How to Pick a Top Water Lure

There are only three main types of lures: top water, shallow and deep running. Within certain parameters, one top water lure will work as well as another. You should use a top water lure to catch game fish that are feeding on the surface or when the water is too shallow for any other type of lure.

Things You'll Need

  • Rod and reel
  • Top water lure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pick a top water lure that is light enough for your rod and line. Your rod should be at least a medium light action so you can do a lot of jerking to make the lure action realistic. Choose a lure with a hook on the rear and another hook up toward the front so the lure will be semistationary on top of the water and a game fish will strike from any direction.

    • 2

      Avoid jointed top water lures. You will pay more and gain nothing other than more points of wear and subsequent rust. Stay away from three or more hooks on a top water lure. It will be longer than necessary, more expensive and will take more time to unhook from the net when you land a fish.

    • 3

      Get a lure with a noisemaker built in. Of the three lure types, a top water benefits the most from a noisemaker. The type of noise you want is a sharp pop, click or boom and not something that sounds like bird shot running back and forth in a tube. When buying your lure, hold it up and shake it near your ear.

    • 4

      Choose a top water lure that is mostly silver, white or bone in color. Game fish will think it is a baitfish that is so crippled it is swimming on its side. Game fish are more prone to hit those colors or an old-fashioned red and white top water lure.

    • 5

      Make the top water lure act crippled. To make a top water lure act like a crippled baitfish, jerk it hard, infrequently, and erratically with a few quick, small jerks and one hard jerk. A top water lure can also be slowly trolled, provided you follow this same procedure.