Topwater figure-8's???

[Da Bears]

I know figure 8's are a big thing to do, but do any of you do them with top waters? If so, do you do it on top of the water, or do you sink the lure? Do you change the lure speed?

Thanks,
Mike

[Musky23]

To me it seems like everytime I get a follow on a topwater and I draw the bait beneath the water to do a figure 8 the fish just leaves. I started keeping the lure on top of the water and the fish seem to stay now and occasionally strike. I do not make a figure 8 anymore, I just take and pull the lure around the front or back of the boat and try to make very large turns. This seems to be much more productive.

[BrianF.]

Hi, Mike

Yes, some of us do the "8" with surface baits, but the answer can be refined much more if you will tell us what style of surface bait you are thinking about.

What I've had success with at boatside varies depending on whether you speaking of tail-rotators (i.e., Tallywackers, TopRaiders), zig zag baits (i.e., Jackpots), clacking jointed baits (i.e., Hawg Wobblers, Believers), or jitterbug-type baits.

Can you shed more light on what type surface bait you were thinking about when it comes to boatside moves?

BrianF.
Twin Cities

[Da Bears]

Thanks for replying Brian. I typically use topraiders, for they are my favorite bait to throw. I have not used figure 8's with these lures, and last year, I had a few smack the bait right at the boat. Unfortunately, both of them totally caught me by surprise, and I did not get a good hookset, and they both got off.

[BrianF.]

Hi, again

You have a lot more options with a tail-rotator bait like the TopRaider.

First, it goes without saying that it is better to try to trigger a strike before getting to the boat. If you see the fish following and you're running out of room, try something - anything - different before that fish gets close to the boat. On heavily fished waters, you chances of a strike go way down at boatside.

Very important - you have to watch the fish to gage its mood, and see how the fish reacts to the changes you impart to the bait as it nears the boat. If something you did made the fish react negatively (i.e., puts distance between the itself and bait), thats a bad thing. Go on to something different.

I've had success triggering strikes from fish that are interested, following to the boat, though not real aggressive, by doing these things:

1) Slow the bait down, way down...when the front of the bait starts an exaggerated wiggle, they hit...if no hit after a few seconds then...
2) Stop the bait and start to rapidly jerk it with short, hard taps...if no hit after a few seconds then...
3) Continue the retrieve, plunging the rod tip into the water so that the bait attempts to dive about 10 ft. from the boat...they'll sometimes hit as it submerges..if no hit...and your at boatside by now then...
4) Figure "0" on the surface, or do as Musky23 suggest...if no hit after a few good turns, or the fish disappears then...
5) Submerge the bait and do a figure "O" underwater, watching for a deep flash that signifies the fish is back, keep doing big, wide "O"'s until you feel satisfied the fish isn't going to hit...then
6) Come back later...she's not ready to go.

Many, if not most, times they'll dart off when they see the boat. One option there is to throw a short cast in the direction the fish is headed and retrieve as close to where you think she went as you can. This is low percentage, though sometimes results in a strike...about your only hope for a spooked fish.

Most success for me has occurred with steps 1 or 2, with the probablity of success falling thereafter. However, I have had quite a few fish hit in an "O" or an "8" while the bait is submerged at boatside - and some good ones, too.

If you do get a strike there, try to set towards the fishes' tail and hold the rod in that position for as long as possible while she wallows and head shakes. Then feed her line under tension and fight her aways from the boat if you can.

Probably more of an answer than you wanted. Good luck and hope this works for you.

BrianF.
Twin Cities

[HerbB]

Brian, Great post! I'm going to have to try your suggestions this summer.

Something that has worked for me a few times is just adding a Mister Twister onto the back hook to give the fish something different to look at. I've tried adding a few rips to topwaters when a Muskie was following, but that doesn't seem to help much.

Herb

[Brett Waldera]

When a fish is following a Topraider and moving in a straight line slow down and then speed the bait up. If the fish is "S"ing behind the bait speed it up and hang on. It will hit everytime!

If the fish comes to the boat and doesn't hit, I mix it up with a surface then sub-surface eight. Sometimes this will really get them going. Last year I had a fish strike at the bait four times before I got hooks into her. I keep the bait on the surface but dip it under in the turns. When they se the bait dive right in front of them they can't take it and hit.


If this doesn't work, throw back a hawgwobbler or a jackpot type lure in the direction the fish left.


Good Luck,
Brett Waldera

[kmon]

Great tips guys. Let me add ... try a couple of really really really fast loops at the boat, just froth the water, then dive the lure down and do a figure 8 or a couple of loops. I don't know why, but I've had good success with this technique.

[Madison]

For far out follows changing bait directions a couple of times while retrieving, usually in L-shaped patterns. They'll ususally take it on the change of direction. If they follow it all the way up to the boat, stick the rod tip into the water (the TR will follow) and go into a figure 8. This seems to work the best for me.

Madison

[JasonSchillinger]

It depends on the body of water for me. On the river near my home, fish will not even look at a figure 8 surface lure(or most lures for that matter), which is very odd for a dark water system. On the Flambeau system up north, the underwater 8 seems to work with topraider and teasertail type baits, and the l-turn with a hawg wobbler or creeper is usually all it takes. The Winnipeg river system in Canada has also shown fish that hit a topwater figure 8, and it doesn't seem to matter if it is on top or under water. I like to often incorporate the plunge under move followed by bringing the lure back to the surface, and that has sometimes drawn strikes. It seems that just keeping the lure out of sight/reach works. I'd like to note that I do not figure 8 after each cast, only after a noticable follow. I do L-turn on every cast, but my opinion is that on most waters(that are clear enough to see well), the figure 8 is wasted energy. I do miss a fish now and again because of this, but I probably make 20-30 more casts in an afternoon by skipping the blind 8's.