Guide to walkin'the dawg

[fishinwrench]

2 minutes ago, Hog Wally said:

Wrench,  you ever gonna be over this way ?  It's about time we go fishing 

I really REALLY want to, bro.   I have trouble planning anything out of my little area here because work is always certain to interfere.   

Any chance I get to disappear for a COMPLETE DAY my wife usually pulls rank on, and says we are going to do THIS.... ?

If all of you would just break more stuff then maybe I could retire soon and get to fish away from home more often.  ?

[Gavin]

Dunno, my rod tip isn't always down when walking a dog bait. Easy to walk tip up to. Depends on situation. 

[Coosa]

On Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 0:10 AM, Gavin said:

Dunno, my rod tip isn't always down when walking a dog bait. Easy to walk tip up to. Depends on situation. 

You hit the nail on the head there Gavin. I always have one tied on and am constantly walking in from different positions and angles. Heck last week on the meremac I found myself basically leaning backwards over my yak seat and walking from almost an upside down position. The kayak spun on me a little but my lure was in a good position and I didn't want to stop the motion, so you just do what you gotta do to keep the motion. 

Another wtd I haven't seen anybody mention is the xps bass pro, it is the easiest walking bait I have ever used and by far my favorite.( and it's only $4) The only set back is the paint does not really hold up well. But as discussed b4 I think the paint job is prolly more for the fisherman than the fish

[Gavin]

Gotta make that first cast count. Same motion just roll your wrist inward and continue on the down beat. Or roll it outward and and pop your wrist up instead of down. Does not have to be perfect. 

[Mitch f]

These are pictures from the packaging of our own Zipstick"s original Zipstick. See the very cool and informative writing on the back.

[Johnsfolly]

Ai - thanks for a great post. I have not tried to change the direction while I am retrieving the bait. Since I do most wade fishing I usually target a straight retrieve downstream along a piece of strucure like a log or a boulder gravel seam or  along cover like water willows. The other retrieve may be cross current where there is a drastic change in water depth from deeper water to the shallow. They can't help but blast the bait before it escapes.to the shallow water. I love seeing multiple wakes chasing down my baits.

My favorite walking bait is the Excaliber Spit'n image that I hand paint. I don't think that ths bait is still produced. I haven't used too many others. 

[Al Agnew]

Dang, I still got a couple of Zipstick's old ones, but not in the original package.

You guys are right, you can walk the dog with rod tip up.  In fact, in stronger current, that's the best way to do it...keeps your line off the water and not bowing in the current.

 I never worry about which direction I'm retrieving it.  Cross current, downstream, upstream, whichever happens to be where the target is in relation to where I am.  In clear water, just remember to NOT land the lure very close to where you think the bass is lying.  Dropping a 3/4th ounce lure on their heads tends to scare the bejeezus out of them, but landing the same lure five to ten feet away just gets their attention.  I especially love it when the bass are lying up against the banks.  Land the lure ten feet off the bank and watch the wake as they charge it.  

[RSBreth]

Love the write-up Al. Pretty much covered it all, I'll just add my two current favorites:Heddon Spit N Image with an added feathered rear treble - super easy to walk but the line does sometimes get tangled around the front treble when casting in the wind, and another Gunfish knock-off - the Academy "Pistol Minnow". Can walk or pop - use it 90% of the time now.

[Stein]

18 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

  In clear water, just remember to NOT land the lure very close to where you think the bass is lying.  Dropping a 3/4th ounce lure on their heads tends to scare the bejeezus out of them, but landing the same lure five to ten feet away just gets their attention.

So there IS hope for those of us who can't pinpoint cast.  I can still just try to cast directly at the target!

Great writeup.

[Coosa]

18 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

Dang, I still got a couple of Zipstick's old ones, but not in the original package.

You guys are right, you can walk the dog with rod tip up.  In fact, in stronger current, that's the best way to do it...keeps your line off the water and not bowing in the current.

 I never worry about which direction I'm retrieving it.  Cross current, downstream, upstream, whichever happens to be where the target is in relation to where I am.  In clear water, just remember to NOT land the lure very close to where you think the bass is lying.  Dropping a 3/4th ounce lure on their heads tends to scare the bejeezus out of them, but landing the same lure five to ten feet away just gets their attention.  I especially love it when the bass are lying up against the banks.  Land the lure ten feet off the bank and watch the wake as they charge it.  

I agree with what you said about dropping the lure right on top of them BUT every once in awhile you do get that cast where it seems like that fish just catches the lure in its mouth. It's always baffling to me how quickly they can bite sometimes. Those fish are faster than most people think.