A Spotted Bass reservoir which is predominantly a Threadfin Shad fishery presents some top water challenges this time of year early and late in the day : The Shad are very small - about 1 to 1.5 inches in size . Although I have not done so before - I'm inclined to try a Berkley Choppo 75 in Bone early and late for top water to match the hatch until later in Sept. when the bigger Gizzard shad will allow me to move up to the larger Choppo 105 to match the hatch better at that time . Anyone have experience with the Choppo 75 when bass are either pressured or when trying to match smaller shad ?

Devils Horse.  It's my belief and others that due to it's size and shape bass/fish don't see the lure, they just see the disturbance.    

To me "matching the hatch" color wise is vastly different than when I'm trout fishing a clear river.....what Bass perceive as Shad colored in various "unclear" lakes is harder to nail down.   I fish primarily a smaller 200-300acre that has similar things as you mention.....lots of Alabama Bass and annual stockings of threadfins  

 

For at least 20 years I'd say, I haven't better a topwater lure for large LGM or any Alabama Bass is a Spitting Image.    For whatever reason, it works so much better than other topwater baits in more open water scenarios.     A Zara Spook of your size preference is another great producer.   

Lucky craft Sammy 85 in MS American shad. Ive had a couple 50+ bass days on this lure chasing schools of spawning(?) threadfins around a lake.

Iovino Slash-It in Blue Neon and Chartreuse

shad for Spots.

Tom

Spook, pop R, and long A. All bone color

A lot of new , good suggestions I had not thought of - thanks !

I’ve had some success with a Megabass PopMax in this scenario. I like the transparent shad colors like GP sexy shad.

Spook, Jr., Pop R, Plopper (or Choppo).

Tiny Torpedo.

I like a Rico and I fish it kind of fast .... Rick Clunn has a video that shows his technique well.... it's not what you think and it works good on spots.... color doesn't seem to matter for me.... it's the disturbance/action.

I retrieve a Splash-It fast like a top water jerk bait creating a lot of “splash” and spitting,  not a pop and rest lure.

Tom

PS, Rico is similar but more expensive.

Pop Max, Rico, Shower Blows, Wake Bull, and 6" Floating Bull Shad

On 8/8/2022 at 5:56 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

  

 

For at least 20 years I'd say, I haven't better a topwater lure for large LGM or any Alabama Bass is a Spitting Image.    For whatever reason, it works so much better than other topwater baits in more open water scenarios.     A Zara Spook of your size preference is another great producer.   

I have a Spittin Image . Man that thing gets hit a lot . I dont catch any fish with it but it gets hit . Sometimes multiple hits  all the way to the boat . I  have that luck with all walking baits . I'll try   again next year .

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

I have a Spittin Image . Man that thing gets hit a lot . I dont catch any fish with it but it gets hit . Sometimes multiple hits  all the way to the boat . I  have that luck with all walking baits . I'll try   again next year .

Yeah I'd say my hookup percentage is vastly higher on a PopR type bait.   Where that Spittin Image shines I've found is when you see them boiling the water around a shad pod in open water.   I don't think I've ever caught a fish smaller than few pounds on it either, so for my usage I'd classify it as a big fish bait

Try the choppo, if they are blowing up on it, and not getting it. Then switch to a walking bait so you can keep the bait in the strike zone longer. Always have a follow up bait (T-rig) for missed blowups too.