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| Slow down those topwater plugs for increased success. The slow retrieve works with pencils, standard poppers, spooks and Jumpin' Minnows. |
Whatever you choose as a topwater plug, try to work the offering at a slow pace. Last week I watched a guy put on a clinic in using a pencil popper. This guy was catching one fish after another while most of us just watched. The key to his success was two fold. He was cranking the reel oh so slowly, just enough to keep the plug on the surface. He was also twitching the tip of the rod with short, fast rhythmic pulls. The rod was working his plug and not the reel. His right hand was high up on the rod above the reel to achieve this. The nose of the plug was simply bouncing up and down (not going crazy) while slowly coming ashore. It got me thinking that I, like everyone else, was moving the pencil too fast. I was getting hits, but not hooking up. When I slowed things down, it made a big difference.
I used this slow approach all week in various spots, and it has really made a difference with my catch success on my topwater offerings.
