"Get
on the bus would you, we're going to be late for school!" yelled
Spot. "I really do not feel like
going today, I'm thinking of staying home," replied Largemouth, "besides,
I already ate a big breakfast; hmmm, nothing tastes better than a crawdad
early in the morning." That fact was obvious to Spot; he
could still see the crawdad tentacles sticking out of Largemouth's
chops. "Okay, well I'm leaving without you, I have
a lot of other friends and they know where this group of shad is hanging
out, so se...," Spot did not get to finish the sentence
when Largemouth interrupted him. "Okay, Okay I'll
go but this time, I'm not biting that shad with those letters
on their sides, said Largemouth. "What letters?" asked
Spot, although he had not learned to read yet. "H, E, D,
D, O, N, Z, A, R, A, S, P,O,O,K" replied Largemouth.
Just like students everywhere it's back to school time
for bass. Lucky for anglers, bass have not learned to read yet
or the challenge to catch them would prove enormous. During this
time of year, reservoirs all over the mid-south states have schools
of white bass, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass gouging on schools
of bait fish.
The peak periods are early morning or late evening, but it’s
not usually for a school of bass to attack a group of bait fish anytime
during the day. While topwater baits provide the excitement,
astute anglers will fish sub-surface lures or lower to catch bass in
these schools when they refuse to strike a topwater lure.
For the majority of anglers, the ultimate way of catching bass
is on a topwater lure; to them nothing else can compare. Topwater
lures have been around since the early begins of bass fishing. Probably,
the most famous was introduced to anglers in 1939, the Heddon Zara
Spook (www.heddonlures.com). This cigar shaped lure catches bass
when anglers employ the legendary "walk-the-dog" action
to it. Other lures have followed the original Zara Spook and
proven to be extremely effective for catching bass. Here's
the list: Super Spook, Super Spook Jr., Magnum Spook, Super Magnum
Spook, and SwayBack Spook. Additional "walk-the-dog" top
water lures that have followed are the Rebel Jumpin' Minnow,
and XCalibur Xj4 Jimmy.
Classic top water baits continue to catch bass
even after all these years." Heddon Zara Spook, Arbogast
Hula Popper, Rebel Pop-r, Smithwick Devil's Horse |
Another classic topwater lure that began in the late 1940s
was the Smithwick Devil's Horse (www.smithwicklures.com). Jack
Smithwick began by hand craving each one at the dinning room table. This
lasted only a short time before he modernized to a small wood lathe
and began to mass produce the Devil's Horse. Prop baits
still fool schooling bass today; although, only a small number are
still made of wood any more. Other surface-churning prop baits
include Cotton Cordell Boy Howdy (www.cottoncordelllures.com), Cotton
Cordell Crazy Shad, Heddon Dying Flutter, and Heddon Wounded Zara Spook.
One
more classic famous lure company is Rebel Lures, who began production
in the early 1960s. Rebel Lure Company was named
after the Fort Smith, Arkansas, High School mascot (www.rebellures.com). Although
nearly taken out of production, the demand by tournament anglers for
the Rebel Pop-r was so great, the company brought it back. The
Rebel Pop-r is a surface popper that chugs and spits water creating
nerve racking topwater explosions. Other chuggers that have followed
include the XCalibur Xz2 Zell Pop (www.xcaliburlures.com)
and on a larger scale Cotton Cordell's Pencil Popper.
Although
this classic top water is sometimes overlook, the Hula Popper by
Arbogast lure company (www.arbogastlures.com)
still catches fish today. It's named after Fred Arbogast,
who created and patented in 1938 the "hula skirt". The
company has been in existence for over 60 years. The Hula Popper's
unique concaved face makes an irresistible "pop" when moved
in a series of short jerks and pauses.
The classic topwater baits still catch bass today even after
years of being used by anglers. This year though, I may remove
the printing on the lures just in case the fish have learned to read;
otherwise, Spot and Largemouth I will see you at school!
Brad
Wiegmann is a full time fishing guide on Beaver lake and Lake SWEPCO
in Northwest Arkansas. Brad guides for Largemouth,
Spotted, Smallmouth, Stripers and White Bass. He is also a free-lance
writer who's weekly column "Speaking of Fishing" appears
weekly in several local newspapers. You may also see him doing
seminars, working outdoor shows or featured in outdoor magazines such
as BASSMASTER Magazine, Outdoor life and Arkansas Sportsman. He
also fishes the FLW Tour, Stren and local open tournaments. He
is currently on the Pro staff, promotional staff and guide programs
of numerous tackle manufactures, lure companies, and fishing related
companies. You can contact him at (479)756-5279, at bwiegmann@cox.net or
visit his website at www.bradwiegmann.com for
more information.
