Top Water Bass Action Abounds on
Cayuga County Waters in Fall
By George Fiorille
Bass are the number one sport fish across North America. Plenty of great bass fishing abounds in Cayuga County.
Fall time is a great period to catch bass in Cayuga County. Schools of bass that have hung out in deeper water in summer due to the shallows being too warm for them, start to move into shallower depths. Most anglers find it’s easier to catch them in these shallow to mid depths. One reason to fish this time of year is that most outdoorsmen and women are gearing up for the upcoming hunting seasons. There’s a good chance you may have the lake all by yourself.
One of the best and most exciting ways to catch bass in these areas is with a top water lure. A bass busting through the surface to get at your lure is very exciting. One of the most drastic top water hits I have ever witnessed came one fall. As I was working my top water lure off of a deep weedline, the water blew up with a huge splash. It almost looked like someone threw a cinder black in the water from a height of 6-8’. The fish turned out to be a 5-pound smallmouth bass. She must have come from 20-feet away to strike the lure.
Great top water action for smallmouth and largemouth bass can be found on many Cayuga County waters. Try fishing this technique on bays of Lake Ontario near Fair Haven, Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Cross Lake and others. Find cover such as rock shoals and weedlines near deeper water areas. Top water excels during the sun rise and sun set hours. Also try this technique on cloudy days. When bass make their shallow water migrations during water temps around 60 to 50, it may work all day.
There are many different top water bass lures on the market.
5 of the most popular ones to try are:
1.
Cigar plugs, good ones to buy are Heddon Zara Spooks and Lucky Craft Sammys. Learn the “walk the dog” retrieve with them.
2.
Poppers, Rebel Pop Rs catch loads of bass. If you don’t mind spending $20-$25 for a deadly popper, get a couple of Lobino Ricos.
3.
Prop baits, they excel because they feature a prop in the back or both front and back that spit water. Some ones to try are Whopper Bloppers, Heddon Devils Horse, and Heddon Torpedos.
4.
Buzzbaits, primarily a down south bait for largemouths but will work on area waters. Try removing the skirt and thread a plastic frog such as a Zoom Horny Toad. Always fish it with a second trailer hook.
5.
Soft plastic minnow baits, this bait fished on a jig head such as a Damiki Rig has been one of the hottest baits in pro tournaments. Try fishing it weightless over grass beds and other fishing looking areas. Best ones are Zoom Flukes and Strike King Caffeine Shads.
When fishing any top water lures, be sure to fish it on a monofilament line that floats. Many pros today are using a braided line as well. The pros also like to cast a top water lure with a medium action rod for better action. Also have a second rod ready with a follow up lure that sinks like a plastic stickbait for missed strikes. Don’t set the hook on a strike until you feel the fish has the bait.
Fall top water bass fishing in Cayuga County abounds on many bodies of water. Try using the lures mentioned, on the bodies of water listed. You may just find yourself having the most exciting day of bass fishing ever.
Fish On!
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