TOPRAIDER TERRIFIC!

This past weekend, Spence Petros and I had a blast catching muskies on topwater. No doubt, it is the most explosive and exciting way to catch muskies by far. When it comes to musky TV shows, nothing is as good as a topwater strike. While a lot of really good topwater lures are available today, and they all catch their share of muskies, nothing compares to the TopRaider for overall performance, durability and reliability. It is simply the best musky surface bait made. Period. I am sure Spence Petros would completely agree with this claim. That’s why hundreds of musky anglers across North America register big musky catches on this lure year after year. It’s simply that good.

Tackle matchups for TopRaider muskies is a simple one. I’d suggest fishing a high speed baitcaster like Abu Garcia’s Revo Toro 60HS. A large capacity, big game series baitcaster with its extra large capacity spool size will really buzz a TopRaider thru the water easily. The big advantage of a high speed version for this style of fishing comes after the strike. Topwater muskies get ignited like a runaway missile after the strike occurs. The high speed reel enables you to keep the line taut no matter what the fish does.

A low stretch heavy weight floating braid is always the best choice for topwater lures. My personal favorite is Stren’s Sonic Braid in 80 # test. You always want to keep that line on the surface so the lure works well, and your hookset response is instantaneous. A floating super braid in the larger pound tests insures that the line is on the surface so it will instantly explode up and off the water on the hookset.

My favorite TopRaider rod is a St. Croix Legend Tournament Musky Split Grip “Top & Tail” LTM80MXF. The advantages of the extra long rod are many, and there are few disadvantages. Most of all, the 8 foot rod is far superior at the boat. Anyone who has done any amount of musky fishing knows that the figure 8 is a huge part of the technique. So many muskies follow to boatside. Getting even a small fraction of them to hit at boatside is a big plus. Long 8 footers simply do superior figure 8 patterns with your lures at boatside. The figure 8 can be made bigger, and deeper if necessary. Plus, after the fish is hooked, the additional rod length and rod bend is more apt to keep the fish hooked and not tear out the hooks.

Extra long rods also sweep the hookset better from long distances. An extra long cast with a topwater lure is usually a plus. It enables you to cover more water, but also provides added distance for a following musky to commit to the strike. Long casts with shorter rods result in poor hookups. The extra length of the 8 footer helps to set the hook solidly from very long distances. Finally, it also affords the angler the ability to steer the lure through lanes in weeds as well as create more pronounced changes of direction throughout the retrieve. Any change of direction is liable to trigger a follower to strike.

As far as the actual retrieve cadence goes, I do like a fairly steady pace for muskies, but I’ve seen the fish respond better at times to a lure that occasionally rips or spurts forward. Always crank a prop style topwater lure extra fast initially in order to get the prop spinning good and to pick the line off the water. Then back off to a medium fast retrieve once the bait’s prop is churning with a strong plopping sound. With lures like the TopRaider, you’ll often notice a perfect speed that creates a loud deep gurgle. This deep gurgle, for some reason, is highly desirable to muskies.

Finish each retrieve with an underwater figure eight, since many muskies follow to boatside. A few may even take the lure on the figure 8; particularly in rough wavy conditions. If you spot a follow, don’t panic. Just keep crankin’ steady. Try to maintain a constant even cadence with the lure at all times. Some expert topwater anglers like to keep the lure on the surface and never submerge it on the figure 8. They make extra large, wide turns on their figure 8’s, but always keep it on top. I can’t argue with this tactic if it works. But, I’ve taken some of my biggest trophies with submerged figure 8’s on a topwater lure. Try both and see what works best for you.

Be careful not to set the hook until the fish actually grabs the lure solidly. One of the biggest mistakes often made while topwater musky fishing is to set the hook as soon as the fish strikes the lure. This rarely works well with muskies and usually results in a missed fish. This is where nerves of steel win the game. Concentrate on maintaining a steady retrieve until you actually feel the rod bend and the weight of the fish on the end of the line. A delayed reaction on the hookset nearly always results in more hookups. Also, try to make all your topwater hooksets with one single sideways sweep. The natural tendency is to lift up on the rod, but you’ll hook way more fish with a sideways sweep that keeps the overall pressure low to the water.

Once your rod is bent, never drop off the pressure and never set twice. Keep hard solid pressure on the fish. If your rod tip is up, sweep it down and to the side as soon as you can. This is usually the key to keeping them hooked. If they are running at you on the strike, try stepping back a few steps on the hookset. This is also where the high speed reel comes in handy.

Finally, always keep the hooks on all your topwater lures extra sharp. You’ll notice that Spence and I made a big point about that on this recent TV segment. Sharp hooks are essential on any musky lure, but arguably even moreso on topwater plugs. Before you even make that first cast, check those hooks for sharpness. Test each hook point on your thumb nail by lightly dragging it downward. It should catch or bite in slightly. If the hook point slides off your thumb nail, it is not sharp enough. A few quick strokes with a good quality file is all it takes to keep your TopRaider is tip-top running shape. Take the extra time to sharpen your TopRaider hooks before fishing a really good spot might make the difference between a missed opportunity and a well hooked lunker.

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