Few freshwater fish can provide the same level of excitement that a 40-inch
muskie does when it bites your line. When they hit a topwater lure, there
may be no equivalent. To get your adrenaline-junkie juices flowing, follow
our topwater cheat sheet.
May 30, 2007
When you consider the visual excitement of a 30-pound muskie smashing into a topwater, it's easy to understand why so many anglers are turning to surface-working lures. But the lures are gaining popularity for practical reasons too. They excel at drawing the big predators out of dense weedbeds where other lures constantly foul. And because they make a lot of commotion, even on slow retrieves, they're perfect for night fishing.
Topwaters work best on overcast days, at dawn and dusk and at night from late spring through early fall when the water temperature is at least 60 degrees. Although they are primarily shallow-water baits, topwaters will call muskies up from depths as great as 15 feet.
Like any muskie lure, a topwater should always be fished with a wire leader. But keep the wire light or else it will sink the bait's nose and interfere with the action. Another common mistake is retrieving too fast. If fish are swiping at the bait and missing, slow down. Not only will they be able to track the lure more easily, a slower retrieve appeals to big muskies.
If you walk into a store that caters to muskie anglers, you'll see a confusing array of topwaters designed to produce a variety of sounds and actions. Don't worry about trying to fill your tackle box with all of them, here are the only ones you need.
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