#1 Topwater Lure Mistake During The Fall
- By: Pat Ogletree
- on October 31, 2022
We’ve got to STOP making this topwater lure mistake during fall.
Fall is one of the best times of the year to hit the water and get tight lines.
Temperatures drop and the fish become active hunters, so we need to change what we’re doing too.
Take a look!!
#1 Topwater Lure Mistake During Fall [VIDEO]
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I’ve been seeing lots of posts and comments in the Insider Community that indicate some anglers are having difficulty getting strikes on topwater so they set it aside and don’t fish it.
Before you try other lures over topwater, here are a few things you can try to trigger some strikes.
The #1 topwater lure mistake during the fall is using the SAME retrieve we had been using in spring and summer.
This is especially prevalent in walk-the-dog style lures like the Moonwalker.
Slowed Retrieve
Your standard summertime retrieve is a steady cadence with a bit of a quicker pace.
This retrieve is excellent when fish are actively feeding in the twilight periods during summer.
But the water temperatures are way down in the fall compared to the summer.
When water temperatures drop, fish aren’t motivated to actively chase down bait as they would in the summer.
All you need to do is slow down the cadence of your twitches.
Give your lures about a twitch every second or more depending on what those fish want.
By slowing the retrieve down just a bit, it gives those larger fish more of a reason to go after this bait.
This retrieve also works great on those super sunny summer days when the sun is at its height.
Don’t hold yourself to only one type of retrieve for topwater lures.
Injured Baitfish Retrieve
Moreover, topwater lures are mainly designed to simulate an injured baitfish or an easy meal.
Injured baitfish are not moving very fast across the surface.
In truth, they barely move and stop here and there and maybe erratically twitch in another direction.
That’s exactly what you want to try to mimic with your topwater lure.
Another retrieve for the fall is to cast out your lure and work it slowly as described before.
But, add some pauses here and there.
Then you can vary the number of pauses and the timing of each pause as well.
You should continue to shake things up until you find what the fish are dialed in on.
Actively Feeding Fish Retrieve
The last retrieve is my go-to if I see trout feeding on the surface in the fall or springtime.
First, cast the lure out, give it a couple of twitches, and let it sit there for a few seconds.
Then reel it straight in towards you, give it a couple of twitches, and let it sit.
You can vary the speeds and time up.
This simulates a baitfish trying to scurry off across the surface.
Conclusion
Before you decide to switch to a subsurface lure, change up your retrieves and try something different.
Then you can know for sure the fish do not want topwater on that day.
Don’t keep using the same topwater lure retrieve all year round.
Do you have any other questions about topwater lure retrieves??
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
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Great information, Pat! Keep ’em coming!
Great tips, but the video should be done during calm water so we can see it…
Good stuff Pat
Love throwing too water. Going to try some of these tips when I’m on the water this weekend. Fish on.
What’s the best tactic when there is a lot of freshwater run off and the tide is high
There’s a lot of variables involved in that situation. It’s usually best to find an area that’s not as affected by the fresh water but if that is not possible just remember, salt water is heavier than fresh water so find some deeper pockets and holes and you should a least find some trout there.
Thanks Pat. Excellent tips about the retrieve methods. Last week I only tried my top water for about a dozen or so casts and gave up. I didn’t experiment with variance in technique. Gonna try your techniques next trip spending a little more time and see what happens. Thank you.
Give them a shot Todd!
Thanks Pat I struggle with topwater. I will try more with this info.
Try this, to build confidence with topwater, use them when you see surface feeding activity. This way you know they are eating on top. After you start catching fish with them, then your confidence will grow and you will use them more often
Great piece, like the finessed cool water bait retrieval advise.
See you in a fishing kayak, what do you think about microskiffs?
Thank you Joseph!
Micro skiffs can be a great way to extend your range over what a kayak can do. But you still have to be careful with things like wind, weather and boat traffic.
Thanks, Pat.
No problem William!
Great info I will give it a try next time I’m out.
Let us know how you do!
Thanks for watching!