to be successful.
ive noted the smaller fish ALWAYS come back for more, and that you only get but one chance at a good one.
so with that, stick'em the first time.
Dez -
Were the misses scattered throughout different days of fishing? Were the misses only associated with a certain retrieve speed?
I can't speak for smallies but I've had cases where I could catch spotted bass on topwaters left and right for a couple of days straight and then the next day they would only slap at the bait. I've rigged up a 1/8 ounce hair jig below a saltwater style popping cork to go after the fish who won't commit on the surface. I think you could rig up something similar with an existing topwater bait and use a small trailing plastic bait or a streamer fly. You need to check the WA regulations to see if you would need to remove the hooks from the topwater bait.
Another thing to think about is switching baits. The fish may be telling you that your choice is close but they might prefer something different. Go with a bigger/smaller/louder/quieter/different color walking bait or maybe a different topwater like prop-bait or a popper.
Tim
ok answer me this...
has anyone caught a quality fish on a follow up? with more than 1 in the boat, its often easy to do, but has yet to be successful.
ive noted the smaller fish ALWAYS come back for more, and that you only get but one chance at a good one.
so with that, stick'em the first time.
Is a 5 plus pound SM a good one?
Posted by Tom Melowitz on September 7, 2019 at 2:45pm
Posted by Eric Urstad on April 3, 2019 at 7:38pm
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