JACK WOLLITZ Topwater lure helps reel in the fish

Nothing in the outdoor world compares to a big fish smashing a surface lure.
Topwater season is here already and the bass are eating lures throughout Northeast Ohio. I scored my first smallmouth of 2004 several weeks ago on the Ohio River.
The fish revealed itself by scattering a school of shad in a foot of water adjacent to a current-swept shoal. A quick toss with a Sammi plug, which sashays side to side, generated a vicious strike from the 14-inch smallie.
Attacking from the air, the bass landed on top of the lure and the hooks found solid jawbone.
Spectacular strikes are one reward. But another is the fact that in certain situations, topwater lures are the absolute best choice when it comes time to decide what to tie to the end of your line.
By mid-May and continuing throughout the warm months, bass and other species -- muskies included -- look toward the surface for their nourishment. When the fish are keying their feeding behavior on shad, topwater plugs and noisy buzzbaits are a great way to get the game species' attention.
Topwaters will work on any of the local reservoirs and rivers. They often are used to fish perimeter areas -- edges like shorelines and weed beds. And they also will pull up huge smallies from Lake Erie's depths.
Hard-body surface lures (most of which have free-swinging treble hooks) are great for fishing areas that are relatively snag-free. If your fishing spot is cluttered with vegetation, try a buzzbait, which features a single fixed hook that points up and away from the stuff that might foul the lure.
In general, overcast days and the low-light periods around dawn and dusk are best, but as with most fishing "rules," there are plenty of times when the fish will eat a topwater all day.
Surface conditions
Deciding on which bait to use often depends on the surface conditions.
When it's relatively calm, a smaller lure that creates a gurgle or small splash is a good choice. Try a Pop R, Heddon Tiny Torpedo or even a soft plastic jerk bait. Cast it out so it runs close to cover and retrieve the lure in short twitches. Vary the cadence until you find the one the fish prefer.
If the wind has kicked up riffles around your fishing hole, you can move up to a bigger lure like a Spook, Sammi or Smithwick Devil's Horse prop bait. They create more of a disturbance and are easier for the predator fish to locate in the surface commotion.
Buzzbaits work well in calm and windy conditions. Savvy anglers know that smaller buzzers work in slick water and opt for bigger and noisier varieties when the breeze has ruffled the water.
In most cases, it's not necessary to fool around with light line when using topwater lures. The fish focus on the lure and don't seem to notice that it's being pulled by an angler's line.
I typically toss surface baits on 17-pound line, which increases the chances of driving home the hooks and ups the odds that you'll get the fish all the way back to the boat.
Hooked
Strikes are so exciting that inexperienced anglers (and even those with many years of angling behind them) often jerk too soon. The result is the lure comes flying back at your face with no fish attached.
It's true, too, that fish often strike a few inches from a moving topwater bait. They don't actually get their mouth close enough to the lure to find the hook points.
For these reasons, it's advisable to wait a few seconds after a topwater strike until you feel the fish pulling away. Then, hit it hard with a strong sweep of the rod.
Even then, a fish might be hooked awkwardly. To increase the chances that you'll get the fish close enough to land, play it with the rod low, which will help to discourage acrobatic jumps that enable the fish to throw the bait.
Patience is a virtue with topwater anglers. It can be easy to become frustrated if strikes don't happen immediately.
But give your topwater a fighting chance during the next few weeks and you are almost sure to be rewarded with a few lunkers.
jwwollitz@aol.com