summer patterns

typical for you guys to get fish on topwater stuff (frogs, heddon one-knocker type plugs) this time of year?

been hitting the topwater action consistently lately. Wondering if certain size fish hit on top, but need to go deep for the larger 5,6,7 pound fish.

With the 85+ degree days I find the topwater bite to be tough during the middle of the day. Had some success early morning and at sunset. However the frogs still get wacked throughout the day (some days better than others) in or near vegetation. I've caught some good fish deep, but Im finding that my better fish so far this summer are still in the shallows and usually in thick vegetation. Usually I find that the hollow body frogs (Spro, Booyah, etc) have been best in previous years, but for some reason I am having an incredible year using soft plastic frogs. My favorite is the Zoom Horny Toad on a Ribbit Double Take Hook. Most of the places I fish have a pretty strong frog population and those 5lb+ fish are not hesitant to come in for an easy meal.

+1 on the Horny toad

Bigger fish ( 5,6,7lbs) are cover/ structure oriented fish. They are either buried up deep in the weeds or down in deeper water on a drop, hump ect. Tough to get them that big on top. Not impossible but tough. The frog is a good bet in the real thick stuff. but a better BIG fish bait in open water is a waking swimbait like an ms slammer or 3:16 wake jr. Another good "big" fish bait is the double buzbait.

Bigger fish ( 5,6,7lbs) are cover/ structure oriented fish. They are either buried up deep in the weeds or down in deeper water on a drop, hump ect. Tough to get them that big on top. Not impossible but tough. The frog is a good bet in the real thick stuff. but a better BIG fish bait in open water is a waking swimbait like an ms slammer or 3:16 wake jr. Another good "big" fish bait is the double buzbait.

Rich I heard you did a little topwater your self yesterday, throwing a really BIG bait at the fish??? Heard you were throwing YOURSELF! is this true?? LMAO!!!

Bigger fish ( 5,6,7lbs) are cover/ structure oriented fish. They are either buried up deep in the weeds or down in deeper water on a drop, hump ect. Tough to get them that big on top. Not impossible but tough. The frog is a good bet in the real thick stuff. but a better BIG fish bait in open water is a waking swimbait like an ms slammer or 3:16 wake jr. Another good "big" fish bait is the double buzbait.

Rich I heard you did a little topwater your self yesterday, throwing a really BIG bait at the fish??? Heard you were throwing YOURSELF! is this true?? LMAO!!!

LMFAO, Now that's funny stuff right there!

Bigger fish ( 5,6,7lbs) are cover/ structure oriented fish. They are either buried up deep in the weeds or down in deeper water on a drop, hump ect. Tough to get them that big on top. Not impossible but tough. The frog is a good bet in the real thick stuff. but a better BIG fish bait in open water is a waking swimbait like an ms slammer or 3:16 wake jr. Another good "big" fish bait is the double buzbait.

Rich I heard you did a little topwater your self yesterday, throwing a really BIG bait at the fish??? Heard you were throwing YOURSELF! is this true?? LMAO!!!

LMFAO, Now that's funny stuff right there!

That's like 175# test

Good stuff!!!

Bigger fish ( 5,6,7lbs) are cover/ structure oriented fish. They are either buried up deep in the weeds or down in deeper water on a drop, hump ect. Tough to get them that big on top. Not impossible but tough. The frog is a good bet in the real thick stuff. but a better BIG fish bait in open water is a waking swimbait like an ms slammer or 3:16 wake jr. Another good "big" fish bait is the double buzbait.

Rich I heard you did a little topwater your self yesterday, throwing a really BIG bait at the fish??? Heard you were throwing YOURSELF! is this true?? LMAO!!!

That is the funniest thing I heard in a very long time, thanks for the laugh!!!

..... but a better BIG fish bait in open water is a waking swimbait like an ms slammer or 3:16 wake jr. Another good "big" fish bait is the double buzbait.

Rich your info is always helpful .... boy those 3:16 Wake Jr's aren't cheap though.