Topwater lures at the working end

[DerekD]

Hi all,

Many videos I've seen of people working lures are done with a GoPro or similar. While these cameras are fantastic at what they do it is difficult to see what is happening at the working end of the action - specifically the lure.

I've got some nice telephoto camera gear and have been playing around with Topwater fishing lures so as to demonstrate the action we can get out of them.

Don't think there is just one way of working some of these lures. A recentish fishing session with @Niall opened my eyes to another way of working the MMD splash prawn which is what I have tried to show here.

MMD splash prawn worked gently: https://youtu.be/uIAUF8Lam5w

OSP Bent Minnow (played back at half speed): https://youtu.be/X10dJQ1A_Xk

Gladiator Smash Popper: https://youtu.be/qSh4VfYxvTQ

For those that haven't seen the action that can be achieved with a Sugapen have a look at this: https://youtu.be/WY9CBQ61pDQ

On a side note: This is the action you can achieve with a soft plastic minnow with the right jighead and good technique: https://youtu.be/WjGS6SjfDUs

To do well in this sort of fishing it is understanding the action you are trying to achieve which will help to increase your catch rate. Often it is not till you see someone else doing it slightly differently that you realise you may have overlooked an opportunity. Hopefully this inspires a few more to get into this. Please note that the season seems to be be getting quieter but it is a visually spectacular way to fish in the Summer months.

Regards.

Derek

[big Neil]

Great videos for showing the different actions of these different lures Derek. Understandably though, they are all being retrieved with very different rod actions. An ideal depiction would be to see the lure action AND the rod activity AT THE SAME TIME.

This possibly could be achieved from a boat or area where the camera could "follow" the lure (observing the action) whilst looking AT THE ANGLER and the movements of the rod tip. Maybe a 10mtr wide stretch of water with angler opposite the camera?

Something for your creative mind Derek?   bn

[DerekD]

35 minutes ago, big Neil said:

Great videos for showing the different actions of these different lures Derek. Understandably though, they are all being retrieved with very different rod actions.

Hi Neil.

Here is the messed up and beautiful thing. Exactly the same rod action is used with all the topwater lures. About all we vary is the aggressiveness of the twitching, how many twitches we use and the length of the pauses. The twitches of the rod tip have to be tight (say 5 to 8cm maximum) and in a direct line away from the lure. Most of the action comes from a vigorous but tight shake my arm rather than flicking my wrist.

The sub-surface plastic is a different retrieve.

[GoldenHourFishing]

I use the spashprawn with a "twitch twitch pause" motion rather than a constant retrieve. The tail will create a fountain like spray when worked in this manner. And really does resemble a darting/fleeing prawn. 

[Bennyg78]

Great post @DerekD!!

As you know I have developed an unhealthy addiction to topwater lure fishing. I just love seeing that little lure working well when you get it right. I almost cant wait til next summer!