Topwater colors

[Rebel9921]

Regardless those discussion going on (3 pages worth)... I still make it a priority to get a topwater of a specific kind in black then rest can follow, whatever catches my eye...

For example... there must be a reason why some topwater makers changed up their topwater colors except for Black... also some are adding Black to their lineup...

Same reason goes to pink! I've noticed more pink options in several line-ups... and Im very ELATED!!!!

[10,000 Casts]

B1gf1sh1,

Blow ups are going to happen no matter what color you use and no matter how well the fish sees it. IMO, They are not "always" trying to eat the bait, alot of times they are just buzzing it, kind of like short strikes when trolling. How many times have you been on the water and said to yourself, man how does the most vicious predetor in the lake ever eat?!?

by the way, sorry about my post. Long week at work mixed in with the 2 1/2 feet of snow on my lawn has me a bit edgey. You have alot of good points, I just didn't like the fact that you brought IQ into it.

[ole matty]

Imho color doesn't matter as wtd or properlar bait act like a fleeing baitfish that poppin on surface away from predators that might trigger the bites or shortstrike. But I never had any strike or caught one on it but that's what I heard/read about it. Again everyone have different opinions on it. Maybe color does matter or they don't, as long presentation does or doesn't work for them. As for why does lure maker put color on the topwater jus because they catch the eyes of anglers.

[Rebel9921]

Matty... hope 2008 will change for both of us... getting our first topwater strike would be awesome!!!

[PDXFisher]

 Originally Posted By: Rebel9921

Matty... hope 2008 will change for both of us... getting our first topwater strike would be awesome!!!

What? You've never had a strike on top? Hah....you're gonna scream like a little girl, too! Pink dress for Rebel!

I've had six strikes on top and haven't landed a one. Very frustrating. Makes me almost not want to try...

Well, I have caught a couple largies on a cisco kid topper.

[Rebel9921]

Oh I scream like a MAN... just ask Muskiedream!!! So I think I'll be very SAFE from that pink dress!!!

To be 100% honest... I did have a WEAK strike on a black Rumbler on Forest Lake... but I dont count it cuz it probably was a bass...

This year should be the year of topwater strikes seeing how most lures I've gotten so far are topwaters... Up to date... I've gotten 3 Pacemakers, 3 Magnum Topwalkers, 2 Homewreckers, 1 Jackpot, 1 Tallywhacker, 1 Top Busters... and will be getting few more throughout the year... Last year... Rumbler was the only topwater I had (That I could think of)

[PDXFisher]

Dude...seriously...seek help!

"Sir...put the visa card down and step back"

"One...more...order...from...MTO...Don't taze me bro!"

[ole matty]

I had few strikes n caught northern/bass on topwater but i m sure its nothing compare to skies.

I have question for experienced topwater anglers on short strike. If I had one short strike on my wtd or any tw lures. supposely I kept reelin in or just left it motionsless on water n wait few sec if they came back n take it.

Thanks

[eyehead]

If you get a hot fish that misses or even follows. Speed it up a little bit.....make him eat it and always figure 8. Last year I had a fish blow up on a pacemaker twice. He followed all the way to the boat and on about my 4th or 5th figure 8 he crushed it.

[Rebel9921]

DUDE!!! Im in the MLA (Muskie Lures Anonymous)... and I keep procrastinating the 1st step...

One more order??? Noooo make that uhmmm 10 more orders from MTO.... then I'll start the 1st step whatever that is LOL

Now you just got the perfect signature line right there... priceless!!! On the other hand... getting tazed for every order I place with MTO would definitely be worth it... just ask Aaron!!! I think Im making him green with envy with what Im ordering...

[ole matty]

Oh ok. Becuase my old teacher had used topwaters n kept had short strike n hit the lure in air and he got [PoorWordUsage] so try somethin different when the fish hit it and he left it motionless and fish came back n took it as it was northern pike, was wondierin if muskies do samething.

As for figure 8 I had some1 told me never figure 8 with wtd or jerkbait as its lose action n just wait till muskie go back to same spot ncast to same spot n try it again. So I m lil bit confuse with this part. Shall I figure 8 every single time with wtd njerkbait lures?

Again thanks.

Matty

[PDXFisher]

WTD n jer k, no, prop-style, yes.

[eyehead]

I guess it depends on the topwater. If its a prop type bait I personally always figure 8. When you pull the bait underwater it spits out a bunch of air bubbles behind the bait, which I think triggers fish. As for walk the dogs, I just kind of dance it around on top of the water next to the boat. Experiment and see what works best on the waters you fish.......

[Rebel9921]

I've heard of some who would just thrust their rod in the water and drag the WTD lures down to do figure 8...

If you dont want to do figure 8 with WTD lures... do a "L" instead... and if you see a muskie thats hot... then its up to you to do what you want... turn the "L" into a figure 8 and see what happens...

I dont see any harm in doing figure 8 with WTD and prop lures... if the fish isnt hot enough... stop and cast out... or throw out a throwback lure and see what happens...

[MuskieMojoTackle]

When I get a follow on a Weagle, I try to trigger the fish before it gets to the boat. If that doesnt work, figure 8...it can't hurt. If she wont go in the 8, then cast back.

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

B1gf1sh1,

Blow ups are going to happen no matter what color you use and no matter how well the fish sees it. IMO, They are not "always" trying to eat the bait, alot of times they are just buzzing it, kind of like short strikes when trolling. How many times have you been on the water and said to yourself, man how does the most vicious predetor in the lake ever eat?!?

by the way, sorry about my post. Long week at work mixed in with the 2 1/2 feet of snow on my lawn has me a bit edgey. You have alot of good points, I just didn't like the fact that you brought IQ into it.

i've had fish, muskie or bass mostly, hit on top just about every color/color combo known to man, and anything i've said is based on the patterns that i've noticed that result in a miss or a grab, and what the background conditions were at the time. please rememmber it's what ''i've'' noticed. i also realize others will see other results based on what they experience. really, i've debated this many times other guy's and it's allways the same at the end. we agree to just disagree. i have changed a few views after they climb in my boat and get outfished. but i've learned that trying to change what gives someone ''confidence'' is never a good idea with just words. somebdy ever told me not to fish black at night i'd defend it till the end.

i looked at my post from before and i can see mabe it was perceived as a condesending statement. i did'nt word it properly and if that's how you read it i apologize. it was not meant to cast any doubt about your intelligence, or anyones for that matter. my intent was to convey my ability to recognize and rememmber certain continuing patterns, and my ability to put them together or seperate them. that's all. some use journals, i rely on my memmory. would be the same as me saying ''after thirtysix years of keeping a journal of every fish i ever caught and every time i ever fished this is my take.'' BTW i lost no sleep so don't you either. i hope you have a better week. peace

[cjac]

 Quote:

we agree to just disagree.

Can't say it any better than that! The power of the pea-brained muskie to incite debates of epic proportions is out of this world!

I do think we should look back at last week's lunar calendars or something......I was a crabby SOB all week too for no good reason! We may be onto something......

[HugoBox]

Chris -

You crack me up. That pea-brained muskie has kept me up more nights than my job...

Reading Hanson's post above about colors of fish's bellies got me thinking. I don't where I heard or read it, but an accopmlished muskie guy stated that when he looked through all his photos of muskies for the past year (which were several) he noticed that in the pictures with fish that he caught boatside or on 8's he was more often than not wearing a light colored or blue shirt. He still caught fish while wearing loud, bright colors, but not the same number at boatside. Sounds crazy but his theory was that his movements were less spooky to a boatside fish when he blended in with the sky more. I don't have any proof or opinion on this - just wondering what y'all think. The bad news for me is that my lucky shirt is organe!! LOL

Again back to trying to overthink the insticnts of a pea brained mind - I should prolly be trying to figure out how to potty train my toddler instead!!

- erik

[eyehead]

HugoBox i heard that too... I think it was from a musky video but dont remember either. It makes sense if you think about it but, im with you as my lucky shirt is black. Maybe ill take a can of spray paint and paint it blue

[ole matty]

Maybe muskies too focus on lures than surrounds setting? I don't know what's muskie r seein when's at boatside. Does it look up n see the boat and/ or angler? All I know abt muskie being at boatise is givin my heart skip a beat n makin my hands shakin so bad that I barely cld hold the rod properly.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

 Originally Posted By: eyehead

HugoBox i heard that too... I think it was from a musky video but dont remember either. It makes sense if you think about it but, im with you as my lucky shirt is black. Maybe ill take a can of spray paint and paint it blue

Josh Borovsky.

It was the start of "Muskie Camo"

[PDXFisher]

It makes a lot of sense. When I went bonefishing in The Bahamas, the #1 piece of equipment (after polarized glasses and sunscreen) they tell you to have is sky-blue shirts. They're even called "Flats Shirts". This is so the bonefish doesn't get spooked by you contrasting with the blue sky. It is something well known and practiced by tropical fishermen and I always bring my flats shirts Muskie fishing. Look in any decent sized fly shop and they should have them. Columbia makes 'em, along with many fly apparel manufacturers.

We can link to HSO sponsors, right?

http://www.mnflyangler.com/clothing/simms_clothing/simms_clothing_3xbluewater.html

Example:

[Scott M]

Great tip! I was down in Bone country last year and hadn't heard that! On the flats you have to see them before they see you, so it makes sense. Thanks for posting PDX.

[hanson]

I knew my comments about the color of baitfish would lead to something good.

This has been a very interesting discussion!

[cjac]

Hey Hanson,

I remember making the same comments at least a year ago about the undersides of most fish, frogs too, being white on the underside. RK had a great reply, which I can't find of course!

It was along the lines of me overthinking and understanding it's not just the appearance of the lure, but more so the movement of water off the lure, the silhouette created, and the action of the lure that's the trigger mechanism. Topwaters trigger an instinct and feeding strike, not like a walleye staring at a jig.

Muskies are not smart enough to throw on the brakes and look and think, "hey, that belly isn't white"....especially in low light conditions which are often considered prime topside conditions.

Contrast can help with certain situations, like baldes on a double bladed bucktail, but the black Weagle has been money for my boat. RK like his Mouldy's, again pretty basic color patterns.