Favorite prop bait

[longcaster]

Just got into Musky fishing and was wondering which prop bait you guys thought was the best "investment." I'm looking for noise and a good hook up bait?

[whitewolf6647]

You can't go wrong with a topraider proven bait and stills catches fish.

[PDXFisher]

I'd vote Pacemaker, LOWrider and Topraider.

[Rebel9921]

FYI... Sennett is switching over from wood to plastics for his Pacemaker and now has new line of color... I could be wrong but hes not making the Black Lace anymore... so better GRAB one if you can find it.... Im trying to find the Orange/Black Lace...

Anyways... Long... to answer your question... Pacemaker, Topwalker, and LOWrider gets my vote...

[not_nuf_time]

My Pacemaker looks like a chew toy, so thats my vote.

[10,000 Casts]

I've got more prop baits than I know what to do with but I mostly throw pacemakers.

[porterhouse]

Alot to choose from. Topraiders and pacemakers are really good.

My to-go prop baits are Thunderheads and Waterchoppers. These baits have treated me really good over the last few years.

Brian

[b1gf1sh1]

holcombe has a pretty nice line up. i'm partial to wood, seems it just produces better for me. i think it's the knocky, woody sound. like real thin coats on my lures as well, thick coats deaden that sound alot. for starters if i were you i'd go with the (all holcombe)top walker in regular or magnum. they are just too good to pass on. they even started doing what i'd do when i bought them, and evetually copied. the prop has screws in them to help hold them in. better bait now. the lowrider is a nice loud bait and really nice in windt big wave weather, and the super humper is good too. if it is weeds and reeds you fish in some times the top prop by mr twister is great, just not enough colors, i think 4 or 5. steers nice around obsticals like weed clump, stumps and that just by speeding up the retrieve. good bait.and of course the Bigfish Maker i make myself. good luck new guy.

[Scoot]

I haven't heard of the "Bigfish Maker". Could you send me an e-mail so I can see the lure for myself? scootsfishing (at) yahoo

[50inchpig]

LOW Rider for sure. Great in the wind and waves!!!! I'm not a huge topwater guy but I'll throw it anytime. Also got a Super Humper this spring that will see some time this year. If I ever have a #3 it would be a Pacemaker. I don't do too much WTD.

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

I haven't heard of the "Bigfish Maker". Could you send me an e-mail so I can see the lure

i'm so 'puter illiterate i'd probly send it to somewhere in china. besides i don't think i can make an email self destruct in 5 seconds .the Bigfish Maker was a little project i did this winter. ya know i can install my own alarm system in my house, and truck, fix up an entire house if need be, take care of a water heater explosion and fix my boat, all kinds of stuff, but put a computer in front of me and say ''send a picture'' and i'm like a three year old. can't understand none of this stuff.

[50inchpig]

LOL - Just like a musky fisherman to plead ignorance! What he means is "I've got a topwater bait that's a little different from anything else out there, catches fish, and I don't want anyone else throwing one."

Absolutely nothing wrong with that, I'm the same way with my bucktails.

[b1gf1sh1]

ok, ya got me.except it aint been in the water for more than fine tuning. i think it'll do good. creates a little different rukus than other topwaters, props/buzzbaits i've used. we'll see.

[longcaster]

Thanks for all of the replies, I caught my biggest fish last year (44") on my friends low rider so I'm leaning towards that as it seems to be one of the favorites, but it sounds like I might want to get a pacemaker too.

[AWH]

Lots of great prop style top waters out there. But three of the best that I've used are Top Raiders, Pacemakers and the best hooking top water out there...the Top Walker. I definitely need to give Musky Buster's Super Humper some time in the future.

Aaron

[Rebel9921]

Yepper... AWH turned me onto the Topwalkers... and I love the action... Gonna be ordering myself few more Topwalkers this year... I have one regular Topwalker... and 3 Magnums... will be ordering the Magnums...

Longcaster... two good choices... just get both of them... you cant go wrong with LOWriders and Pacemakers...

[RK]

Hiya -

Lotsa good ones out there. I like Pacemakers a lot, Topraiders, LOWRiders, Topwalkers... Lately one of my favorites for sure has been the Turbo from American Hardwoods Lures. Awesome construction quality and great sound.

For quieter prop baits, Mouldy's Topper Stoppers. Probably still my all time favorite topwater...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[JJJ]

I think I'm 4 for 4 on my topwalker. And I'm 2 for 13 on my pacemaker. Blowup & Hookups. My expeirence with the topwalker is a swirl, the lure is in the muskies mouth, set the hook and land it. My experience with the pacemaker is BOOM the fish explodes on it lure one way fish a different way. Actually one time I did get way too excited and pulled the pmaker away from one fish. But have others experienced the lack of hookups on a pmaker and the sucess of the topwalker as I have? Or is my experience unique?

Thanks in advance!

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

sucess of the topwalker

the design is made for better hookups. typicly a fish, not just 'skis, hit right behind the rukus created by a prop/ buzzblade/bulging blades. also the hair is small and soft and that helps vs the whole bait and hard with the pace maker. the reasons for them hitting from behind are debated but i hold to the reason that they see it as something chasing something else and they hit the chaser as that would be the distracted one and an easier meal. yes they do hook better because their design allows it.

[50inchpig]

Erik Jacobson wrote in a past EA on topwaters that at best, he doesn't set the hook until the fish has pulled a few times on the bait. The more I fish topwaters the closer I move to this theory. Sometimes a fish is just going to miss, but being constantly aware of your bait and waiting as long as you can to set might help, if you don't already.

I was throwing my LOW Rider on a 8 1/2 foot rod last year that I thought was a bit limber but liked the length so I stuck with it and haven't lost a fish yet, despite hooking 3/4 last fall right on tip of the beak, and I'm in free spool almost right away as soon as I think I've got any kind of hooks into them. There seems to be a bit more thrashing after the hit on the topwaters as opposed to a subsurface bait, and if you can weather that storm without pulling the bait out, you've got a good chance.

As far as the Pacemaker goes I'm not a big fan of the hook placement but maybe for that bait it works.

[propster]

Rebel, if you can't find an orange lace Pacemaker Hunter will hook you up. We'll swap ya somethin'

[Rebel9921]

Propster... sounds good... as long you know my DCG's are untouchables LOL

[cjac]

I like the Pacemakers for what I'll call everyday weather situations, and the LOWRider and AHL Giant Lac Suel for rougher water.

Interesting there's not much mention of the Rumbler. Was the "had to have" bait last year. I found they caught surface weeds more than anything else. They'll still see time in my boat with less experienced anglers.....cast, reel, repeat.

[PDXFisher]

Rumblers had a big issue with staying afloat. I had one of the few that stayed on top of the water, as long as I kept my rod nearly vertical. I never had a hit on it, though I threw it in some pretty serious chop on Mantrap and ML, which is the best chance I gave it.