Topwater

[abkeenan]

I don't set it either one main reason is because a lot of times you can't be 100% sure if they actually have it in their mouth or I they missed it. If they've missed it and you set the hell out of it you will likely launch it back towards you 10-15' and out of the strike zone so they might come back for it. I try to get enough tension on the line to feel if they are on it and then just lean to the side with the rod enough to bury the hooks. If they have missed it and the bait remained in the zone they may hit it again.

Nailed it.

[Bill Babler]

When they strike on that red fin, just keep reeling if there on they set the hook their selHaf.

Have not set a hook on a topwater bait in the last 5 years. My hookups and my clients hookups have sky rocketed. As Snake said just keep windin. When you feel the weight of the fish move your rod to an upright attitude putting pressure on the mid to upper section of the rod keeping it at full bend and keep windin. If the fish jumps pull him 4' toward you and keep windin. I have just about zero jump-offs.

Kind of funny how things change. The old days of trying to stick a 6' rod tip 2' under water to keep a fish from jumping on 30' of line are over. Not physically possible. Really kind of stupid to think that it would work. What it does is create slack when the fish does jump and you have a rod stuck down in the drink. Lots of stuff we used to do is out the window for better techniques.

Constant pressure on the fish by not jerking and not letting slack be created by rod movement has changed this game.

Good Luck

[dtrs5kprs]

Only thing with braid is you absolutely must use a soft rod or you will rip the hooks loose either on the hookset or during the fight.

Cabela's Prodigy ($100) in 7-0 medium/fast (smaller topwaters) or 7-0 medium heavy/fast (bigger baits like Fins and Super Spooks) gets the job done very well. Duckett MicroMagic in those same specifications also work well.

My redfin rods are soft, so yes they pretty much bend in a circle when a fish loads up with the braid. Softer and slower than I would use for spooks or chuggers, where I need a fast tip.

The reel into them group is spot on. Just reel and let it load up like grub fishing.