Longtime fly fisher here, but recently I’ve decided I want to learn how to work different styles of artificials. Yesterday, I went out fishing to fish, but also to practice working different types of artificials. I was throwing a topwater plug for the first time in my life. I was attempting to walk the dog. Sometimes I could get the plug to move back and forth real nice, but other times it seemed I had reeled to much line in between twitches and the plug just moved straight forward through the water. My thought was that if I had a reel that had a slower retrieve it would be easier to get the plug to do its action correctly. Basically my question is what are the benefits of different speeds of retrieves versus the artificials you are using (I know this is a very broad topic) I am just looking for some advice for a newbie to the world of working artificials with a spinning rod.
1720 Key West Sportsman
115 Mercury 4 stroke
-or-
1997 Honda Civic 200k+
My Own 2 Feet
I much prefer a lower retrieve ratio reel for working walk the dog topwater baits. My go to set up is an Abu Garcia Morrum 3600 with a 5.1:1 ratio on a custom made 6’6" St. Croix. The ratio in combination with a small spool allows me to use a steady cranking speed while twitching.
Most spinning reels are going to be too fast of a retrieve to crank steadily when walking the dog. You don’t want to rush the retrieve or the bait will not glide side to side. Rather, as you decribed it gets pulled forward too much. You actually want some slack in the line between twitched so the bait is free to move on its own back and forth. Braided line also helps a great deal especially on long cast when line stretch dampens out the twitches.
Braided line also helps a great deal especially on long cast when line stretch dampens out the twitches.
I have also noticed that braid casts much farther but top water baits are notorious for fouling (line gets wrapped around forward treble hook) Braid is a pain in the arse to get un-knotted, especially for blind pukes like me. Man its a b i t c h getting that knot out when you cant see that thin line and the fish is breaking the top of the water on some bait big time, not to mention the time it takes to retie a palomar after giving up on that ■■■■ knot…
Fishing on the bottom is like having sex with the lights turned off. It feels good… but I wanna see it.
Lights On!
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of dust with a rod in one hand and a beer in the other,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming…
Yeah, I’ve been wanting to switch my reels to braid. Maybe I’ll just do one and leave the other mono and test the differences. Thanks for your responses. Looking for anymore advice on this subject.
1720 Key West Sportsman
115 Mercury 4 stroke
-or-
1997 Honda Civic 200k+
My Own 2 Feet
Don’t tie braid direct to the lure. Use 4 to 6 feet of mono or flouro leader. That way the presentation is less visible and the chance of tangling at the lure is reduced. Another way to reduced the tangling at the lure is to thumb the spool more if using a baitcaster or feather the line coming off a spinner. This keeps the lure flying straight instead of tumbling and causing the tangles.
Thanks, looks like I need to research mono vs flouro vs braid knots. All my current knots are mainly for mono. I need to work on some new ones. I’ve heard both flouro and braid can have trouble staying put with traditional mono knots. I have opened a whole new can of worms here, it will be a fun adventure, maybe someday I can be both a decent flyfisher and spinfisher.
1720 Key West Sportsman
115 Mercury 4 stroke
-or-
1997 Honda Civic 200k+
My Own 2 Feet
uni-knot to join the braid to mono. a stiff rod tip also helps to get that “walk the dog” type retrive. with a kind stiff fast action rod you can do it just as fast as you can take up line.
green grass and high tides forever
jhp----- Murrells Inlet
X2 on the uni-knot. Just started using braid and mono and it works terrific. Yiman, noticed on a previous post you were from NC. I am from Asheville and my wife and I graduated from ASU as well. Miss it sometimes, but wouldn’t trade the beach and inshore fishing!!!
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
I’m definitely torn between the mountains and the coast, not sure where I’ll eventually settle down. Still wandering… I’ll be out tomorrow early morning to try out my artificials again, hopefully the fog is not as thick as this morning.
1720 Key West Sportsman
115 Mercury 4 stroke
-or-
1997 Honda Civic 200k+
My Own 2 Feet
I really like the fact that I live here at the beach and can be back in the mountains in less than 4 hours. I guess you could look at it both ways though. If you start figuring out the artificials any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. I fished forever with a friend of mine on a flats boat and we used to tear them up on exudes, jerk shads, and spinners. But I have a bay boat and can’t get skinny like him. It is almost like learning it all over again.
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
Thanks for all the tips. I haven’t implemented a new line on my reels yet - hence - lost topwater plug (see report). Definitely need to upgrade. I did manage to get the Mirrolure to walk side to side as I retrieved. I slowed down my reeling considerably. I would not reel between every twitch, just every three or four, this seemed to really get the lure moving back and forth the way I wanted it too. Man, I wish I hadn’t lost it. It seemed the bite was really turning on. I bet I would’ve stuck a few up top. Oh well off to CA to get another, and perhaps a few more colors.
1720 Key West Sportsman
115 Mercury 4 stroke
-or-
1997 Honda Civic 200k+
My Own 2 Feet
I like St Croix rods but I will never hoist a fish even a small one on board with it.They will snap in a heart beat.Working a plug requires practice.I will never have a rookie in my boat throw any plugs.Way to many flying hooks for me.Buy a plug and it tell you how to use it.Snap,pop,gurgle,walk and flash.They all mimic a wounded bait fish.It’s your job to make the action look real.I love to work the docks but it’s hard to find guys skilled enough to enjoy the trip.Getting plugs off docks,and trees is a real bummer for me.However if you find a guy that can work the docks it’s magic.Watching a person flip a plug in a place where man never went before is exciting.The attack on top water is just beautiful to see.
Stono, I saw your other reply and your post about checking your lines and you’re right on. Yeah, I feel like an idiot losing my new plug. I used to guide for fw trout and was constantly checking, repairing, and replacing my leaders for clients, yet on my tackle I did not replace all my lines when I started back spin fishing. Instead of replacing that plug right away I am going to replace the lines on my reels and work on the knots. Can’t wait to go again, working that plug was a ton of fun!
1720 Key West Sportsman
115 Mercury 4 stroke
-or-
1997 Honda Civic 200k+
My Own 2 Feet
