Sarley: How to master setting the hook while topwater fishing

Let me start my follow-up story on topwater fishing with an apology.

Eagle-eyed reader Craig Chisholm caught my error in recommending a lure called the Pop-R manufactured by Heddon. Of course, the Pop-R is made by Rebel. Sorry for the confusion.

Whopper Plopper, Pop-R, Bang-O lure and buzzbait are the four topwater lures I most commonly throw. Use the Plopper when a quick retrieve is called for. The Pop-R can be brought back quickly but works well when retrieved slowly and methodically. You can’t bring in a buzzbait slowly because it will sink, which defeats the purpose of the lure. I already told you how the Bang-O lure is great for use when retrieved with no motion at all.

A stiff rod is needed to handle fishing topwater lures. A rod that can handle small muskies is appropriate.

You need to spool up your reel with braided or super line. Standard monofilament will not work for topwater fishing. The reason? Mono actually stretches. The stretch will make your line get pulled out of your fish’s mouth when you set the hook. I can’t think of a single reason for not using non-stretch line when topwater fishing.

Vary the speed of your retrieve until you find a tempo that interests the fish. When a fish decides to hit a topwater lure, they attack it from below and behind, usually. Sometimes they barely break water when they try to eat the lure, but more often than not, they attack the lure creating an explosion. It is quite a sight.

The biggest problem in learning how to topwater fish is learning when to set the hook. The fish hits your lure and you set the hook, right? Wrong. You have to watch your lure as it gets engulfed by your target and disappears under the surface of the water, as the fish tries to leave the scene with the lure in its mouth.

This is the hardest thing to do in the world of fishing. It is totally unnatural to not set the hook when you see the fish bite. Sorry, it’s going to be something you are going to learn to do. I guarantee you will pull your lure out of the mouths of many fish before you master the patience it takes to fish topwater lures successfully.

Another skill you’ll need to master here is setting the hook. What? Everyone know how to set a hook, right? Topwater fishermen need to set the hook harder that any other anglers.

To properly set a hook, position yourself properly. Make sure you are holding your rod in both hands. Stand with your feet apart with one a little in front of the other. When it’s time to set the hook, jerk the rod violently across your body, not straight up and down. Don’t worry. You are not going to hurt the fish. No fish ever died from setting a hook.

There is one other aspect of topwater fishing and that is frog fishing. I don’t know why frogs are kept separate, but they are. I guess it’s because the topwaters I have been talking about are used in open water and frogs are thrown into areas where frogs are found.

I’ll throw frogs into the weediest water I can find. I’ll retrieve frogs over the tops of lily pads. I’d never throw a different topwater into pads. Sometimes I catch bass out of the weediest and most congested water in a lake.

Plastic frogs come in a huge variety of colors. I don’t know why. I think every real frog I have ever seen had a white belly. I don’t see a reason to use any other color on a frog’s belly.

• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.