Whether fishing for blue marlin in the Gulf Stream or copperhead bream in a farm pond, few experiences rival the pleasure of a topwater strike.
Spring can offer speckled trout anglers the opportunity to fish their favorite topwater baits, especially at the beginning of the season when big sow trout are cruising inshore waters, preparing to spawn.
Speckled trout are coming out of their winter stalemate and looking to replenish fat reserves, and very few fish will pass up on the chance to gobble up a meaty-looking baitfish sliding across the surface on a warm, spring day. Trout are aggressive, fired up, and ready to put something in their gas tank.
According to guide Rob Beglin of Pawley’s Island, the topwater fishing can be really good in the spring under the right conditions.
“When the high tide is right at daylight, with good clear water, the topwater bite is usually really good around the oyster bars and grass-lined banks,” said Beglin. “Look to catch some of the big sow trout on topwater. I have caught some of my biggest trout ever on top water during the spring in Bull’s Bay.”
While almost any topwater lure will put fish in the boat, Heddon’s Super Spook Jr. is popular and productive — Beglin will attest to that — but a wide variety of topwater baits will put fish in the boat; including the Sebile Ghost Walker, Rapala Skitterwalk and MirrOlure’s Top Dog, Top Pup and She Dog.
For the best topwater action, fish the early and late parts of the day when the light is low and the water is cool. Always use a stop-and-go retrieve, alternating between a steady and irregular retrieve to figure out what kind of action the fish are looking for.
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