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Which of these two? Zara spook or Spit'n Image for smallies? Largies?

jbarker,

My favorite topwaters for smallies still remain (Heddon) Torpedo's and Spooks.

Lately, I've been getting the largies under the surface, but then I don't have the opportunity to fish for them as much. Years ago, a good-sized Popper always did the trick.

W.

Yo Mr. JBarker, Whayever ya choose to use be sure you keep it coming at a good pace. None of this pop---pop---gurgle--pop--bloosh stuff.
Ya want it to keep coming and be all over the place. If a fish busts it and ya miss him just keep it coming so it looks like it is getting away which draws the fatal attack more times than not.
You can catch em' with the old bloop--pop--gurgle routine, but you will catch "more" by a steady and somewhat erratic retreive on a day in day out basis.

I use Skitter-Walks and Chug Bugs, with a Skitter-Prop if it is somewhat choppy just to add extra commotion and make it an easy target.

Enjoy!!


BIG JIM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~on top'

JB,

Spooks are good, never tried or heard of Spit'n image Latley i've been getting alot of strikes on a Rebel Pop'r(Frog pattern) Works good for large and smallmouth,pike and probably walleye too. Gotta love those surface strikes Hold on to your rod

steve

It depends on the water surface. I like the spitin image when there is light or no wind on the surface.

My go to is the spook but if CC is using it, doesn't seem to matter which top water you have if the bass are on the prowl. The retrieve seems to make or break the catch. I like to let the ripple go away and give it a slight twitch and settle before bringing it home. Anything watching that lure after it landed thinks dinner is served

i like the spook! but my faveite topwater bait is the torpedo from hedons!


i agree with wolfe on this one

zort

Spooks!!!

Spit'n Image

I like the white bone Pop R!

I like the white bone Pop R!

Me too, hard to find now but extreamly deadly for big smallies.

Spooks for me.

And thanks, Jim for giving away the "secret" retrieve.

I probably do 3-4 twitches per second and keep the bait in high gear right to the boat.

You cannot retrieve spooks, sammys, etc. too fast, as long as the bait is walking (running? ) and making a lot of commotion.

This high-speed retrieve will let you cover a lot of water, putting your bait above more fish than any of the slow poppers.

CCB

SPOOK!!!!!!!!!!

I'd say the same Jim/CCB... there's times to fish slow but a reaction style bait needs to be worked to cause a reaction... a fish is more likely to strike a bait if it thinks it's trying to escape from becoming lunch... if that doesn't work then moving to slower style baits may be the trick.

I tend to go with a spook on calmer days and something a little noisier on windy days... i haven't had much opportunity to fish baits like spooks as frogs are a little easier to throw over the areas i've concentrated on this year

Spooks in calm water and Spittin Image in chop. I let them sit a bit once they hit the water but after that....strong and steady walk the dog.