Poppers, wake baits?

[Al Agnew]

Yep, as somebody who is beginning to stack up the years, Norm was my hero.  I hope I'm still floating the streams at age 90!

 

[Mitch f]

Norm was involved in one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard in all my 58 years. I’ll try to tell the story and hope I get it right and give him the respect he deserves, because it’s a true story...

Norm came from west coast money. His family was very wealthy and used to throw parties and invite all kinds of high brow people to parties at the Leppo home. 

Norm had just come home from basic training in the Navy. When he arrived home he noticed his parents were throwing another party. He walked in the door and to his surprise, there was a man holding a cocktail standing next to the fireplace. That man was Admiral Chester Nimitz...yes, THE Admiral Nimitz. Before he could very quickly sneak out of the room, his mom grabbed him by the arm and said “I want to introduce you to somebody”. Imagine how scared Norm was. They both walked up to Admiral Nimitz and Norm’s mom said happily “Norman, I want to introduce you to Chester!...He’s in the Navy too!!”

I’ve  always tried to imagine how Norm must have felt.

[Johnsfolly]

14 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Norm was involved in one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard in all my 58 years. I’ll try to tell the story and hope I get it right and give him the respect he deserves, because it’s a true story..

I’ve  always tried to imagine how Norm must have felt.

Great story! Would have liked to have known the man. Thanks for sharing Mitch!

[timinmo]

As this thread has kind of gone sideways I don't mind going with the flow and pay my respects to Norm.  Norm was very committed to the conservation cause and did much to further it in anyway he could.  He was a long time member of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance as well as a member of the Missouri Conservation Federation.  He both supported and worked with other organisations that furthered the conservation cause.  Norm had many sites that he monitored for water quality thru the Missouri Stream Team banner.  Norm not only talked the talk but walked the walk.  We could all learn alot from his example.  And yes Norm loved the Panther Martin. 

[drew03cmc]

On 7/6/2019 at 4:34 PM, rps said:

Champ says the Top Dollar throws like a potato chip. Someone else told me the action was like a Spook Jr. that had drunk too much tequila. Both traits are true. However, I have caught 63 fish in one day with it. I have caught a 23.5 inch largemouth around 8 pounds with it. And, important to you, I have several 3+ smallmouth from the lake with it. If I send you one (they are no longer made), do you promise to be patient and fish it with faith and determination?

Absolutely. I have a knack for fishing a bait until it gets bit, leaving it on the days and weeks it can often take. I'm practicing walking baits constantly. It's made me slow down and think about what I'm doing with both hands, kind of like rubbing my head and patting my belly. 

 

I hadn't heard Norm passed. I always enjoyed reading his exploits! 

[rps]

1 hour ago, drew03cmc said:

Absolutely. I have a knack for fishing a bait until it gets bit, leaving it on the days and weeks it can often take. I'm practicing walking baits constantly. It's made me slow down and think about what I'm doing with both hands, kind of like rubbing my head and patting my belly. 

 

I hadn't heard Norm passed. I always enjoyed reading his exploits! 

Address? PM

[timinmo]

Andy you may be thinking of another Norm.  The recent stories refer to Norm Leppo who to my knowledge never posted here.  Norm M. (last name escapes me) lived in northern Illinois and did post here as well as on River Smallies.  His posts were great and he passed away last year I think.  I remember now the other Norm's last name was Minas.  Anyway two great Norms both will be missed.

[LarrySTL]

I hear you all about these chuggers being too slow and actually I agree.  I could sometimes slow down enough to try the Lucky 13 but the bass had about 15 minutes to bite it or I would change away from it.   I did know a guy who loved the Hoodler beyond words.  Picture a huge Lucky 13 with a good sized prop on the back.  One day, yes from the back of my boat, he caught two LM over 5 lbs throwing it over about 50 feet of water  in the middle of one of those deep steep TR coves that was crammed full of cedars starting about 15 or 20 feet down. It got a little heated when I announced that I had not caught anything and that we were going to go do something different in a different type of water. 

I can actually do ok with a Chug Bug but I am fishing about the speed of a semi-slow to moderate WTD retrieve.

[Gavin]

That slow let it sit retrieve will work. Something will come and take a wack at it. Might be immediate, Might take 15-45 minutes. Dead drift a big fly rod popper on a slow stretch of river and you might be surprised. Can drift that candy for hundreds of yards with good mends. Fly better have some stuff that moves w/o angler input and some that creates some commotion if you choose too. Topwater is fun! Always a puzzle. Fantastic if you nail a good bite.

[Mitch f]

Chuggers work better around the spawn because it’s usually a pop and wait. The fish can’t stand anything near their nest, especially if it’s just sitting there. Faster WTD that glide usually work better in the full blown summer. But as some have said, a Chug Bug is a helluva bait when walking the dog with it. It’s got that little sexy movement and spitting that drives stream smallmouth crazy. It seems to work best (like all WTD baits) at a certain distance from the boat, with a certain angle of line to the water. Find out your optimum angle distance and keep your boat at that distance away from whatever object or cover you’re casting to.