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John N. Felsher's Speck Fishing Adventures
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Nothing like watching big trout
bust baits on the top of the water
bust baits on the top of the water
Capt. Lloyd Landry, a professional angler and guide, shows off a
speckled trout he caught on a Super Spook topwater bait while
fishing near a beach along the Gulf of Mexico south of Venice, La.
speckled trout he caught on a Super Spook topwater bait while
fishing near a beach along the Gulf of Mexico south of Venice, La.
Unequaled for sheer excitement, few angling experiences compare to
big fish smashing topwater baits.
Among the oldest lure types around, topwater baits evolved from hand-
carved plugs centuries ago to various chuggers, poppers, walkers, prop
baits, jerkbaits and other floating enticements today. A staple among bass
anglers for decades, topwater baits also attract various saltwater fish. A
double-digit speckled trout smashing a topwater bait in shallow water
sometimes resembles dropping a tire filled with concrete into the lake.
“In the last few years, topwater action for speckled trout has been really
productive,” said Gary Taylor of Go For It Charters in Slidell, La. “The
excitement when a fish blows up on a topwater bait is hard to beat. With
smaller limits, people are slowing down and enjoying fishing more. They
are also trying for larger fish.”
Most big trout don’t want to waste a lot of energy chasing small morsels
that might provide little nutrition. They want to grab one substantial gulp
that can satisfy their energy needs for hours. A 5-pound speck can easily
swallow a 12-inch mullet and still snatch a topwater bait for desert.
Since larger trout mainly feed upon finfish, especially mullets, croakers
and menhaden, topwater baits account for many of the largest specks
caught on the Gulf of Mexico coast, although a small speck sometimes
inhales a bait nearly as long as itself. Most topwater baits resemble
crippled baitfish, especially “walk-the-dog” baits, such as Top Dogs, She
Dogs, He Dogs, Super Spooks and Spit’n Images. With short wrist pops,
they slash irresistibly from side to side like mullets or menhaden swimming
near the surface.
To properly work walk-the-dog baits, tie a loop or a split ring to a short
length of 30-pound monofilament leader. A split ring or loop adds more
side-to-side action than a knot tied directly to a hook eye. The leader
absorbs the strike and prevents hooks, teeth or fins from cutting line.
Other hot topwater temptations include jerkbaits such as Rogues,
Slapsticks or Thundersticks that simulate crippled baitfish darting and
dashing for cover. Chug Bugs and Pop-Rs create good popping action for
enticing fish. They can sit on the surface with fish staring at them between
pops. Use mullet or shad colors such as chartreuse and gold, chartreuse
and silver, gray and silver, red and white, bone, black or purple.
Find the right bait and anglers may find trophy trout. Watch for baitfish
skipping across the surface. Anglers may also spook baitfish with their
outboards. Sometimes, propwash disrupts fish, forcing them to jump
behind the boat. Diving birds can indicate feeding fish.
“Finding bait is the key to catching big fish,” said Capt. Kirk Stansel of
Hackberry Rod and Gun guide service on Calcasieu Lake south of Lake
Charles, La., one of the premier trophy trout estuaries on the Gulf Coast.
“Look for a reef with good tidal movement and a good supply of bait. If
there’s a big school of redfish, there might be some big trout hanging
around with them. Trout won’t necessarily be in with the redfish, but they
will be near them.”
Many people run around looking for “slicks” to pop up. Oily sheens
staining surface waters may indicate feeding trout. When specks gorge on
shad or other fish, some oil, scales and fish pieces float to the surface
creating a slick. Fish small, fresh slicks whenever possible. A small slick
erupting on the surface may pinpoint where trout feed before winds and
tides spread it over the lake surface. Always fish upstream of emerging
slicks.
Topwater baits also work well at night near lighted docks. Lights attract
plankton. Plankton attracts baitfish. In addition, bugs falling into the water
add to the food web. Small fish might eat the stricken bugs. Large trout
eat baitfish.
Moreover, small creatures find security under the cover of darkness.
Crabs, shrimp and baitfish move at night to hide from predators, until they
pass beneath concentrated watts of illumination. Big specks and redfish
lurk beneath the lights to demolish silhouettes passing overhead.
From a dock, cast lures into darkness and retrieve them toward the
light. Often, the largest fish feed at the light edges, not directly under the
lights. From a boat, toss Top Dogs, Spooks, Pop-Rs, prop baits or
jerkbaits into the light and pull them out.
At night, noisy lures might work best. Many topwater baits excel at
making noise. They carry internal rattles that mimic croakers or make a
surface commotion. For colors at night, use pearl, glow, chartreuse, black
or white.
big fish smashing topwater baits.
Among the oldest lure types around, topwater baits evolved from hand-
carved plugs centuries ago to various chuggers, poppers, walkers, prop
baits, jerkbaits and other floating enticements today. A staple among bass
anglers for decades, topwater baits also attract various saltwater fish. A
double-digit speckled trout smashing a topwater bait in shallow water
sometimes resembles dropping a tire filled with concrete into the lake.
“In the last few years, topwater action for speckled trout has been really
productive,” said Gary Taylor of Go For It Charters in Slidell, La. “The
excitement when a fish blows up on a topwater bait is hard to beat. With
smaller limits, people are slowing down and enjoying fishing more. They
are also trying for larger fish.”
Most big trout don’t want to waste a lot of energy chasing small morsels
that might provide little nutrition. They want to grab one substantial gulp
that can satisfy their energy needs for hours. A 5-pound speck can easily
swallow a 12-inch mullet and still snatch a topwater bait for desert.
Since larger trout mainly feed upon finfish, especially mullets, croakers
and menhaden, topwater baits account for many of the largest specks
caught on the Gulf of Mexico coast, although a small speck sometimes
inhales a bait nearly as long as itself. Most topwater baits resemble
crippled baitfish, especially “walk-the-dog” baits, such as Top Dogs, She
Dogs, He Dogs, Super Spooks and Spit’n Images. With short wrist pops,
they slash irresistibly from side to side like mullets or menhaden swimming
near the surface.
To properly work walk-the-dog baits, tie a loop or a split ring to a short
length of 30-pound monofilament leader. A split ring or loop adds more
side-to-side action than a knot tied directly to a hook eye. The leader
absorbs the strike and prevents hooks, teeth or fins from cutting line.
Other hot topwater temptations include jerkbaits such as Rogues,
Slapsticks or Thundersticks that simulate crippled baitfish darting and
dashing for cover. Chug Bugs and Pop-Rs create good popping action for
enticing fish. They can sit on the surface with fish staring at them between
pops. Use mullet or shad colors such as chartreuse and gold, chartreuse
and silver, gray and silver, red and white, bone, black or purple.
Find the right bait and anglers may find trophy trout. Watch for baitfish
skipping across the surface. Anglers may also spook baitfish with their
outboards. Sometimes, propwash disrupts fish, forcing them to jump
behind the boat. Diving birds can indicate feeding fish.
“Finding bait is the key to catching big fish,” said Capt. Kirk Stansel of
Hackberry Rod and Gun guide service on Calcasieu Lake south of Lake
Charles, La., one of the premier trophy trout estuaries on the Gulf Coast.
“Look for a reef with good tidal movement and a good supply of bait. If
there’s a big school of redfish, there might be some big trout hanging
around with them. Trout won’t necessarily be in with the redfish, but they
will be near them.”
Many people run around looking for “slicks” to pop up. Oily sheens
staining surface waters may indicate feeding trout. When specks gorge on
shad or other fish, some oil, scales and fish pieces float to the surface
creating a slick. Fish small, fresh slicks whenever possible. A small slick
erupting on the surface may pinpoint where trout feed before winds and
tides spread it over the lake surface. Always fish upstream of emerging
slicks.
Topwater baits also work well at night near lighted docks. Lights attract
plankton. Plankton attracts baitfish. In addition, bugs falling into the water
add to the food web. Small fish might eat the stricken bugs. Large trout
eat baitfish.
Moreover, small creatures find security under the cover of darkness.
Crabs, shrimp and baitfish move at night to hide from predators, until they
pass beneath concentrated watts of illumination. Big specks and redfish
lurk beneath the lights to demolish silhouettes passing overhead.
From a dock, cast lures into darkness and retrieve them toward the
light. Often, the largest fish feed at the light edges, not directly under the
lights. From a boat, toss Top Dogs, Spooks, Pop-Rs, prop baits or
jerkbaits into the light and pull them out.
At night, noisy lures might work best. Many topwater baits excel at
making noise. They carry internal rattles that mimic croakers or make a
surface commotion. For colors at night, use pearl, glow, chartreuse, black
or white.
