river2sea hit a home run with its Whopper Plopper topwater plug. Now the Californiabased lure company is testing the water with a trio of new prop baits in a little different style. The list includes the long, deep-bellied Big Mistake, with dual front and back blades, the more slender two-bladed Lane Changer, and the Top Notch, which bears a single rear blade. All were introduced at ICAsT 2017, and while the verdict is still out on whether another Whopper Plopper-sized star will emerge from the bunch, we’ re seeing a few twinkles in the Top Notch, which I reviewed this spring. first Impression The 3 / 4-ounce bait bears a slight resemblance to the Whopper Plopper 130, with its large profile, chubby midsection and tapered tail, but that’ s where the similarities end.
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Beginning at the head, the 5-inch Top Notch features a cupped mouth with a serious overbite to trap water, and teardrop side vents to allow some of it to escape. Flared gills behind the head push more water.
The tail section is equipped with a flexible soft-plastic prop that spins freely on a heavy-duty stainless shaft.
In action
You know the program: Just chunk it, wind it and hold on tight.
Though not nearly as boisterous as the Plopper,
>> ON THE WATER
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the Top Notch is still fairly loud for a single-prop model and gives the fish an entirely different look and sound. The tail prop creates the distinctive buzz of a tiny motorboat as the lure skims the surface, and it leaves a distinctive wake when reeled at a steady retrieve. The bait runs true at any speed, but winding it at a slow-to-medium pace seems to be by far the most attractive.
That’ s not the only way you can fish it. Twitch it like a popper and the bait’ s cupped nose slings a little water and creates a subtle
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slurping commotion while the prop buzzes and sprays intermittently. Worked in this manner, the resistance created by the cupped nose helps hold the bait in place around, say, bream beds, bushes, laydowns, docks, submerged grass beds and other high-percentage targets. It also helps prevent overworking and fouling the bait on braided line.
final thoughts
The Top Notch’ s large size might help weed out a few peanuts, but it’ s almost certain to attract the attention of some big girls and draw vicious strikes when the conditions are right. It should be a good choice in calm-to-moderate chop, especially during late spring and summer when bass are guarding fry or on patrol around bluegill beds. It shouldn’ t be ruled out as a search bait during the prespawn, either.
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