GEARING UP
tricked-out topwaters
By Mitchell Forde
Fall is synonymous with a few things – deer hunting , football season , sweater weather . If you ’ re a hard core bass angler , though , something else probably popped into your mind first : It ’ s topwater time .
Across much of the country , there ’ s no better time of year to experience the thrill of a big bass blowing up on your topwater bait . That unforgettable adrenaline rush might be the biggest reason why , despite the consternation about hard baits taking a backseat to soft-plastic minnows and other finesse techniques in recent years , we ’ ve continued to see a steady stream of new topwater baits hit the market . Here ’ s a rundown of eight innovative topwaters that you need to try this fall , including several that just debuted at ICAST in July .
1 rapala pxr jowler 127
$ 21.99 | rapala . com
COLOR : YELLOW PERCH
Think of Rapala ’ s Jowler as a cupped-face walking bait that ’ s been amplified in every way . This new offering is designed to be bigger , louder and more aggressive than the norm , thus calling bass from farther away and provoking vicious strikes . The most striking feature of the bait is its unique , wide mouth . That allows it to spray water as it ’ s walked or create a loud gurgle when chugged . The 5-inch bait contains a dual-frequency knocker that both attracts bass and helps with casting distance – at nearly 1 ounce , you can launch this thing . Armed with VMC RedLine trebles , the Jowler doesn ’ t require any modification out of the package . It ’ s available in 10 colors .
2 bill lewis zig zag
$ 8.99 | baits . com
This new offering from Bill Lewis provides a fresh twist on an old-school favorite – the frontrunner . The Zig Zag is designed to be fished in tandem with a topwater walking
COLOR : SNEAKY SHAD
bait . Tie your main line to the front of the Zig Zag , then tie a 1- to 2-foot length of line from its rear line tie to another topwater , and the two baits will walk in opposite directions . Not only does the action mimic one baitfish chasing another , which can trigger a reaction strike , the feathered treble on the Zig Zag provides the opportunity for anglers to hook a second fish after one grabs the walking bait – not uncommon when bass are chasing bait in schools . It ’ s available in six colors .
3 strike king rage buzz minnow
$ 6.99 / pack | strikeking . com
Another unique hybrid bait , Strike King ’ s new Rage Buzz Minnow is designed to serve as a soft-plastic alternative to a plopper-style lure . Using the company ’ s popular Rage Tail technology , this bait ’ s large , cupped tail produces a consistent plopping sound as it ’ s reeled across the surface , while the buoyancy of the plastic and lack of treble hooks makes it highly weedless . The 4-inch bait fits well on either a single or double hook . Set to hit the market later this fall , it will be available in seven colors .
COLOR : BLUE GILL
58 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2024