Ok I have heard this term thrown around a lot and I am clueless as to how to use this technique when retrieving.  How do you walk the dog?

Here is a good article on top waters and walking the dog.

Here.

walking the dog kills my wrists after a while

very helpfull

Here is a good article on top waters and walking the dog.

Here.

Thanks, I just read it and I am going to try it with my new zara spook lure that I bought last night.

I'm not convinced that a bass is any more impressed with a Zara Spook that is walking the dog then one that is just retrieved in twitches and jerks.

I always wondered what the 'walk-the-dog' technique was supposed to mimic, wondered if it was a snake.  I was on a lake this weekend and saw tons of large bugs on the surface (dunno what the heck they were) fleeing our boat and every single one fled in a perfect walk the dog pattern.  

A Zara Spook would be a huge friggin' bug  8-)

I don't know that there's anything in particular it's supposed to mimic.  A lot of times when I watch my Zara it looks kinda like a little animal struggling around, and when you're walkin' above a school of baitfish it could be a really messed up baitfish.

Basically, it's just supposed to look like something that's alive and messed up = easy meal for Mr. Bass.  Or it could be something that makes him angry.  I don't know exactly, but I do know that it works.  

A Zara Spook would be a huge friggin' bug  8-)

I don't know that there's anything in particular it's supposed to mimic.  A lot of times when I watch my Zara it looks kinda like a little animal struggling around, and when you're walkin' above a school of baitfish it could be a really messed up baitfish.

Basically, it's just supposed to look like something that's alive and messed up = easy meal for Mr. Bass.  Or it could be something that makes him angry.  I don't know exactly, but I do know that it works.  

I have seen baitfish going that pattern on the surface.  That is what caused me to buy a couple sammys and spooks.

add a split ring to your spook, makes it walk alot easier.

I love the Spook, but if it is hard for you to "walk" buy a LC Sammy.

This is the easiest topwater lure to fish and for me, the most productive.

(Aurora Black which is actually blue).

add a split ring to your spook, makes it walk alot easier.

Add them to your hooks also a spook is way too easy to shake,but be careful u dont want ur hooks to touch they will tangle when u cast ocassionally.I put a size 2 in the middle and a 4 in the back with rings and they dont touch

most of the new ones I have noticed have the rings on hooks.  they pretty much did away with that old hook hanger which was one of the worst ideas ever to begin with, lol

most of the new ones I have noticed have the rings on hooks. they pretty much did away with that old hook hanger which was one of the worst ideas ever to begin with, lol

Wow shows u how much i buy spooks i got about 13 that i bought back in the early 90,s

I think Walk the Dog works so well cause it keeps the bait in the strike zone longer.

Rick Wells

Tallahassee

http://www.fieldandstream.com/fieldstream/fishing/freshwater/article/0,13199,1069239,00.html

Are Sammys really worth their price?? i heard they have a wider and less choppier walk the dog action but have never seen one in action

Yes, Sammy's are really worth it.

Are Sammys really worth their price?? i heard they have a wider and less choppier walk the dog action but have never seen one in action

Yes - and so are the original Heddons and also the Rapalas and some other brands. They do differ in how wide is their woble, how they sit on the water, and how loud they are (I have a walking lure that can be heard from the beginning of a 50-yard cast!). To be honest I am not sure how much the variability in these respects affects bass, but I would think that if in a particular body of water the bass are accustomed to the wobble and loudness of a particular brand (say the Sammy) then it might be a good idea to cast one that is rarely used there.

Regarding easiness to work these lures, the Sammy wins by a large margin, though once you get the hang of it, they are all easy to work. Practice makes perfect. One last thing, they are far, far easier to work on casting equipment - I learned to use them with spinning, but when I made the switch to casting it became much easier amd more natural...

i just got my first sammy today in american shad color... i can't wait to fish with it... its so shiny i would definetly eat it if a were a bass...

Personally, I find it MUCH easier to work on spinning, but I think that's a matter of personal preference.  95% of my walk-the-dog fishing is done with spinning equipment.

Just a note about the LC Sammy: I find that the hookup-to-strike ratio is MUCH higher with this lure than any other walk-the-dog bait.  It seems that when you get a hit, they're just automatically buttoned up.  It may be because the hooks are premium and generally larger in proportion to the bait itself than with other similar lures, but it may also be magic because I replace all the hooks on my Zaras with Gamakatsu, but the ratio is still better with the Sammys.  Also, I've used two Sammy imitations - they both looked exactly like the Sammy - and the action sucked.  I'd have to say that the Sammy is worth the 20 bucks or so.  I also love the little popping noise they make at each turn.