Page 170 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2021

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS
S•U•R•F•A•C•E
Strikers
For the Biggest Trout, Stay On Top of the Action
People who want to catch large speckled trout need to fish specifically for big trout. Few artificial baits consistently put more giant specks in the boat than floating baits. Anglers may not tally as many strikes or catch as many fish when throwing topwaters, but they will catch a lot more monster trout and enjoy seeing the exhilarating surface strikes.
“For big trout, I like throwing topwater baits,” recommends Ronnie Daniels of Fisher-Man Guide Services of Pass Christian. “Anglers can catch big trout on jigs or suspending baits, but topwaters tend to draw strikes from larger fish. Topwater baits have larger profiles, so smaller fish won’t hit them as much. Throwing topwater baits is not only a very effective way to fish for big trout, but in my opinion the most enjoyable way. Topwater fishing is
the only form of fishing where missing a fish is just as exciting as catching one!”
To catch trophy trout, anglers must first find what specks want
to eat. All trout eat shrimp, but a speck weighing three pounds or more normally wants a big, fishy meal, like a mullet or menhaden. Mullets commonly swim on the surface. Therefore, many topwater baits mimic mullets.
“Mullets spend a lot of time on the surface and big trout key on that,” Daniels explains. “Trout have a predatory instinct. When looking at a topwater bait, they see a profile that resembles a larger prey fish like a mullet. Most topwater baits, especially the walk-the- dog type baits, imitate injured baitfish. An injured fish is typically going to be up near the surface swimming with an erratic motion, not in a straight line.”
“Walk-the-dog” baits make a scintillating zigzag motion across the surface when retrieved. That motion imitates wounded
story and photos by
John N. Felsher
0 | June 2021
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