TopRaider Key - color or sound

[MNSteveH]

OK, I'm ready to try this post agin since last night's went bye bye.

I only own one TopRaider and I've had absolutely zero success - no follows, no pike, nada. It's a green/yellow (bullfrog?) that I've been using about 2 1/2 years. I've experimented wiht all different speeds and yes, I've tried working it very slowly but still no luck. I've had days where fish are blowing up all over Jackpots and Vipers, then switch to the TopRaider and nothing. I'm getting really fustrated with all the misses with Jackpots and I'm hoping for better hook-up ratios with TopRaiders.

Most guys seem to have a strong preference for Black, but I've also heard these baits can get out of tune and the sound changes. I've even heard that there was a bad batch produced at some point that just doesn't make the "magic" sound.

What should I do? Paint it black? Try to tune the prop to get a different sound? buy another one?

Steve Hahn
Shoreview MN

[Waterwolf]

Hey Steve,
Instead of purchasing another TopRaider, invest in a Stomper from Holcombe Tackle. A great topwater bait, in my opinion.
You may also want to look into a TopWalker, also from Holcombe.
Another great TopWater Bait.
Have a good one!
The Wolf

P.S. SOUND!

[darcyfish]

Hi Steve

I've had great luck with my topraider staright out of the box (baby loon) and have had people use the bullfrog color with success.As far as using a topraiderto back up a jackpot is conter productive, with my experience I use a jackpot to back up missess on prop style baits. I could be you have a bunk topraider, if you can, compare it to another one to see if it not making the right noise and never give up .

D'arcy
http://www.geocities.com/darcyfish54/1968.html

[jlong]

Wow, its hard to believe the topraider hasn't produced ANYTHING for you. Don't worry about the color (Bullfrog is great for low light conditions) as these baits don't have much of a visual stimulous anyway. The sound it makes is key. Actually, the sound is simply a way for us to tell if it is displacing the water in a way that will best stimulate the lateral line. I don't beleive the fish are responding to the AUDIBLE sound of the Topraider. Move the water right (deep "plop" sound) and fish will soon show themselves behind the infamous Topraider. The bait has a great reputation and lives up to it!!!

..... and don't laugh at the idea of moving the water right. Biologists studying the role of lateral lines in fish feeding have proven that surface feeding fish use that "feature" to determine if the surface disturbance is "real" or not. How does a trout know if an object that just fell in off the bank is a Grasshopper or blade of grass?

Good luck with your top raider!!

jlong

[Mother]

I feel the sound / vibration are key followed by retrieve speed
relative to water conditions-Waves / dead calm etc.
Then time of day .Morning ,I fish modrate to fast/afternoon - fast
or crawling / Night - moderate to slow , very steady.
Finally color dark - Night / bright - day

Mother