Deadsticking a topwater

CMorg · 07-13-10, 04:29 PM

I was at the lake recently and noticed a bluegill clinging to life , its tail was down , head at the surface. It had the occasional twitch and a slight roll. I kept the troller on and went past it slowely. I got a bit away from it , and wham. I turned around to notice the fish was no more. Got me to thinking. What if you deadstick a topwater around likely fish hangouts ? Now , it was a hot afternoon , and the fish was about 15' offshore , no noticable cover nearby. I think a good realistic floating swimbait deadsticked may just produce..

cassidyta · 07-13-10, 04:36 PM

CMorg,

That is one of my go to techniques over tall grasses. Especially if the fish have been recently busting. I mainly use both a 4" BBZ-1 and a Mattslure hard bodied bluegill for this.
I will usually cast directly at the splash and wait. the twitch that I use is very light. I really just move the slack in the line.

AUFred · 07-13-10, 04:39 PM

Bass are curious creatures even when wary. My grandfather used to catch a lot of big bass on topwater. Watching him fish topwater was excrutiatingly slow but the results spoke for themselves. He would throw his bait into a likely spot and stop and light a cigarette. After a couple of drags he would twitch his bait ever so slightly and wait for the rings on the water to disappate. Another slight twitch and another wait. He would do this several times retrieve..wash..rinse..repeat.

DaveW731 · 07-13-10, 04:39 PM

In fact, to immitate that "tail down" look, take an old wooden topwater bait and either wrap some lead wire around the tail hook, or if the bait is big enough, drill a hole towards the back and tap in some split shots, so the bait sits at about a 45 degree angle in the water. Not only does this make it look like a dying baitfish, you can twitch the rod tip just enough to cause some rings and keep the bait in the same 5 ft area for 15 minutes.

Kevin · 07-13-10, 04:40 PM

Deadsticking a floating swimbait works GREAT. But the problem is you need three things... 1) Clear water, 2) Wind and 3) Waves/Ripples.

I've never had luck with this pattern on calm days, but if you get wind blown points or banks where there is significant wave action, deadsticking a floating hard swimbait can get a toad. You won't even have to swim the bait to get bit... just cast it out, let it sit in the waves, and they'll come up and suck it down.

Many of you know I'm a big fan of the line-thru soft swimbaits a bit more, but deadsticking a floating swimbait is where the hard swimbaits really shine.

AUFred · 07-13-10, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUFred

Bass are curious creatures even when wary. My grandfather used to catch a lot of big bass on topwater. Watching him fish topwater was excrutiatingly slow but the results spoke for themselves. He would throw his bait into a likely spot and stop and light a cigarette. After a couple of drags he would twitch his bait ever so slightly and wait for the rings on the water to disappate. Another slight twitch and another wait. He would do this several times retrieve..wash..rinse..repeat.

This was his topwater of choice:

As a matter of fact I put one in his casket at his funeral. Happy Fishing Grand-Dad.

walkeraviator · 07-13-10, 05:16 PM

Heddon torpedos sit nose up in teh water naturally thanks to the wait of teh prop on the back... this could be a bait to try teh dead stick with...

islandbass · 07-13-10, 05:40 PM

The new rapala skitter pops also sit tail down. Great observation.

cassidyta · 07-13-10, 05:41 PM

If you are focusing on deadsticking or just twitching, a crankbait can be used as well. In fact, if the swimbait technique is not working, the smaller profile of a crank can often do the trick.

Rebbasser · 07-13-10, 06:32 PM

Caught more than a few just letting it sit.

Bassboss · 07-13-10, 07:31 PM

Yeha, I've done that with my floating bbz-1 before in the afternoon before. It works very well, but you gotta be patient. believe it or not I found it out when I was fishing live bait.. and not in the way you may expect. I had a live bream soaking, a bit away from me, and I was fishing my floating BBZ. I saw my rod tipping over, about ready to go over the side of the bridge. So I quick sat my rod down (not having time to reel it in all the way, so the bait was still floating on the water), and ran over to get my rod and the fish on the other end. After landing the fish, I go to walk over to my other rod, and right as I pick it up, the bass slams it! So I set the hook and catch it. Both fish where around 4lbs. Since then I frequently dead stick my swimbait, just giving it slight twitches, and taking about 5 minutes to bring it in. I've also used rapala floating minnows (both jointed and un-jointed). Works well as well.

Good luck

Bassboss · 07-13-10, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUFred

This was his topwater of choice:

As a matter of fact I put one in his casket at his funeral. Happy Fishing Grand-Dad.

HAHA I just made one of thoughs, lol! Thanks for the tip, lol!

BassFeverJohn · 07-14-10, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMorg

I was at the lake recently and noticed a bluegill clinging to life , its tail was down , head at the surface. It had the occasional twitch and a slight roll. I kept the troller on and went past it slowely. I got a bit away from it , and wham. I turned around to notice the fish was no more. Got me to thinking. What if you deadstick a topwater around likely fish hangouts ? Now , it was a hot afternoon , and the fish was about 15' offshore , no noticable cover nearby. I think a good realistic floating swimbait deadsticked may just produce..

I'm certainly going to try that. Thanks...

Ebbetsguy · 07-14-10, 07:24 AM

Try this on a good windy day, with some chop on the wter

Take a #13 Jointed Rapala ( Silver/blk back or Gold/blk back)
Take needle nose pliers and turn the eye in the front of the bait you tie your line to
by doing this enough your bait will come in favoring the right or left as you reel it in
Toss it out a good distance, and get the slack out of your line, and kind of jig
or twitch your rod about 3 to5 times, then stop, wait a few minutes, bring it in a bit and retrieve.Then keep doing this stop and go all the way back to the boat. If you can do that, VERY SLOWLY it looks like a bait fish dying on top, and some of the strikes are just Epic!!!!!!

Mac2 · 07-14-10, 08:21 AM

We've had success doing it with a weighted Rapala minnow in the original black, silver white with the size 11, a small splitshot on the back hook.......sitting for a pause, then slightly twitching.

Captmikestarrett · 07-14-10, 08:23 AM

Yes deadsticking works.. I have a theory I will share with you..

If it is agravating to go so slow ,,,imagine how much it agravates the bass.

FIRST Rule of topwater:

1: Go fast at first and keep going slower till it works.

Or you die of boredom and switch to a worm.

Capt Mike

Ebbetsguy · 07-14-10, 10:29 AM

Hey Capt. Of keep the worm rigged, and if you are reeling in any topwater and get a short strike ( usually from moving your bait too fast) pick up the worm rig and throw it right at the spot you saw the boil, many times you will get an agressivly feeding fish this way

AUFred · 07-14-10, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebbetsguy

Hey Capt. Of keep the worm rigged, and if you are reeling in any topwater and get a short strike ( usually from moving your bait too fast) pick up the worm rig and throw it right at the spot you saw the boil, many times you will get an agressivly feeding fish this way

I know that is true on a spinnerbait or buzzbait.

DaveW731 · 07-15-10, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUFred

I know that is true on a spinnerbait or buzzbait.

Also a good tactic when tossing topwaters if the short strikes are more swirls than splashes, suggesting the fish don't quite want to break the surface. If it is more splash than swirl, let the bait sit about 10 seconds, then make a quick movement, as if a stunned minnow is regaining consciousness.

geezer1 · 07-15-10, 07:40 PM

Years ago, there was a floating topwater bait that sat vertical when paused. I believe it was called the Devil's Toothpick. A lot of guys would work that thing painfully slow & were successful with it. I had one & I hated the darned thing. Probably because I sucked at using it (lack of patience). After reading CMorg's post, and age has taught me to be a little more analytical, I wish I still had it. Go figure.

CamG · 07-16-10, 09:45 PM

My dad has been deadsticking floating Rapalas for years...and he catches "big bass" of the day most of the time.

My favorite deadsticking topwater is a Iovino Splash It. They can't resist that thing floating above them.

However, I very rarely find myself doing this technique even though I know it works awesome...just too dang boring.

Mac2 · 07-18-10, 08:35 AM

Another old timer lure was the Hootnanny, sitting tail down in the water with the concave face of a popper as I recall.

07-13-10, 04:36 PM	#2
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	CMorg, That is one of my go to techniques over tall grasses. Especially if the fish have been recently busting. I mainly use both a 4" BBZ-1 and a Mattslure hard bodied bluegill for this. I will usually cast directly at the splash and wait. the twitch that I use is very light. I really just move the slack in the line. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

07-13-10, 04:39 PM	#4
DaveW731 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lansing, Michigan Posts: 229	You are right! In fact, to immitate that "tail down" look, take an old wooden topwater bait and either wrap some lead wire around the tail hook, or if the bait is big enough, drill a hole towards the back and tap in some split shots, so the bait sits at about a 45 degree angle in the water. Not only does this make it look like a dying baitfish, you can twitch the rod tip just enough to cause some rings and keep the bait in the same 5 ft area for 15 minutes.

07-13-10, 04:40 PM	#5
Kevin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 651	Deadsticking a floating swimbait works GREAT. But the problem is you need three things... 1) Clear water, 2) Wind and 3) Waves/Ripples. I've never had luck with this pattern on calm days, but if you get wind blown points or banks where there is significant wave action, deadsticking a floating hard swimbait can get a toad. You won't even have to swim the bait to get bit... just cast it out, let it sit in the waves, and they'll come up and suck it down. Many of you know I'm a big fan of the line-thru soft swimbaits a bit more, but deadsticking a floating swimbait is where the hard swimbaits really shine. __________________ Kevin Scarselli

07-13-10, 05:40 PM	#8
islandbass BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: WA State Posts: 1,783	The new rapala skitter pops also sit tail down. Great observation. __________________ ARX "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." Doug Larson (Shimano 2005 Reel Catalog)

07-13-10, 05:41 PM	#9
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	If you are focusing on deadsticking or just twitching, a crankbait can be used as well. In fact, if the swimbait technique is not working, the smaller profile of a crank can often do the trick. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

07-13-10, 04:29 PM	#1
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	Deadsticking a topwater I was at the lake recently and noticed a bluegill clinging to life , its tail was down , head at the surface. It had the occasional twitch and a slight roll. I kept the troller on and went past it slowely. I got a bit away from it , and wham. I turned around to notice the fish was no more. Got me to thinking. What if you deadstick a topwater around likely fish hangouts ? Now , it was a hot afternoon , and the fish was about 15' offshore , no noticable cover nearby. I think a good realistic floating swimbait deadsticked may just produce..

07-13-10, 04:39 PM	#3
AUFred BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Prattville, Alabama Posts: 801	Bass are curious creatures even when wary. My grandfather used to catch a lot of big bass on topwater. Watching him fish topwater was excrutiatingly slow but the results spoke for themselves. He would throw his bait into a likely spot and stop and light a cigarette. After a couple of drags he would twitch his bait ever so slightly and wait for the rings on the water to disappate. Another slight twitch and another wait. He would do this several times retrieve..wash..rinse..repeat.

07-13-10, 05:16 PM	#7
walkeraviator BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,119	Heddon torpedos sit nose up in teh water naturally thanks to the wait of teh prop on the back... this could be a bait to try teh dead stick with...

07-13-10, 06:32 PM	#10
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Caught more than a few just letting it sit. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

07-13-10, 07:31 PM	#11
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	Yeha, I've done that with my floating bbz-1 before in the afternoon before. It works very well, but you gotta be patient. believe it or not I found it out when I was fishing live bait.. and not in the way you may expect. I had a live bream soaking, a bit away from me, and I was fishing my floating BBZ. I saw my rod tipping over, about ready to go over the side of the bridge. So I quick sat my rod down (not having time to reel it in all the way, so the bait was still floating on the water), and ran over to get my rod and the fish on the other end. After landing the fish, I go to walk over to my other rod, and right as I pick it up, the bass slams it! So I set the hook and catch it. Both fish where around 4lbs. Since then I frequently dead stick my swimbait, just giving it slight twitches, and taking about 5 minutes to bring it in. I've also used rapala floating minnows (both jointed and un-jointed). Works well as well. Good luck __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

07-14-10, 07:24 AM	#14
Ebbetsguy BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 483	Try this on a good windy day, with some chop on the wter Take a #13 Jointed Rapala ( Silver/blk back or Gold/blk back) Take needle nose pliers and turn the eye in the front of the bait you tie your line to by doing this enough your bait will come in favoring the right or left as you reel it in Toss it out a good distance, and get the slack out of your line, and kind of jig or twitch your rod about 3 to5 times, then stop, wait a few minutes, bring it in a bit and retrieve.Then keep doing this stop and go all the way back to the boat. If you can do that, VERY SLOWLY it looks like a bait fish dying on top, and some of the strikes are just Epic!!!!!!

07-14-10, 08:21 AM	#15
Mac2 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 389	We've had success doing it with a weighted Rapala minnow in the original black, silver white with the size 11, a small splitshot on the back hook.......sitting for a pause, then slightly twitching.

07-14-10, 08:23 AM	#16
Captmikestarrett BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accokeek MD Posts: 3,315	Yes deadsticking works.. I have a theory I will share with you.. If it is agravating to go so slow ,,,imagine how much it agravates the bass. FIRST Rule of topwater: 1: Go fast at first and keep going slower till it works. Or you die of boredom and switch to a worm. Capt Mike __________________ Capt Mike Starrett light tackle guide Potomac River http://www.indianheadcharters.com

07-14-10, 10:29 AM	#17
Ebbetsguy BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 483	Hey Capt. Of keep the worm rigged, and if you are reeling in any topwater and get a short strike ( usually from moving your bait too fast) pick up the worm rig and throw it right at the spot you saw the boil, many times you will get an agressivly feeding fish this way

07-15-10, 07:40 PM	#20
geezer1 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 185	Years ago, there was a floating topwater bait that sat vertical when paused. I believe it was called the Devil's Toothpick. A lot of guys would work that thing painfully slow & were successful with it. I had one & I hated the darned thing. Probably because I sucked at using it (lack of patience). After reading CMorg's post, and age has taught me to be a little more analytical, I wish I still had it. Go figure.

07-16-10, 09:45 PM	#21
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	My dad has been deadsticking floating Rapalas for years...and he catches "big bass" of the day most of the time. My favorite deadsticking topwater is a Iovino Splash It. They can't resist that thing floating above them. However, I very rarely find myself doing this technique even though I know it works awesome...just too dang boring.

07-18-10, 08:35 AM	#22
Mac2 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 389	Another old timer lure was the Hootnanny, sitting tail down in the water with the concave face of a popper as I recall.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)