Jason Halfen shares how to dissect heavy weed cover with hollow-bellied frogs for largemouth bass.

 Fish on top
During low-light periods, it’s tough to beat a topwater presentation. Hardbaits that feature an array of weed-attracting treble hooks are poor choices when fishing in and near heavy cover. Instead, select soft-bodied topwaters with a frog, mouse or sunfish profile. These baits are heavy enough to cast long distances, are properly weighted to ensure that hook points ride safely on the topside of the bait and have supple bodies that readily collapse in the fish’s mouth during the hook-set.

Effective topwater presentations require attention to detail regarding line and rod selection. Baits should be tied directly to either monofilament at 20- to30-pound test or a 50- to 60-pound test braided “superline.” Each of these has particular strengths and weaknesses. The forgiving stretch of monofilament can provide some advantages on the hook-set, making it more likely that baits will travel far enough into the fish’s mouth after the initial bite to allow for positive hook penetration. This characteristic is generally a short-range advantage, however, line stretch can make hook-sets challenging at the far end of a long cast. No-stretch braided lines make it possible to drive hooks home at longer distances and are excellent at cutting through weeds when fighting a fish. However, the limpness of a superline can also lead to frustrating tangles with the bait and its hooks, reducing the number of effective casts made on any given trip.

The best topwater rods are generally in the 7- to 8-foot range to maximize casting distance and leverage while fighting a fish. Choose a rod with fast action for accurate casts and heavy power for the backbone needed to move fish out of the jungle and into the boat.

Two basic retrieves are useful for topwater presentations in and near heavy cover. When casting into the heart of the weed bed, move the bait slowly toward the boat using a series of short hops. Work plenty of pauses into your cadence as well as instances when you twitch the bait while it remains in one place. When fishing the edges of the heavy cover, a traditional “walk-the-dog” retrieve is often best. Strikes on topwater presentations are vigorous and exciting to witness, but it’s critical that the surface attack doesn’t lead to a premature hook-set. Train yourself to wait until you feel the fish before driving the hooks home. You may still miss some, but your hooking percentage will increase dramatically if you pause briefly between the strike and your response. MWO

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