Nab trout with top flies

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

I hope everyone had a safe Memorial Day, and you took time to thank our soldiers and veterans for the freedoms we have in our country.

The trout fishing in our area remains steady. Trout are hitting top-water lures and flies at the crack of dawn. Surface lures such as the Rapala Skitterwalk, the Mirrolure Top Dog or Top Dog Jr. will get the job done for those of you casting bait reels or spinning reels. These lures are plastic and have loud rattles in them that are meant to attract fish; believe me, they work. They work best when retrieved with what is known as a “walk the dog” movement, or a zigzag motion across the water.

To create this movement, continually twitch the rod tip about 6 inches while winding in the line.

You can also change up the cadence of the lure by letting it pause after a couple of twitches. You can work it slow or fast. Try a variety of techniques to see what works best to catch fish.

Many times, the fish will strike when the lure is stopped on the pause. Like all lures you buy, read the directions on the back of the box to obtain the best results.

When it comes to flies, I have three favorites: Todd’s Wiggle Minnow, Rainy’s Bubblehead and Hell’s Bay Popper. All three of these top-water flies will make a popping sound when used correctly. The Wiggle Minnow also dives below the surface giving it double the effectiveness. Just as with lures, the flies need to be used trying different retrieves. I find that with the flies, the fish seem to want it when it stops between strips. Stripping in the line with your hand is how you retrieve a fly compared to turning the handle on a spinning reel or bait-casting reel.

The hardest thing to get used to when fishing a top-water lure or fly is setting the hook when a fish strikes. Your first reaction will be to set the hook as soon as the fish strikes the target, but that’s the wrong thing to do.

You need to feel pressure on the lure first before setting the hook. If he misses the lure, which happens quite often, let it sit for a second or two before you start to move it again. If it sits, the fish will think it stunned the prey, and it will often come back and hit it again.

Give top waters a try — it will be some of the most exciting fishing you’ve ever done.