Topwater time!

[Navigator]

If you have never tried...do it now because the action is dynamite. I live in the central part of MN and most of the lakes contain bass, which equals fun! Right now water temps on most lakes are around 70 degrees. Top times to fish: dawn, dusk and overcast days. Most buzz baits, chuggers or poppers will work. Experiment with retrieves, size and colors.

Last night a small (less than 300 acres) lake gave up a dozen decent fish in less than 45 minutes. The biggest fish went 19" and the smallest was 15", throw in a few pike and it was a fun night. Nav

------------------
Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Central MN rivers & lakes

[taxmancommeth]

Caught my first on scum frog over the weekend on Rush Lake. Had a bunch of follows and couple hits, but the one we caught was big time hit!!!

We had been tossing bungee worms on the inside of milfoil patches and then watching for swirls. When we saw one we would toss scum frog five or ten feet behind and slowly twitch it up to where we saw the swirl...

This one tore up the scum frog. Remember if you are fishing in the milfoil or lilly pad slop liek we were. Nothing less then 12 lb test and medium heavy rod... No way we would have gotten that pig out of there with out the heavy equipment.

------------------
-------------------------

GET-ER-DONE

[Granny]

We had our first top water action last night. The fish were flying out of reeds with our scum frogs. We ended up with around 10 bass with one in the 18"-19" range.

Granny

[panolo]

I love the buzz baits. I will always fish them. Last time I was out the key for my fish was pad's. Any pocket of pads would contain anywhere from 2-5 fish. There is nothing like an explosion!!

[Navigator]

Water clarity was good, for central MN, about 8 to 10'. The coontail (and other weeds) are really taking off too. It was within 1' from the surface which means, at least for me, I can pick up some bonus fish pitchin' plastics....and yes some of those fish happen to be walleyes. Nav

------------------
Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Central MN rivers & lakes

[Lost]

Shhh, don't tell me this news. Now I'm gonna hafta find me some good areas that aren't highly trafficked by floating recreational vehicles so I can take out the little 12 footer.

[Mark Christianson]

Out of curiosity, what depths of water are working now for the chuggers and buzzers?
Are you pulling them out of deeper water?

The scum frogs speak for themselves. Slop, slop and more slop. I love it!

[Navigator]

Usually I work the edges, whether it's pencil reeds, pads or bulrushes. Nav

------------------
Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Central MN rivers & lakes

[Dan Wood]

shhhhh... topwaters aren't doing anything right now...

[LOWinEYEin]

Once you go top...you never go back.

Where to fish: All shore lines, 5-10ft of water with weeds at or just below - 2ft below the surface.

Lures: Any above mentioned above will work.

Line : I use Power Pro braid, 27lb

Rod : Berkley Lightning Med Heavy, Awesome action on this rod.

My .02

[Lunker]

Yea, I've been having some good luck with topwaters myself recently. Caught some nice bass here in the cities on harriet and calhoun with poppers over the emerging milfoil, and encouraged a couple out of the slop with scum frogs up at our LETS event on Rush. I think fishing doesn't get more exciting than bass on top. Quite a blast!

[Navigator]

About depth...that is relative. There are spots that produce fish for me that are next to deep drops and other spots that produce fish and deep water is a matter of 40 to 50 yards away. What I am saying is active fish will move progressively shallower over time until there a change in their environment (weather, water temps, ect.) that pushes them deep. Nav

------------------
Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Central MN rivers & lakes

[Mark Christianson]

Good point Nav.
I am going to Briggs/Julia/Rush tonight to prefish for league night.

Just might have to set down the Senko for a little while, and try some of them chuggers and buzzers.

Sorry Dan, but I will make sure nobody is looking when I cast out that Chugger. It is our little secret....

[LOWinEYEin]

Nav, good point.

What was the water clarity?

How Deep was the deepest point at which you caught something on topwater?

[Lost]

Bass on top is quite fun. But what's even more fun is when you're using large sucker minnows below a bobber and suddenly you see the sucker minnow jump and a northern jumping right after it. Saw that happen twice a couple weeks ago. Talk about awesome!

Anyway, can't wait to get out there! I'll have to see if I can get my friend to get out on the water this Sunday since it is his boat.