Topwaters in Tournaments

Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to avoid
them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work. Nothing
frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to eat my lure
& missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is that the
encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater baits.

Your feelings?

--
Warren

http://www.warrenwolk.com
Http://www.tri-statebassmasters.com
2004 NJ B.A.S.S. Federation State Champions

Topwaters in Tournaments

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Sat, Nov 6, 2004, 11:46pm (CST+1)
From: (go-bassn)
Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to
avoid them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work.
Nothing frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to
eat my lure & missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is
that the encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater
baits.
Your feelings?
--
Warren
========
Warren, sometimes a pre-fish will indicate a top water strategy, and
that could give you the fish you need. I believe it's all about finding
what you are confident will put fish on the scale at weigh-in that day.
I think top water is a necessary part of your arsenal, but I also know
that the top water bite is often a more short term thing...so a
secondary strategy is a necessity also. I could accept losing a few with
the top water to get a limit in the well...then go try for the bigger
bite after that. jmo
John

Topwaters in Tournaments

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Sat, Nov 6, 2004, 11:46pm (CST+1)
From: (go-bassn)
Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to
avoid them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work.
Nothing frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to
eat my lure & missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is
that the encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater
baits.
Your feelings?
--
Warren
========
Warren, sometimes a pre-fish will indicate a top water strategy, and
that could give you the fish you need. I believe it's all about finding
what you are confident will put fish on the scale at weigh-in that day.
I think top water is a necessary part of your arsenal, but I also know
that the top water bite is often a more short term thing...so a
secondary strategy is a necessity also. I could accept losing a few with
the top water to get a limit in the well...then go try for the bigger
bite after that. jmo
John

Topwaters in Tournaments

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Sat, Nov 6, 2004, 11:46pm (CST+1)
From: (go-bassn)
Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to
avoid them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work.
Nothing frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to
eat my lure & missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is
that the encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater
baits.
Your feelings?
--
Warren
========
Warren, sometimes a pre-fish will indicate a top water strategy, and
that could give you the fish you need. I believe it's all about finding
what you are confident will put fish on the scale at weigh-in that day.
I think top water is a necessary part of your arsenal, but I also know
that the top water bite is often a more short term thing...so a
secondary strategy is a necessity also. I could accept losing a few with
the top water to get a limit in the well...then go try for the bigger
bite after that. jmo
John

On Sat, 6 Nov 2004 23:46:20 -0500, "go-bassn"
sent into the ether:

Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to avoid
them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work. Nothing
frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to eat my lure
& missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is that the
encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater baits.

Your feelings?
MMM...I have been known to throw a large buzz bait in the late after
noon and just before dusk in tournies. The lakes I threw them on were
well known to me and I found it to be very effective once I started to
hold my rod almost vertical and ignore the bait as I retrieved it. Of
course the surface conditions had to be right for the water I was on
at the time too. I taught one of my secretarys sons to use a buzz
bait this summer. It was fun watching him miss fish after fish. I
let him lose fish until he asked me what he was doing wrong. After
all he is a know it all 18 year old :} Once he understood he should
not look at the bait or do anything until the fish had hooked itself
he began to boat fish. He held the rod almost straight up and was
having a blast catching Bass. I did have to sharpen his hook for him
and I showed him how to put on a grub or twin tail and trailer hook if
he was missing fish.

After I had overcome my tendency to set the hook too soon I really
love to watch Bass grab a large buzz bait!!! I do lose the odd fish
now and then and attribute it to small Bass going after the bait.

As far as other top waters go I very seldom use any of them. The
reason for that is as you stated, I also lost too many fish with short
strikes. The exception to that is on top of weeds/brush/grass/pads
and such.

This summer I found Flukes for the first time and have had success
with them on the top in various situations.

Remove the x for e-mail reply
www.outdoorfrontiers.com

On Sat, 6 Nov 2004 23:46:20 -0500, "go-bassn"
sent into the ether:

Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to avoid
them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work. Nothing
frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to eat my lure
& missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is that the
encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater baits.

Your feelings?
MMM...I have been known to throw a large buzz bait in the late after
noon and just before dusk in tournies. The lakes I threw them on were
well known to me and I found it to be very effective once I started to
hold my rod almost vertical and ignore the bait as I retrieved it. Of
course the surface conditions had to be right for the water I was on
at the time too. I taught one of my secretarys sons to use a buzz
bait this summer. It was fun watching him miss fish after fish. I
let him lose fish until he asked me what he was doing wrong. After
all he is a know it all 18 year old :} Once he understood he should
not look at the bait or do anything until the fish had hooked itself
he began to boat fish. He held the rod almost straight up and was
having a blast catching Bass. I did have to sharpen his hook for him
and I showed him how to put on a grub or twin tail and trailer hook if
he was missing fish.

After I had overcome my tendency to set the hook too soon I really
love to watch Bass grab a large buzz bait!!! I do lose the odd fish
now and then and attribute it to small Bass going after the bait.

As far as other top waters go I very seldom use any of them. The
reason for that is as you stated, I also lost too many fish with short
strikes. The exception to that is on top of weeds/brush/grass/pads
and such.

This summer I found Flukes for the first time and have had success
with them on the top in various situations.

Remove the x for e-mail reply
www.outdoorfrontiers.com

On Sat, 6 Nov 2004 23:46:20 -0500, "go-bassn"
sent into the ether:

Do you guys throw topwater lures in tournaments? I try my darndest to avoid
them, and only do it when I'm convinced nothing else will work. Nothing
frustrates me more during competition than seeing a fish try to eat my lure
& missing, or worse yet "dropping" a fish. My feeling is that the
encounter/boated fish ratio is just far too weak with topwater baits.

Your feelings?
MMM...I have been known to throw a large buzz bait in the late after
noon and just before dusk in tournies. The lakes I threw them on were
well known to me and I found it to be very effective once I started to
hold my rod almost vertical and ignore the bait as I retrieved it. Of
course the surface conditions had to be right for the water I was on
at the time too. I taught one of my secretarys sons to use a buzz
bait this summer. It was fun watching him miss fish after fish. I
let him lose fish until he asked me what he was doing wrong. After
all he is a know it all 18 year old :} Once he understood he should
not look at the bait or do anything until the fish had hooked itself
he began to boat fish. He held the rod almost straight up and was
having a blast catching Bass. I did have to sharpen his hook for him
and I showed him how to put on a grub or twin tail and trailer hook if
he was missing fish.

After I had overcome my tendency to set the hook too soon I really
love to watch Bass grab a large buzz bait!!! I do lose the odd fish
now and then and attribute it to small Bass going after the bait.

As far as other top waters go I very seldom use any of them. The
reason for that is as you stated, I also lost too many fish with short
strikes. The exception to that is on top of weeds/brush/grass/pads
and such.

This summer I found Flukes for the first time and have had success
with them on the top in various situations.

Remove the x for e-mail reply
www.outdoorfrontiers.com

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 ;-)




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release Date: 11/1/04

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 ;-)




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release Date: 11/1/04

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 ;-)




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release Date: 11/1/04