Don't miss out on topwater fun

I can easily fall into the traps every fishing season.

Even though I truly enjoy using plastic worms and critters for bottom-feeding bass, I often forget how much joy there is for me when I work a topwater lure across the surface of a lake or river.

My go-to lure has generally been the Little Action Mac, pre-rigged plastic worm and a SnagProof Frog for areas that have enough heavy cover to gag a dinosaur.

But the heavy-duty thrills come from using topwater lures that make a lot of commotion while stirring up a good deal of water.

For example: I was wading a local river on the far south end of the metro area. I had all kinds of lures with me, save for the Little Action Mac. The 1/8-ounce spinners were being ignored by the bass, as were the other plastic critters I was throwing with my spinning rod. And then I remembered I had a Storm Chug-Bug in the little plastic box. The far bank was a mere 30 feet away from me, so after tying the "Bug" on my line I shot the lure to the inside of a boulder sticking out of the water. I gave it three or four jerks and pops and just as I was to retrieve it, the water exploded. A 17-inch smallmouth took to the air with the lure in the corner of its mouth. I saw that hit but the action caused me to freeze for a second because it was a slight to my system.

Another time, I was on Bangs Lake in Wauconda long before the sun was scheduled to show its face. One baitcasting rig was set up to throw a Rapala Skitter Pop, and the spinning gear was rigged with a Pop-R, both lures surface chuggers.

I worked the "R" over an outside weed edge, jerking the line and lure hard enough to make the bait perform erratic runs. A fairly large bass came up behind the lure and made a pass at it, completely missing the hooks. I gave two more twitches and the water erupted. A chunky 3-pounder couldn't resist the teasing as it appeared that fish followed the surface action before it went for it.

There have been times on a couple northern Wisconsin lakes when I tried big surface baits with the props on the front. I manage to entice several muskies to strike those lures when all else failed.

Just the sheer fact of seeing a fish hit a lure on the surface is enough to make me a believer.

During a half-day outing on Shabbona Lake one time, I let our boat glide back in to the no-motor area. My friend and I were looking for bass but we got more than we had bargained for. I tossed a large, old Heddon topwater lure to an opening between two partially submerged tree trunks. A muskie came up, grabbed the bait on the surface and took off as if the fish had jet assistance. The muskie wrapped the line around two other trees and subsequently broke off. But it was a real thrill to witness that kind of action.

Before we run out of time, I suggest you find your surface baits and get to work, using them to dredge some fish out from their warm-water stupors. The action could be the best you'll see all season.

Sure signs that fall is on its way

There appear to be signs in the upper Midwest that the autumnal ways and means are starting to show up.

For example, crappie fishing in north and central Wisconsin has gained quite a bit of steam, with the jumbo slabs appearing in live wells. And on the local scene, the bigger fish seem to have become very active.

Fishing report

Fox Chain: Channel Lake crappie are very active for anglers fishing the 8-foot depths. Same holds true for Lake Marie. The walleye bite on Marie has picked up with aggressive fish being taken by jig fishermen. Lake Catherine muskies decent for the night bite on topwater baits.

Fox River: Another couple days of rainfall should activate the river for smallmouth and walleyes, especially near Aurora and Elgin.

Forest preserves: In Cook County, Beck Lake bass have been attacking surface baits while Busse Lake panfish action has greatly improved.

Lake Michigan: Perch fishing is a hit and miss story, with a few good catches on the far south side. Smallmouth activity at Jackson Park shows promise. Buts it's the inshore salmon action that seems to be the highlight. Kings and rainbows eager to chase spoons and spawn both on the north and south ends of the lake.

• Mike Jackson can be reached via e-mail at: angler@mikejacksonoutdoors.com, and you can catch his radio program is 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM/