Has anyone else been struggling with topwater strikes like I have for the last two years? I can’t buy a bite on topwater and that didn’t use to be the case as I use to hammer some bass on topwater - feeding schools, down rip rap, over cover, etc. But it seems like starting two years ago the topwater bite for me just died, no matter what bait I’m fishing or how I’m fishing it or where or what time. Seems like the only time I can get consistent topwater action is when I travel to the Chick in late October and fish grass mats. Has something changed lol? If anyone has gone through this and come out the other side, let me know what you did to fix it because I miss my topwater bite!!! The lakes I fish are mostly Cherokee, Douglas, and South Holston. I only get to the Chick 2-3 times a year. I feel like a baseball player who’s lost their swing lol. Thanks.
Topwater Last 2 Years
- Thread starter JohnnyG
- Start date
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31airborne
Well-known member
I've had similar challenges and I have an idea but it's just a theory. I have absolutely no hard scientific data to back this up. I believe the introduction of non-native baitfish - like blue back herring, alewife, and other pelagic (roaming) species - have caused LM bass to become more pelagic themselves. We all know about 'following the bait', right? When the primary forage becomes something that moves around the predators are going to do the same thing if they wanna eat. In the summer baitfish tend to hang out deeper in large schools. My theory is the bass follow and stay focused there. The food is easier to find, trap, and eat. The commotion caused by a topwater lure is no longer enough to attract a bass' attention. It gets lost in the typical summer background noise.
FishingwithRusty
Well-known member
ummmmm, i cant say what it was like before Sep2016(when i moved here) but if youre saying it was better than it has been the last 2 years then DANG!! ive caught a lot of fish on topwater since ive moved here. in fact there are times when i go out and thats all i throw.
FirstLight
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2008
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- 1,479
It’s been that way in my boat too. Dad and i say it all the time, “the topwater bite isn’t what it used to be on Chickamauga”. We have our days, especially in late fall, but not year around like years past. I have noticed some days if i hang with it for a loooooong time I will run into some fish willing to play on top. A lot of it is location. And switching from a bait thats not getting bit helps too. One day i was throwing a Sammy and not getting bites. Switched to a big plopper and immediately started catching them.
Dropshot
Well-known member
Seems it used to really pickup in mid June...
Hook1
Well-known member
I have noticed too. Seems like you don’t see as much schooling on the surface at sunset any more.
porthos33
Well-known member
Nah its still great! I've been catching them every night on a spook and had one just over 5 a couple nights ago on a spook. My buddy caught an 11.57 on a buzz bait two weeks ago. I pulled up to a spot last year and on eight casts with a spook I caught 7 fish in the same 2ft spot. The first fish I lost and was by far the biggest. we estimated 10-12lbs. Even without that fish I had 29 lbs in 5 fish! We saw a ton of blowups all morning today on Nickajack. Just keep at it, b/c it is only going to get better!
