I used this top water the other day for the first time. I was fishing from shore. If I cast out just far enough, I could get the lure to react how I wanted (walk the dog method). However, if I went past this point, and cast out further, I couldn't get the method I was trying to achieve.

My question: is this the nature of the beast; being that the distance of the lure from my pole is too far, delay the reaction of the bait? Or is this something line change could fix, as I was using monofilament.

The farther out you are the more power it takes to make it walk, hard snappy, but short rod movements. also if your rod is too soft tipped its really harder to walk the bait at long distances.

i have no problem walking the dog at the end of a long cast. i use a 6' M/F BC rig for the spooks and sometimes a spinning rig for the spook jr's if there is a breeze. i also use braid with a co-poly leader.

I would say keep some slack in the line, and twitch as if you were twitching a worm, its always worked for me, or keep your rod tip down.