I would assume you are only talking day tourneys Warren as night tourneys
are a great place to throw top waters.

I have had so many topwater catchs this year, it probably adds up to all
topwater catchs I have had. I started using the speedworm this year, mostly
as a topwater bait and it has really produced. Remember Dave won the
Southern Classic fishing that worm the same way. Fish have hit it in deep
water, cold water warm water, near cover in open water etc etc. I also
started using the zoom horny toads after you posted on them and Ronnie
followed up stating they had speedworm legs.. Ask a few others on the group
if they wouldn't just keep one tied on now and throw it at just about any
given time.. I have lost quite a few fish on topwaters this year. I have
also caught some really nice fish that I think I would never have caught if
I had not presented the topwater bait. I will always have a topwater or two
tied on, no matter what time of day. I think it's a matter of confidence.
I'll take off ten toothy critters for one nice tourney bass.

"Steve & Chris Clark" wrote in message
...
In a tournament where there are musky in the lake, NEVER, bass, from my
experience, are quite shy about there willingness to take topwaters where
the El Jumbino live. Where there are pike, forget it! You will be wasting
time taking pike off your hooks. Depends on the time of season and
water temps. This time of year? If it was to cloud over quickly and you
think the weather pattern is about to change and you think they might move
up to feed, every third cast might be a good idea? If bass are at the top
of the foodchain then I might throw one, but on second thought when I am
driving home after the tournament I would have to ask myself, wot were ya
thinkin' man? Then I would say, well, you did have those four six pounders
after all, didn't ya? Then I would say, well I tried everything.
When you're on the winners stand tell 'em you got them in the thirty foot
with a chug-bug ;-) What is it about top waters that get us to use them,
they sometimes work. No guts no glory! (agreement big time with you here
Warren) One tournament, last year on a day two, while only in lunker
hopes,
I spent an hour using a top water because I saw a bass jump a couple of
times in a good spot where I know big ones live.
If you hate to lose fish, like me, then I would use a smaller, slow
sinking
soft plastic like a salty, garlic, pheromoned up, Dupont packed, light
flashing, scent enhanced, rattling, red bellied, metal flaked, with a
forkated tail, on ten pound floro carb, double wacky rigged fluke/senco
near
some cover or structure. Oh and don't forget to sharpen your hooks and
fish
it slow!
--
Steve ;-)




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