I recently read a BWJ article on early season bronzeback trips. I have a lucky heddon 13 in the bullfrog and a few others such as the Pop n Image with the dressed bucktail treble. But their are so many others.....what is everyone's go-to topwater lure?

Stu mentions (if I remember these correctly) these:

Excalibur Z pop

Rebel Super Pop R

Heddon popper in Bullfrog

Rapala Skitter Pop

Pop N Image

Any others?

Jitterbug.

Colors? Size? How/when to deploy? I need convincing to leap in and buy a heap of them :)

I wouldn't suggest buying a heap of them. I have green frog, yellow, and black. One of each. Not sure of size, whatever seems normal. Those are the only topwaters I have. They do the job. 8-)

I use them early/late in the day, low light, little or no wind. If your buddy is breaking wind, it's too much. ;D

HighnDry wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2016 at 11:26pm:

Colors? Size? How/when to deploy? I need convincing to leap in and buy a heap of them :)

I suscribe to your opinion on this OS. I already have the three that I mentioned plus    (You need to Login or Register that I inherited from my uncle in southern Illinois ages ago.

I don't think I need a lot more, just maybe one or two more that produce a different sound or vibration. The jitterbug or a skitter pop might be do that.

Skitter Pop is my " go to" smallmouth top water bait. I have begun to use Heddon 13 in bullfrog color the past 2 seasons ... An excellent topwater lure but not quite as effective as a Skitter Pop.

Sometimes when it seems too early for them to hit the top water poppers I've gotten smallies by ripping them hard n fast.

I've read about that technique and tried it as well. I've also used spinners, in-line spinners with bucktail trebles and the occasional floating rap. Jigs with plastics have worked in early morning in Quetico with proper color (usually yellow jigs, black plastic leeches and tipped with grey/white minnows). I'm always looking for ideas on how to fish SM because I don't usually target them.

I use Skitterpops and Rebel Pop R's. Also have mini torpedos and jitterbugs.  A 3" floating Rapala is very versatile as you can retrieve just under the surface then let it float up and sit.  Caught many a fish this way.

I read that BWJ article and Stu has demoted the Skitterpop saying it's a bit hard to "work".  You do have to finesse them that's for sure.  He also mentioned the Z-Pop is discontinued.

its not a popper, well neither of the 2 topwaters that i use are, but i like the heddon torpedo and the xrap prop. the xrap prop is my favorite, its a better casting version of the smithwick devil horse. its a long skinny bait with 2 propellers.

ive bring them both with every trip to the Q, and use them some, but it seems that the times where it is really good topwater, dawn/dusk and glass calm, i would rather be trolling for trout(mornings) or for walleyes(evenings)

Like Jax, i've got a heddon tiny torpedo and an ancient smithwick devils horse.
Between the two of them they probably get fished and average of 5 min/yr.
Also have a little heddon tiny lucky 13 that i've had from a yout. not a true topwater but close. that thing was productive back in the 70's (grade school). it's coming out of retirement this year.  Between the BWJ article, this thread, and a friend that can't stop taking about all the topwater action he had last year, I will probably also pick up a Pop-R and focus more on the surface. 

I have the same affliction. I have usually given SM a pass but this year they may get more attention. I went to Stu's presentation at Copia and it's always entertaining to see his copious collection of planos (I counted 15) for his guided trips. He admits that he doesn't pack light when it comes to tackle. His articles are always a good read where they pertain to the Grand Slam fishing. I approach these with the perspective that I can't afford nor do I want to pick up all of the lures he suggests. However it's fun to ponder the possibilities and then mix and match color, sizes and types to go with your own fishing approach to any species. If I find an Excalibur Z pop on sale I might pick it up but Super Pop Rs and Skitter pops are more likely to be in my price range.

I'm looking at 6'6" 2 pc. graphite rods but haven't seen a Compre-60M2B anywhere (although that one is a 6ft-er). Anyone have suggestions on a good graphite medium-fast at 6'6" that doesn't break the bank?

I have carried a couple top water lures in the past but always seem to go to the floating Rapala. Pretty versatile and it can be worked so many ways. Have had some very memorable times 'twitching Rapalas'.   

chaga wrote on Apr 5^th, 2016 at 9:25pm:

I have carried a couple top water lures in the past but always seem to go to the floating Rapala. Pretty versatile and it can be worked so many ways. Have had some very memorable times 'twitching Rapalas'.

Good point! I use these as well. I also fish these that I make to break up the monotony of using only say, the poppers:

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Quote:

I'm looking at 6'6" 2 pc. graphite rods but haven't seen a Compre-60M2B anywhere (although that one is a 6ft-er). Anyone have suggestions on a good graphite medium-fast at 6'6" that doesn't break the bank?

I know they're not considered as prime rods by the really serious fishermen, BUT I have one of these Elite rods but it's a 7 ft one. I think for the money it's more than a decent rod and with braid line it's a sensitive as I AM  ;) ;D ;D

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Stu's reason for two piece rods is he's afraid of snagging them on the trail and he likes the shorter case. 

I've never gone this route and bring two one piece 7' rods.  On travel days they get put in a cordura rod sleeve that goes under the gunwale. I like 7 footers for their leverage when low in a canoe. I use St. Croix.

Quote:

I've never gone this route and bring two one piece 7' rods.

I have 2- 7 ft rods, one is a one piece which is my dedicated trolling rod and the other the 2-piece is my walleye/SM/LT when I casting from canoe or shore.

If you set your canoe up for them and carry them with the canoe, I don't think it's any more inconvenient than a case which people have been known to leave on portages.

That 7 ft is nice as you say for the leverage.

Stu also mentions his switch to braided line.  I bought some for the first time in 2015 and I love it.  It is a lot more money but it has a lot of good stuff going for it. I'd hate to lose a large fish to frayed mono that broke.

as far as i know, gander mountain labled rods are still built on fenwick blanks. i have a large collection of gander brand rods as well as st croix and fenwick.

based on my setups, most of my topwater fishing is done on my baitcaster which is a 6'6" gander 'vortex' rod ($19.99 on sale quite often and VERY much worth it) with sufix 832 braid. (832, IMO is thr best braid and ive used/use them all)

the gander vortex rods are currently on sale now. the baitcaster version is 6'6" medium heavy action with a fast tip, one piece. great crank/spinnerbait rod. (i like a bit longer for trolling) the spinning version is 6'6" medium action fast tip, again one piece.  great jigging rod and excellent for live bait and slip floats (not in the Q!) i own and love BOTH versions.

as for carrying them on portages, i have golf club tubes (thin walled plastic pipes) built into brackets made of cedar that have velcro on them. they weigh only ounces. they velcro inside my canoe and hold the rods inside. they act as a holster of sorts. i find taking my 2 piece rods apart for portaging a hastle, so if you own a canoe and dont mind sticking a little velcro on the inside of the hull, i would use 1 piece rods. leftover velcro can be used to secure your plano trays to the front and rear deck lids as well ;)

Jax, I'm curious about that rod holster set up you have.  If you get a chance can you snap a pic?  And agree about 2 piece rods.  I feel like an amateur with them.  I may BE an amateur but I don't have to FEEL like one! 

BTW, Stu don't do no baitcaster either.  I bought a baitcaster specifically for the BW but found I suck with them.  After the 3rd backlash it got put away forever. :) I wasn't very accurate either and not about to be frustrated learning when a spinning reel is just fine.

i will see if i can locate some old photos, im going through a move right now so my canoe is at my moms and im not 100% sure where my rod holster tubes are... or most of my fishing stuff..

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this was the only pic i could find in my photo bucket. since the time of this pic, i have flipped the tubes 180 degrees so that the reels are close to me and the tips are toward the center. this way it can handle one or 2 piece rods. it takes a little trial and error to get the reels in a comfortable place so they dont hit your knees, but are easy to remove.

That's a nice set up.  Thanks.

jaximus wrote on Apr 7^th, 2016 at 5:22am:

as far as i know, gander mountain labled rods are still built on fenwick blanks. i have a large collection of gander brand rods as well as st croix and fenwick. based on my setups, most of my topwater fishing is done on my baitcaster which is a 6'6" gander 'vortex' rod ($19.99 on sale quite often and VERY much worth it) with sufix 832 braid. (832, IMO is thr best braid and ive used/use them all) the gander vortex rods are currently on sale now. the baitcaster version is 6'6" medium heavy action with a fast tip, one piece. great crank/spinnerbait rod. (i like a bit longer for trolling) the spinning version is 6'6" medium action fast tip, again one piece.  great jigging rod and excellent for live bait and slip floats (not in the Q!) i own and love BOTH versions. as for carrying them on portages, i have golf club tubes (thin walled plastic pipes) built into brackets made of cedar that have velcro on them. they weigh only ounces. they velcro inside my canoe and hold the rods inside. they act as a holster of sorts. i find taking my 2 piece rods apart for portaging a hastle, so if you own a canoe and dont mind sticking a little velcro on the inside of the hull, i would use 1 piece rods. leftover velcro can be used to secure your plano trays to the front and rear deck lids as well ;)

Thanks Jaximus. Interesting setup in your photos. I kind of straddle the two worlds in terms of rods. I have a Shimano 6'6" 2 piece graphite spinning rod that I really like and a 7ft shakespeare ugly stick that feels like I'm waving a fencepost-- but I love it especially for trolling. The issue of where and how to stow the rods has always vexed me. It seems I'll eventually break them if left out of a case but breaking down a 2pc-er is a hassle. I like the 2pc rods though for tucking away in a tube and your golf tube idea with the velcro would be a great fix. I'm going to look at the Gander Mt. rods as an option.

I'm also trying to weigh the advantages of a couple of reels. I have a Pfleuger President 6935 that I really like but only because I have never fished anything on the 'higher end'. I'm eyeing a Shimano Spirex 2500 but I couldn't say what the advantage might be except that I can probably load more braid onto it and it has a higher drag range whatever that means ;D. Anyway I would love to hear your and Tom T's reel setups even though I'm sure it probably comes to personal preferences for how, when and where to fish!

pflueger presidents are what i own and use. gander mt brand reels are made my pflueger, but not quite as smooth. i have the size 35 president also. love it. i feel its the best performance for the money. they are smooth and drag is silky. i use the 'backreel' feature (the toggle switch) quite a bit when big fish make runs but i leave it turned to the 'lock' position until i know its a good fish. as for the spirex you speak of, shimano makes GREAT reels also, but for my use, i think its lacking a very important feature. the reel only stops backreeling when the bail is in the 'up' position(when the line is closest to the rod for casting). some people like that, i dont. i like the reels that are 'instant lock' on the backreel for trolling and one handed rod usage. the spirex is not instant stop

With reels it's about bearings; the more the better.  At least 6 + a roller bearing for the rigors of Quetico.  I like rear drag as well but that's just me. 40 IPC is also nice when fishing all day.  The Shimano Stradic is a nice reel.  It's about $160 but it will last forever.

There's another thread about skirts somewhere...lures that have them generally do better than skirtless ones. Those bass are skirt chasers. 8-) That may explain PJs choice of a plaid skirt  um kilt. 8-)

PhantomJug wrote on Apr 11^th, 2016 at 11:15pm:

With reels it's about bearings; the more the better.  At least 6 + a roller bearing for the rigors of Quetico.  I like rear drag as well but that's just me. 40 IPC is also nice when fishing all day.  The Shimano Stradic is a nice reel.  It's about $160 but it will last forever.

Yes, I like the Stradic however I had to keep myself within budget so I just picked up a Spirex 4000FG. I figure that I can use it now and in the future for salmon and steelhead where a backreel function will keep me from tearing the guts out of the reel! I also landed a Shimano Convergence Spinning rod, 7ft., medium-fast in graphite. I wanted a Compre but there was that price thing again to consider. I found a couple Rebel Pop-Rs and an X-rap PopR or two which more or less sets me up for the topwater action for my May ice-out trip into the Q.

I'm still "lure-hunting" though :) and I prefer to call them "dressed trebles" rather than skirts.  :)

Nothing like a new rod and reel to put a smile on our face. So Nanda, are you going with braided or mono or maybe fireline?

I've dumped the mono for spiderwire and fireline. My 'new' setup only set me back 60 and was a much needed upgrade over my old kit.

I still hope to cross paths with for that September Q trip to see your setup and how it works.

HighnDry wrote on Apr 13^th, 2016 at 12:54am:

I still hope to cross paths with for that September Q trip to see your setup and how it works.

Yeah, we'll talk later on.  I'm a go for 9/4 from PP.

I'm going to try to add something here in terms of a photo or two. I just haven't had the time. I ignored everyone's sage advice to go with only a good lure or two and decided to load up. Who will carry and actually use the various poppers, twitchers and prop-driven wheely-gigs I don't know. Still working those details out. More to come soon....and thanks all for the great advice and input. More thoughts are always welcome as the bronzeback season approaches..