During the fall, trout fishermen around Murrells Inlet get a chance for redemption after a long hot summer on the water.
While floating live shrimp or trolling artificial lures makes up the majority of an angler’s fall strategy, one of the most- exciting methods to catch trout, with topwater baits, is warranted for just a short slice of the day.
A topwater strike can put anglers on their feet in a flash, and some of the biggest trout of the season get duped by 5-inch hard-plastic lures littered with treble hooks.
Typically, big trout feed at night, but they will continue to take down a few last meals just after dawn or at dusk when their nightly feed begins.
Guide Jason Burton of Fly Girl Fishing Charters rarely leaves his home dock at Marlin Quay Marina without a rod rigged with a topwater plug.
“If you get there early, they will be feeding on top,” Burton said. “Baitfish and shrimp will go to the top at night towards available light. As the sun comes up, the trout will follow their food back to the bottom, and topwater plugs lose their effectiveness.”
Burton will throw topwater plugs during the first and last hour of the day unless he gets an overcast day with diluted sunlight.
Heddon Zara Spooks and Rebel Pop-Rs in clear, copper and chartreuse are typically his choice for topwater baits.
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