when using a topwater and have a follow do most of you do a figure 8 on the surface, take it under water, toss a throw back lure at them, or do something completely difforant? I just can’t seem to get them to take a topwater at boatside for some reason and am looking for some help.
i like to make a splash about 15 ft. from the boat and then pull it under water for the 8. only caught a few boatside with a topwater but that’s how i got em to bite. obviously low light conditions are ideal for getting a fish to commit on a figure 8. also i have found that a reverse hook set on a figure 8 is the way to go. i used to miss a lot of fish on the 8 and then started reverse setting and miss far fewer fish. hope this helps.
i run the topwater lure under the surface on my 8’s. I like to really stick the rod way down there and then raise the lure up when going around the corners and then back down on the straight shot, then back up on the corner…etc etc. I also always try to make as big of 8’s as possible, in making sure that the corners aren’t to tight for the fish
try speeding up when there pushing water before you get boat side then figure eight under water
Thanks guys I’ll have to give your tricks a try.
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try speeding up when there pushing water before you get boat side then figure eight under water
When you have a fish following your topwater, speed up your retrieve, when you get about 10-15 feet from the boat your rod tip needs to go down into the water, the tip should be about a foot or better under the surface, this will pull the bait under as you continue to reel in, as the fish gets closer start your “8” and contine to stir the pot. One thing that seems to make a big difference for me is to move the bait up and down in the water as you work the 8. On the outside corners I am usually up higher in the water and down through the middle I plunge the bait back down a few feet. Changing up the speed here also helps. Fast through the middle when the bait is deep and slow it down on the corners/ outside turn of the 8. Watching the fish and how it reacts will dictate your next move.
Over the years I’ve heard when you get a follow up to the boat to, speed up, slow down, go to a jerky motion, and keep the same speed, also to keep lure at same depth, raise it up and yup…go deeper with it, along with who knows what else for suggestions.
Personally I now tend to just keep steady and that seems to work a little more often than the other alternatives.
If I get to the point that I’m pretty sure the fish is loosing interest, I’ll have whom ever I’m with, cast past the fish and I’ll remove my bait from the water as his bait approaches the fish.
I think what to do is going to depend a lot on the attitude of the fish imho
Not so sure anything you do will be wrong, just might not be right for that fish.
Pick something your comfortable with and try it for a bit, then try something else.
All about that learning curve. 
Al
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i like to make a splash about 15 ft. from the boat and then pull it under water for the 8. only caught a few boatside with a topwater but that’s how i got em to bite. obviously low light conditions are ideal for getting a fish to commit on a figure 8. also i have found that a reverse hook set on a figure 8 is the way to go. i used to miss a lot of fish on the 8 and then started reverse setting and miss far fewer fish. hope this helps.
What is a “reverse hook set”?
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i like to make a splash about 15 ft. from the boat and then pull it under water for the 8. only caught a few boatside with a topwater but that’s how i got em to bite. obviously low light conditions are ideal for getting a fish to commit on a figure 8. also i have found that a reverse hook set on a figure 8 is the way to go. i used to miss a lot of fish on the 8 and then started reverse setting and miss far fewer fish. hope this helps.
What is a “reverse hook set”?
If your working the 8 from left to right when the fish hits, your going to set the hook back into the fish, back to the left. If you continue the same direction and set the hook your going to pull the hooks out of their mouth. “reverse hook set”
Sounds easy, in the heat of the moment not always the easiest thing to pull off 
If your working the 8 from left to right when the fish hits, your going to set the hook back into the fish, back to the left. If you continue the same direction and set the hook your going to pull the hooks out of their mouth. “reverse hook set”
Sounds easy, in the heat of the moment not always the easiest thing to pull off
Definitely have done that before… its not a good feeling 
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If your working the 8 from left to right when the fish hits, your going to set the hook back into the fish, back to the left. If you continue the same direction and set the hook your going to pull the hooks out of their mouth.
Sounds easy, in the heat of the moment not always the easiest thing to pull off
Definitely have done that before… its not a good feeling
I hear ya 
It’s just like buck fever
Do you guys free spool and thumb the line on a figure 8? I have my drag really tight while casting and I know it won’t give if the fish hits and takes a run.
thanks
Dream’n
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