Kent Brown took on an eager group for our first monthly Ultimate Bass University workshop, giving us a great overview of everything topwater.
He started us off with a rundown on the baits, past to present, from those little poppers and walking baits all the way up through the newest swimbaits (we even got to have a little discussion about Alan Fong’s Al-E-Baby baits). Once through the basics, Kent gave us all kinds of tips for modifying the baits; like oversize Gamagatsu hooks for the Zara Spook, or a crazy custom paint job like what Corey Fenske does, and how to get the spinner baits chattering just right. He also gave some really great technique pointers for figuring out who might be lurking on the other end of the line to increase hook-ups and catches. Granted, the larger point of that discussion was the importance of keeping it simple (nothing more complicated than a white frog with a bit of chartreuse to the belly if you just gotta have paint), and using the basics to get plenty of action on the Delta or Clearlake, the local farm (or golf course?) pond, whatever.
With years of competitive experience, Kent has tried just about every combination of rod/reel/line with those baits (had us all on our feet trying to comprehend the San Diego knot for a front runner set up, pictured above), and probably saved us rookies a lot of time showing us some other great ways to set up and why. Basically, we’re now able to make topwater an all day technique wherever we fish…how cool is that?!
If you missed class and don’t want to flunk the final, Kent and Corey had lots of great topwater tricks featured in the May 15 issue of WON Bass, and Western Bass just reposted one of Kent’s articles on the topic.
Don't miss the next one...Ultimate Bass University happens the third Tuesday of every month in the Gone Fishin' Marine showroom, around 6PM!
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