Think topwater for Kentucky smallmouth during summer

May 21, 2009 by admin

I just about need a rope tied to my belt loop any time I work a Zara Pup. It looks so enticing darting side to side that I almost want to go in after it. Thankfully, a feisty smallie often beats me to the punch, especially during June.
Smallmouth waters often have warmed enough by June to have the fish fired up. However, the same waters have not gotten toasty enough to turn the fish lethargic or drive them deep. In addition, hatching aquatic insects, misdirected terrestrials and shallow schools of minnows tend to keep the fish looking up for meals this time of year.
June is an outstanding topwater period in streams and lakes alike, although the nature of the bite tends to be a bit different in each. In moving waters, the surface action sometimes lasts all day, and it’s apt to be best through the middle of the afternoon.
In lakes, which are generally warmer than smallmouth streams by June, surface action clearly peaks very early and late in the day. Good topwater fishing can occur during midday – and wise anglers pick up their topwater rod occasionally throughout the day – but mornings and evenings definitely bring the most predictable action.
For stream fishing, most fishermen favor fairly small topwater plugs, like Tiny Torpedoes, Zara Pups, Baby Rattlin’ Chug Bugs and Spit’N Kings. Chrome and bone are favored colors for average conditions, with black working quite well when the water is stained or the skies are very dark, and clear is tough to top for very clear water and bluebird skies.
As summer progresses, a Rebel Bighopper, twitched or slowly wobbled across the surface, can be deadly on small streams or near grassy banks. When walked on the top with occasional pauses, a Bighopper nicely imitates an out-of-place liver ‘hopper skittering across the top.
Small buzzbaits and soft-plastic jerkbaits also can be productive some days when plugs won’t do the job. Soft-plastic jerkbaits are great baits to turn to when smallmouths are busting on plugs but not quite getting them. Buzzbaits work great for working a lot of water and figuring out what kind of spots the fish are using.
Some summer days, stream smallmouths will be everywhere they should be and will hit any topwater offering that invades their space. More often, anglers need to experiment. Areas that commonly hold topwater-feeding fish include pocket eddies along the bank, waters beside current-breaking cover and swift rocky runs, where fish hold beneath submerged boulders.
Stream fishermen sometimes overlook swift areas for topwater fishing, but large runs that have good current pushing through them sometimes hold the most aggressive fish. A Tiny Torpedo, which draws attention with its spinning propeller and can be fished fast, is among the best baits for swift-water fishing.
Many of the same lures that work well on streams also will draw smallmouths to the top on reservoirs. However, with bigger fish on average, far more water for anglers to cover; deeper waters and a greater likelihood of waves to contend with; lakes also bring in a need for larger plugs. Larger “walking” lures, like Super Spooks and Sammy plugs, are favorites among reservoir smallmouth fishermen.
Like on rivers, buzzbaits work really well for covering water and locating fish. Even on days when plugs will drum up more action or attract strikes from bigger fish, buzzbaits help anglers find hot banks or types of banks that are holding fish.
On glassy-calm mornings or evenings, one of the best ways to bring big smallmouths to the top is to slowly wobble a floating jerkbait like a Bomber Long “A” or a Storm ThunderStick across the surface. This “finesse” topwater approach, which sends out a subtle but distinctive wake, is especially good in very clear water.
Early and late in the day, many types of areas are likely to produce good topwater action on reservoirs. Bluff banks, tops of points or humps and waters near specific cover features, like boulders, docks or brush all offer good prospects.
Prime spots generally will be close to deeper areas that have been holding fish during the day, often on the lake’s main body or in the far lower ends of creeks. Anglers generally work a lot of water until the fish reveal themselves, whether by hitting a lure, breaking the top or spooking some baitfish.
Through the middle part of the day, the bulk of the topwater action that occurs on reservoirs is over main-lake structural features like humps, ledges, saddles and major points. The same fish most anglers target with Carolina rigs and crankbaits will sometimes hammer surface plugs, especially if a lake has some current running through it.
Occasionally these bass will push baitfish to the surface, making the call for topwater obvious. Other times, the only way to find out whether they will come up is to throw a Spook or a big popper from time to time and make some noise on the surface.
Whether the smallmouths have been busting on top or not, veteran anglers always have a topwater bait or two tied on during June. It’s hard enough to maintain the composure to make a decent cast when smallmouths are scattering baitfish, let alone trying to find the right plug and tie it on in the heat of the moment.

By Jeff Samsel

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