Posted by Eric S. from gateway58.platinum.com on September 11, 1998 at 10:08:57:
In Reply to: Busse Bass posted by JJ on September 10, 1998 at 19:49:34:
JJ,
I fish for largemouth almost every day, and I have still been getting some good fish on topwater, although the ferocity of their strikes has been decreasing. I have been using a dark green 2.5" "Scum Frog" brand frog, and fishing it pretty much everywhere. Vary the retrieve. I swim slow over holes, stop, speed up, and stop again. It's gotten hit in the open water just off weed beds, to hit through the surface matt weeds two feet in front of me. I usually set my drag pretty tight, tight enough so I can bearly pull out line. I use 10lb Trilene XT on a baitcaster. When you get a strike on topwater, wait a second or two and then set the hook really hard. You have to keep a lot of pressure on the fish to keep it out of the weeds and make it go where you want it to go. If you miss, chances are the frog will come flying back towards you. That's how you know you're trying to set the hook hard enough.
I would also try a buzzbait or two around structure. Culprit makes a nice noisy one. I prefer the pearl color, or red and white. Work it fast. I can't emphasize that enough. I can bearly crank my Calcutta baitcaster fast enough to get the action I want.
I've also started throwing some spinnerbaits again due to the cooler nights, 1/8 ounce to 1/4 ounce chartreuse with copper or silver Colorado blades. I caught a 19" largemouth last night on a 1/4 ounce chartreuse/silver blade "Battlefield" brand spinnerbait. The largemouth was out of a pond in back of my house and was released.
Those would be my three choices for starting out, however, I am partial to artificials, especially baits that work on or near the surface. The other advice I can give to you is to make sure you have a full spool of new line and your reel is well lubricated so you can cast far and rely on it. If you get skunked, don't sweat it, Forest Preserves can be a real zoo on the weekends. Consider your neighborhood ponds that don't look like they'd hold fish, they most often do. There are some pretty good ones mentioned on this board if you search for them.
Good Luck.
Eric S.