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Boundary Waters Quetico ForumFishing ForumTopwater soft plastics
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11/11/2023 01:50AM
Hard baits were mentioned in a previous post used for surface fishing. Lure action/ noise/ surface commotion can be strike-provocative, but even less vibration can do as well.
What is a surface strike? In my book any strike near or on the surface. One foot down would qualify for me as seen when floating crankbaits with dive lips are allowed to surface and then pulled under. I have caught many fish of all species on surface and near-surface hard lures - on Floating Rapalas and small Pop Rs as well as buzzbaits. Constant speed lures like buzzbaits do fine sometimes, but when pauses are needed, those lures don't cut it.
Ever since I started getting into making and modifying soft plastic lures, I've veered away from using lures with treble hooks - i.e hard lures.
Enter soft plastic soft sticks and worms that can be jerked & paused, creating a whip-like action at any depth. One of the best stick-worms for surface and subsurface strikes is Yamamoto's Kut Tail Worm.
The combination of texture and weight distribution imparts a great subtle action when rigged on a light jig 1/32 - 1/24 oz with #1/0 hook. I haven't tried the Texas rig but wouldn't be surprised if it did well but only as long as the hook was 2/0 or smaller.
Other soft plastics do well near the surface when retrieved slowly such as the overhead spinner and soft plastic combo:
#1 is a tapered stick (poured)
#2 Kut Tail Worm
#3, 5, 7 are paddle tail worms
#6 is a mini stick that is wacky rigged on a light jig
#4 can be used under an overhead spinner and allowed to drop occasionally
#8 can be worked slowly hung 1' down under a float .
Surface strikes in my experience happen early in the day and under prefrontal conditions with clouds typified by agitated fish. Also, shallow water near cover or shade along with clouds produces some of the best surface action in my experience. I would never discount using hard lures for generating surface strikes, but I like the alternatives better. I would imagine the above would also do well in small rivers.
What is a surface strike? In my book any strike near or on the surface. One foot down would qualify for me as seen when floating crankbaits with dive lips are allowed to surface and then pulled under. I have caught many fish of all species on surface and near-surface hard lures - on Floating Rapalas and small Pop Rs as well as buzzbaits. Constant speed lures like buzzbaits do fine sometimes, but when pauses are needed, those lures don't cut it.
Ever since I started getting into making and modifying soft plastic lures, I've veered away from using lures with treble hooks - i.e hard lures.
Enter soft plastic soft sticks and worms that can be jerked & paused, creating a whip-like action at any depth. One of the best stick-worms for surface and subsurface strikes is Yamamoto's Kut Tail Worm.
The combination of texture and weight distribution imparts a great subtle action when rigged on a light jig 1/32 - 1/24 oz with #1/0 hook. I haven't tried the Texas rig but wouldn't be surprised if it did well but only as long as the hook was 2/0 or smaller.
Other soft plastics do well near the surface when retrieved slowly such as the overhead spinner and soft plastic combo:
#1 is a tapered stick (poured)
#2 Kut Tail Worm
#3, 5, 7 are paddle tail worms
#6 is a mini stick that is wacky rigged on a light jig
#4 can be used under an overhead spinner and allowed to drop occasionally
#8 can be worked slowly hung 1' down under a float .
Surface strikes in my experience happen early in the day and under prefrontal conditions with clouds typified by agitated fish. Also, shallow water near cover or shade along with clouds produces some of the best surface action in my experience. I would never discount using hard lures for generating surface strikes, but I like the alternatives better. I would imagine the above would also do well in small rivers.
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