GEARING UP
PHOTO BY JUSTIN ONSLOW
FEATHERED
TREBLE
HOOKS
EVER NOTICE how some walking topwaters come with feathered rear treble hooks and others don ’ t ? Well , if you look in Thrift ’ s topwater box , you won ’ t find a single walking topwater without a feathered treble . In fact , he thinks that little feather is one of the biggest keys to the lure .
“ The action and sound of a walking bait gets a bass ’ attention , but the feather is what gets him to bite it ,” he says .
Thrift will actually change the color and length of the feather to match conditions , with black and yellow getting the call around bluegill and silver and white ( with a bit of chrome mylar ) around shad . What this does is allows him to cat-and-mouse any bass that follows it , which happens a lot post-spawn . He can change the cadence up when he sees one and let the feather add the extra spice to get it to strike . as the waves kill the action of most anything else .
“ A walking topwater in bigger waves can be deadly ,” Anderson explains . “ Most people don ’ t think to do it , but if you get a topwater that ’ s really heavy — sits tail down , almost vertical — it ’ ll walk great in waves . I like ones that make a ton of noise to really help fish find it .”
SO MANY OPTIONS !
There are many buzzbaits on the market , but they usually either just make a squealing noise or a clacking noise . Ploppers pretty much have one noise that varies in volume based on size . That ’ s not the case with walking topwaters .
If he ’ s fishing shallow , clear water , Thrift can go with a smaller , translucent walking bait with no rattle . Deeper water around shad trying to call fish up from 15 feet down ? A larger profile with BBs . And if he ’ s around bluegill or really trying to elicit a reaction , Anderson loves a one-knocker .
Truly , there is no shortage of colors , sizes and sound combinations to match any situation , which is something both pros stress . Just like crankbaits , no one walking topwater fits every situation . While he Anderson enjoys the Evergreen Shower Blows because of how fast he can walk it , he ’ ll go with a Heddon Chugging Spook when there ’ s a bit more chop , or a pencil popper like the ima Little Stick to make extra-long casts or fight bigger waves . Likewise , Thrift has developed a ton of confidence in the Damiki Rambler , but even he understands there are times where a more subtle walker like an ima Skimmer is a better choice , or maybe something even louder or with a different noise .
“ You can really match the lure to the conditions ,” Thrift says . “ Sometimes they ’ re keying on smaller shad or they ’ re getting a ton of fishing pressure and you need to get more of a reaction or the water is super dirty or clear .
“ There ’ s no doubt they ’ ll still catch fish . At some point , they ’ ll become the hot topwater again . You watch .”
86 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2021