(Editor's note: BassFan Pro Fishing Tips, sponsored by Plano Tackle, occasionally appear as the top story of the day.)

Most fishing tips center on what you should throw under a particular set of conditions. But tournament anglers know that it can be just as important, sometimes more important, to understand what not to throw.



California pro Gabe Bolivar loves to throw topwaters. In fact, topwater's his favorite technique, and the frog's his primary strength.

But as the water starts to cool with the winds and frigid nights of fall, the topwater window shrinks more and more. That's when a lot of BassFans put down the topwater and think crankbait, spinnerbait or jerkbait. Other BassFans, though, keep throwing the topwater with success, then keep throwing it some more when the bite fades and they should put it down.

Time and again, tournament results show that topwaters factor well into the coldest months of the year. So it's a sort of conundrum. You can't ignore it, but it's easy to throw it too much.

Bolivar said it's important to "stay on top" of what's happening and develop your own feel for when to throw a topwater in fall, and when to put it down.

Switch to Shad

A critical difference in fall, Bolivar noted, is that bass in general transition to shad. That might be different in lakes where crawfish, or bream, or blueback herring are the main forage. But we're talking major lakes and reservoirs with lots of available shad.

That's why the frog bite starts to wane.

"You can still catch them on a frog right now, but in fall, a topwater like a buzzbait or a Lucky Craft Sammy is usually a better choice, especially for consistency," Bolivar said. "A little later in the day, if the sun gets up and you can find a shaded pocket, you might get a big frog fish, but for success and numbers, while still having a chance to catch that big one, I think the shad topwaters are better."

Angler Beware

There's a fine line during fall, Bolivar said, that anglers have to be aware of. Basically, you don't want to overlook a topwater bite, because it could be smoking. But at the same time, the topwater bite does fade quickly, and you need to recognize it when it happens.

"They'll feed on a topwater – it'll be a good bait – but when they stop biting it you need to put it down. It seems there's always a window when they get off it. That's when you maybe go to another reaction bait like a lipless crank or square-bill crank. That's when I'd throw a Lucky Craft LV500 (lipless) or a RC 2.5 (square-bill).

"It doesn't take long to figure it out," he added. "If you go out to a local lake and try throwing a topwater, and you're not catching much, put it down. Don't push it."

Stay Armed

While it's always important to know when not to throw a topwater, it's likewise important to keep one rigged up. Bolivar used the example of schooling fish.

"Maybe you're fishing a rockpile with a plastic worm or something – a spot where the bass winter at. They can still push bait up and come up boiling at any point. It can happen at any time of the day. You've got to have a topwater rod right there on the deck to throw at them."

That's all part of being a "well-rounded fisherman," he added. "Sometimes a cold day is good for catching them on top. In the warm afternoon, from say noon to 2:00 – that's a very good topwater window. You just have to explore and see if it feels right. If I could stress one point, it would be to not be afraid to have some stuff on the front deck you're not used to using in the present conditions.

"You want to play with things, and see what works for you and how it works. That's how you start to develop a feel of your own, and your own little plan for when things can work."

Notable

> Bolivar likes to throw his topwaters on a medium-action rod, and he prefers mono. "These baits are so good now, you don't need braid to help walk them," he said. And I just feel confident with mono."

> To read a recent BassFan story about Bolivar's injury recovery, click here.



Have you checked out Plano's new KVD Guide Elite Gear Bag? Click here to read BassFan's Review of the new bag.