Topwater Wisdom from a Legendary Luremaker

Below is just a bit of the know-how that longtime luremaker and Lake Okeechobee guide Sam Griffin reveals in Kickin' Bass. In my tribute book to him, Big Sam and the Big O, he shares more topwater knowledge, along with helpful information about bass fishing generally and the Okeechobee fishery specifically.

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? Topwater doesn't have to be early (or late). That's just when people used to fish because they worked during the day. Ten to two can be the best time for big fish.

? You can catch bass consistently in water that’s 50 degrees or above. In colder water you usually want to fish faster or slower, not in between.

? The popper is a good choice for cold water because you can keep it in one place longer and its tail sits down in the water, making it easier for the fish to take.

? A popper is also the best bait when fish are holding tight to cover. You don't necessarily have to pop it. Just twitch it and let it sit there.

? A bass can suck the bait in like a vacuum cleaner or hit it so hard it knocks the paint off.

? Your reaction time is faster than you think, so be careful. You have to let the fish eat the bait.

? Don't set the hook hard. Just "snug" the bass. It turns sideways after it strikes.

? I use at least 15-pound line. Lighter than that goes limp and gets tangled on the hooks.

? For 85 to 90 percent of my retrieves I use the same cadence, two jerks and let it sit. I let the fish dictate how hard to jerk.

? You want to use a faster retrieve in rough water to take the slack out of the line.

? A bass will hit sometimes just to kill the bait. That's the predator part of the brain. It's being mean, just like a junk yard dog. You want to "feel" the fish before you set the hook.

? Eighty five percent of my bites come when the bait is still or coming to a stop.

? The size of the lure is more important than the color.