On 1/8/2016 at 9:54 AM, the reel ess said:

One other thing I just thought of. Walking baits are better in clear or calm water as they can be seen from further away. I think that's why the Chug'n Spook Jr works for me. It's never CLEAR water around here. Maybe I should use the Pop'N Booyah Pad Crasher for more bites.

Whereas poppers make more commotion, so they're more easily located in dirty or slightly choppy water. If it's a real chop, go to a spinnerbait.

I actually prefer there to be at least a little chop for walking baits, especially if I'm fishing for smallmouth. Even when there's waves crashing into an area, a walking bait gets bit for me. I think they see too many spinnerbaits around here though, they're just not as effective for me as they use to be. Now I use swimbaits in their place most of the time anyways. 

Popper - Strike King - KVD Splash Jr.

Walker - River2Sea rover

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

 

19 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

 

19 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

 

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I actually prefer there to be at least a little chop for walking baits, especially if I'm fishing for smallmouth. Even when there's waves crashing into an area, a walking bait gets bit for me. I think they see too many spinnerbaits around here though, they're just not as effective for me as they use to be. Now I use swimbaits in their place most of the time anyways.

We have no smallmouth within one hour drive of here. I don't have that good of luck regarding topwaters. It could be the water usually being off-color here. There are days the topwater doesn't get me anything even if I start at dark. I usually try it anyway.