whats your choice? size and pattern too please. Jan

kanoes,

Rapala Skitter Prop chartreuse frog (I think #9). A couple of buddies laughed at me when I used this for the first time in 2002, but after watching me land a couple of smallies over four pounds that same lure showed up in their tackle box the following year and it's been a staple in my BWCA arsenal ever since.

thlipsis29

Very old lure,Jitterbug by Arbogast, frog pattern. Still make them, but I have 3 different sizes that were my fathers lures, (and I'm holy crap, almost 50) Have to retrieve slowly, to get the right wobble, and its' irrestible to bass if they are looking at surface. And bringing it back slowly and/or stopping and going it, kinda makes it suspenseful for the angler, 'cause you know it will get slammed sooner or later, but when is the question.

Chug Bug 3/8 oz, any pattern. I use them all (Jitterbug, Zara Spook, Torpedo, Jointed Rapala, Skitter Pop) but this one is the best! Casts like a bullet, pushes a lot of water and has a rattle. Out fishes the rest every time. Distant second is Zara Spook (Sorry old buddy, but I have a new favorite).

In my 20+ years of fishing for smallies in the boundary waters, I have found that topwater lure type is not as important as fishing topwater lures at the right time of day. The key is to cast topwaters very close to the shore during the first hour of daylight in the morning, or the last hour of daylight in the evening. The water is very calm, and the sun is below the horizon. Since I am normally sawing logs at 5:00 am, the golden hour for me is in the evening. If you cast topwater lures towards the shore during this golden hour, really any type will work. There are many that I would consider using. Zara Puppy, Hula Popper, Jitterbug, Pop-R, Skitter Pop, floating Rapala minnow, floating Rapala jointed minnow, Tiny Torpedo, etc. And in my experience, it seems like the color doesn't seem to matter much. The key is just to drop a floating lure in near the shore during the golden hour. The timing is critical.

With that said, I understand that you have your undies in the bundle attempting to get people to commit to one topwater lure, and if I don't say what my favorite is, then I will have hell to pay. :)

So, if I were forced to bring only one topwater lure for smallies, I would bring a gold and black Rapala jointed floating minnow in size J-9.

In the last two years, I have also had good luck with Zara Puppies. My brothers and nephew call Zara Puppies "crack pipes" because they are like crack for smallies -- they can't resist them.

ONCE again...you just cant seem to grasp the original question...

"favorite surface LURE..." singular.

which ONE (singular) :) Jan

Heddon torpedo's No this is not the gun post. It really doesn't matter what color etc. I use the small ones but the bigger ones work as well. If the bass are bedding you can throw anything at them and they will bite. We made lures out of bottle caps one year and tore them up.

Hey Janet,

If you took time to read my entire message, you would discover that I answered your question. Time to pull your undies out.

Heddon Tiny Torpedo - Frog pattern, Why the heck do you need 4 paragraphs to explain?

A half pound of C4 with blasting cap.

Paint frog green, float on surface.

When bass approaches, squeeze detonator.

Maybe you can take out 30-40 of these invasive species in one shot with this method, God willing.

Smallies, YUCK:)

Because, in my opinion, the type of topwater lure is not very important. This is a discussion board right? I was discussing.

nevermind....lol

that reminded me of a post i made on "another" bbs.

i asked a simple question about bending branches beavertail paddles.

if you have one....do you like it?

one responder described how much he liked his carbon fiber bent shaft....he went on and on. never even mentioning the paddle i originally asked about.

(shaking head) its not that difficult. it was a straight forward question.

just like this question was.

Jan

I answered your question.

refer to BASSMASTER's post. :)

geesh---so the guy likes to explain things big freekin deal. It must be a terrible thing to have someone on the board willing to share knowledge.

My second best topwater (first on my list was taken by The Great Outdoors) is D-Con ---those boogers will bite on anything you throw in the water.

Tim

Hey Great Outdoors,

I am surprised that, as a local outfitter, you would disparage the smallmouth bass? I would bet that about 50% of your out-of-state customers are coming to the BWCA due in part to the smallmouth bass fishing.

I have good luck with both the moss mouse (white) and a smaller hula popper (any color)

I'm with buz on the frog pattern Jitterbug.

My favorite is the Heddon Super Spook. Works best in slightly choppy waters. They don't have to be actively feeding--I think it just pisses 'em off and they slam it!

Hey Catfish---what cadence do you use with the big Chugbugs?

I have had tremendous top water action with Rebel Pop Rs for smallmouth, largemouth and pike - black over silver. The cupped lip makes this great, low blooping sound when the lure is popped - brings them in from across the lake! A must have IMHO.

Jeesh, methinks Kanoes, Bromel and myself need to get back to the woods and water soon.

Looks like Bromel answered the question in his third paragraph.......and yes, my friends and I are the folks that comes to the BWCA for the smallie fishing.

Heddon Spoon. Frog pattern.

I'll take a blue/silver Heddon Torpedo over anything.

Bromel,

It's not all about money.

It's about watching our native species disappear.

I would trade all the money in the world to go back to 1850.

Never could type fast accurately. Spook, not spoon.

EASY answer:

Heddon Tiny Torpedo - Silver

-Brian

(Right on kanoes ..one more time..HA)

Black Jitterbug 3" size...

Woodpecker

when they are on top and I can see them, my bowfishing rig cant be beat. J/K

I am a fan of the tiny torpedo. a nuclear torpedo is the next best thing...

Bromel,

I prefer to think that all visitors are coming to the Ely area to catch a true fish, the Walleye.

It's just that only 50% succeed, the other 50% have to settle for "THEM"!! :)

Not an outfitter, just a lowly bait shop person.

I program all bait sold to catch walleye.

Unfortunately, some "do it your selfers" cannot resist tampering with the settings, and therefore end up with bass! :)

Rapala skitter-pop in blue/white
(I was going to say accordion shaped lure that plays a polka, but I thought TGO would threaten to call homeland security again!)

Dan

As TGO knows,I drive 1200 miles each way to catch smallmouth. But just to mix things up from time to time, I like to tie on a crankbait and catch a few 6 and 7 pound walleyes. When the bite is tough, TGO's leeches can be reprogrammed to catch crappie and bass too.

CaptnDan:

You would be correct in that assumption about calling homeland security:)

However, as I ponder your accordian shaped/polka playing lure (threat), I think this may just be the answer I have been looking for.

Assuming that no self respecting Walleye would come into the area with this atrocity present, Bass would crowd around it because they are DUMB!

Eventually the pain of listening to the accordian would have to overcome them. (they are stupid, but still living creatures and can only take so much)

They would dart away at full speed, with those little fins over their ears, out of control, crash into rocks, and die.

A mass suicide, if you will!!

We may be on to a good thing here!!!! :)

We could call this thing, the "Polka-Oreno."

BWCA smallmouth are dumb in dramatic contrast to their southern counterparts. Smallmouth bass are smarter than most of the people in Tennessee. Makes me wonder.....

This lure, the Spro Bronzeye Frog gets more hits than any other topwater lure I have tried. Problem is, only 1 in 20 hits result in hookset. I count to 5 out loud, wait till the fish turns away, set sideways, nothing works. Pull it out of their mouth and they will turn around and hit it agian it is so lifelike. Very frustrating!

You should add a trailer hook to that thing.

that would sort of defeat the purpose of it being weedless. :)

Ummm, there typically aren't that many weeds in the BWCA where you fish for smallies. I do most of my smallie fishing along boulder-strewn shorelines. Thus, not much need for weedless hooks. Using a trailer would be helpful on that lure.

By the way, thanks for the feeble attempt to drag my fatal bear attack thread out of the archives. We need to find you a hobby. :) Sending a hug right now...

Bromel,
That picture you posted above looks very familiar, yet strangely different. Did you lighten the color of the fish or something?

Hmmmm. Yeah. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is definitely different...hmmmm...now what is it...hmmmm.

I like the hula popper...frog pattern.
By the way I was happy to see the fatal bear attack thread again.....Memories... :)

Storm's CHUG BUG

set the hook in 2-3 seconds with those soft frogs, not 5

Early in the evening original floating Rapala in black and silver, later in the evening black Jitterbug.

how about this one? :)

All you Minnesotans hate the smallmouth as an evasive species...and that said......I say although I agree, They are a blast to catch...

Woodpecker

CORRECTION: INVASIVE

Hey Woody,

I have luckily never found smallies to be too evasive from my lures, and thats a good thing!!!

As an invasive species, well I don't have a strong opinion, i'm with u, they are fun to catch!

How about a discussion of those Iowans and their treatment of the english language!! (just joking LOL)

Thanks Buz I stand corrected

Woodpecker

is it wrong to grab live frogs hook em in the hind leg?? i am more than positive this works.

its not wrong and its one hell of a great live bait presentation.

then i suggest using frogs! and watch the water explode.

Heddon Lucky 13 in Bullfrog color.

Some classic Kanoes happening on this thread!

quote amhacker22: "Some classic Kanoes happening on this thread!"

+1

Original Floating Rapala

quote Basspro69: "Original Floating Rapala"

I'd say mine is Heddon Tiny (or next size larger 'Baby') Torpedo in Bullfrog, which makes me think I need to try the Lucky 13 bullfrog that QMike esteems so highly.

Basspro, can you give me a little more info on the floating rap on the surface (i.e. some preferred colors, sizes, retrieve methods)???? Thanks!

Heddon super spook jr in Florida bass color.

quote Basspro69: "Original Floating Rapala"

Same. F13 because it casts a good, long ways and orange to see it in the chop or mist.

quote amhacker22: "Some classic Kanoes happening on this thread!"

lol for sure!

My favorite sm bass lure is the one that doesn't catch them. :)

quote Bumstead: "

quote Basspro69: "Original Floating Rapala"

I'd say mine is Heddon Tiny (or next size larger 'Baby') Torpedo in Bullfrog, which makes me think I need to try the Lucky 13 bullfrog that QMike esteems so highly.


Basspro, can you give me a little more info on the floating rap on the surface (i.e. some preferred colors, sizes, retrieve methods)???? Thanks!"

I really believe the color isn't as important as letting it sit on the surface long enough before the first twitch. I experiment with this and then it's twitch sit, twitch sit. If its not hit within about 10 feet of the original starting spot I burn it back subsurface to start over. There have been some vicious strikes doing this also but its rare.

I second the orginal floating rap. I typically use a #9 perch - twitch, twitch, pause, crank it down a bite, let it rise, pause, twitch, pause, etc...

So fun to post on an old thread by Jan aka Kanoes.

Pop-R about 3" in length, green/frog pattern.

Keep someone in your thoughts and they live forever...

What happened to Kanoes? I'm new to the forums.

quote WishfulWalleye: "What happened to Kanoes? I'm new to the forums.
"

He passed onto heaven RIP