Ain't Nothing Like It! - by Clay Gill

There is this captivating attention that rivets you to a top water fly or plug, once cast. You become mesmerized with suspense and anticipation. You just about jump out of you skin when the denizen of the deep comes up to erupt on your offering and your look-alike imitation disappears in a toilet bowl flush followed by a splash and spray that may get you wet if you are close enough. It is always unexpected but eternally welcome.

These circumstances could initiate heart attacks. The fish does not have to be real big. It is the sudden sneak attack that never gets old. Top water fishing goes beyond addiction. It creeps into your soul. And then you begin the search for the best and most productive imitations. It is terrible, -no great! Oh-you know what I mean. I am biting my bottom lip thinking about it. I have seen big grown men rendered to shuttering fools by huge schools of slashing saltwater fish. Hands shake and it hard or impossible to tie a knot.

My four-decade love affair with top water fishing started with a red and white Heddon Chugger Spook on a rainy day. An explosive strike from a relatively large Bass sent me on a life long search for more. That plug is retired now in the “hall of fame” box.

There is a strike reflex in fish that drives them to bully things helpless and floundering on the surface. Whether the fish is a fast moving school predator, or ambusher like the Bass, imagine yourself as a stranded or injured offering on the surface. You can choreograph a dance that the fish can’t resist. The reactive strike may even vault the attacker airborne. Sometimes they miss completely and a second strike could result in hook-up. Don’t reel in too quickly, as these types don’t say die. They need to beat out their buddies.

At other times they will only slap or swat the fly or plug to stun it. When this happens, you rarely hook fish but the strikes occur every few feet as you retrieve. It drives you nuts! You fish up on your toes! This is a time to rip the popper to stir the competition.

Occasionally in under fished ranch lakes and some public waters, -on cue, you will see competitive or overstocked Bass begin a feed frenzy. They jump in the air for dragonflies or bugs all across the water, becoming a spectacle. Be ready with a good offering. This is a banner day to measure others by for your chronicles. It can become calm just as quickly.

A brother in-law told me a story of a South American Peacock Bass about twenty five pounds that stalked his plug up to the side of the panga they were drifting in. This giant Peacock paused to burp up a six-inch shad making room for his large top-water bait. After a Louisville Slugger jolt of a strike, and a free shower, you can only hope your drag is set right. This happened right in front of his eyes in clear tannic water. That fish is on his wall now, in replica. Mounts and photos will rekindle memories of that day. Daydreams start right here.

You never forget classic monumental top-water takes! As they say-it isn't the size but the fight in the fish that matters. It become a healthy respect for the vicious Bull Dog mentality certain fish maintain for survival. In their minds, even pan fish are ten feet tall. Look at tiny perch that get snagged on large poppers.

It then becomes a lifetime search for the next junkyard bully to tangle with. You just throw that hair bug out to brush or a feeding frenzy and hope for the best! It creeps into your blood and your tackle bag. You can never quite prepare for that ambush, but can‘t wait for round two.

Try to leave it better than you found it and top of the day to you!