Odd June 10

[rps]

This morning I had to meet a contractor about some work on the house, so I wasn't on the water until nearly 10. I swam a grub on a normally walleye infested bluff looking for eyes. I trolled 15 to 25 feet deep. No joy.

Around 12:30, a real overcast developed. On a whim I took my topwater rod out of the box. In two hours I caught 16 fish with two keepers. I had a third, better keeper on, but she burrowed into brush and broke me off.

I was in the Eagle Rock/86 bridge area. If you find my customized Top Dollar floating, use it in good health.

[Ham]

You are very loyal to that bait.

[getfished]

Hey RPS. Nothing like adapting to the current conditions. Nice pics. I fished a local lake here yesterday and had a brutal experience. So today I took Kermit to the pond and got some consolation. It required I put Kermit in a very gnarly position, but it's OK cause if the overhangs snag it I can just retrieve it when the water gets hard.

Keep the pics coming. It helps my withdrawals. LOL !

[dtrs5kprs]

A Hughes painted Top Dollar makes a trip to the west end seem like a good idea. Sorry to hear it is gone.

[rps]

You are very loyal to that bait.

You are right, but then, it has repaid my loyalty time and again. It is my confidence bait on top because I can fish it so many different and effective ways.

[Bumble Bee]

You are right, but then, it has repaid my loyalty time and again. It is my confidence bait on top because I can fish it so many different and effective ways.

RPS,

What is your best method to fishing the Top Dollar? Is it best used as a popper, or walking the dog,etc.? I used them Friday and caught a few walking the dog, but I know you kill it w them. I had two brothers w me Friday, and we were all throwing them. One of them ended up at urgent care, and had one taken out of his back! Now that's brotherly love! LOL!

[rangerman]

RPS so sorry to hear about your loss...I know you were close to that topwater

[rps]

Ouch! Sorry about the hook in the back.

I hesitate to say what is the right way to fish any top water - as sure as I did someone would come up with a different and better way.

I try three or four basic things while figuring out a bite. First, when I throw it I let the splash rings die down and then give it a gentle pop jerk. The bait usually splashes and turns to the side. Normally I pause and then double pop jerk. If that brings no attack I will slow walk it as rhythmically as I can - nearly impossible since it wants to double step or dive or whatever. The bait doesn't slide like a sammy and tends to turn in its own length which means it does a lot of back and forth for not much distance forward. If the slow walk doesn't work I also try the big slash/splash walk with slightly longer pauses between jerks. I also try the quick walk, but the bait is going to do what it wants when you try that. If none of those work I resort to a popper style spit and pause. Yesterday I was casting to laydowns and brush edges and many of the strikes came on the first move. Last Tuesday the strikes came on a slow walk.

[techo]

Awesome lesson. Thanks for sharing.

[Wayne SW/MO]

rps do you think the lure is the attraction or the paint, or of course a little of both? I have a hard time weaning from some Sammy's.