Just wondering what you guys do whenever your fishing a buzzbait, or a fluke, or any topwater. When you see a nice bass coming at it, do you continue your retrieve? Speed up? or slow down? or stop all together??

Seems like every outing to my little canal Im getting these HUGE wakes behind my topwaters, some turn away and some take it but ofcourse I panic at the sight of a big bass coming out of nowhere hahahaha. Last time I had a fish come out of this big clump of weeds after my senko (fishing it like a jerkbait) this bass was throwing a wake of 4 or 5 inches high (no joke!) so I was wondering what you guys do? Maybe with some help I can land one of these slugs!

I continue with my retrieve.  I figure that's what attracted them, so why change it?  If they slap at it, stop and turn away, or otherwise don't take it, change the color of the lure.  They're telling you "you almost have it right".  If, after changing colors a few times  and they're still not taking it, switch lures to something similar.  You're fine-tuning at the point, so make small changes until they start slamming it.

What fun!  

a pretty common thing to do is to use a weightless senko/finesse worm after a fish hits a topwater lure but does not hook up. So rig up a senko while your are fishing that buzzbait.

i've had this problem to. i tried different things to make them strike. i kept a steady retreive, i sped it up, gave it sudden jerks, and even let it fall. they all work at times you just have to experement withem. let the fish tell you what they want.

It really depends on the fish.

Sometimes they'll hit if you continue the retrieve, other times they'll hit if you pause and then jerk it, other times they won't hit at all.

Glen is right but you might also try a smaller size bait, or a trailer hook if you are using a spinnerbait.

I always continue as well.  Glenn, is correct, most likely a color change will do the trick.

Heed all the advice above and when you miss a fish throw a plastic right on the spot and get ready.

Thanks everyone! I went out today reading this definitely helped. I had quite a few followups on my buzzbait, so I switched back to a Fluke and had lots of success! Caught about 15 and missed another 5 or 6. I did miss a MONSTER though, didnt see the fish but he pulled harder than a redfish! haha it was rad, thanks again everyone!

Depending on how far inland you are, it could have been a redfish. Gamewardens found one near grassy lake in the red river a few months back. That's almost all the way up there by Alexandria, LA. Just something to think about

That's awesome that you were able to get them to strike. Nothing like lighting the water on fire like that.

Thats true, but the thing is the canal I fish in is totally fresh water, and has no ditches or estuaries that lead to brackish or salt water. So it was either a gar which I doubt, they usually make a big scene at the hookset haha, or a big bass which Im leaning towards because this thing imediately dove for heavy cover and basically stayed in one spot throbbing or "digging" in the stuff. My biggest bass thus far has only been around 6 pounds, and I caught that when I was really little so Im not too sure on what a really big bass fights like...but maybe now I know?

Glenn does actually know some thing about fishing  

Depending on how far inland you are, it could have been a redfish. Gamewardens found one near grassy lake in the red river a few months back. That's almost all the way up there by Alexandria, LA. Just something to think about

That's awesome that you were able to get them to strike. Nothing like lighting the water on fire like that.

Thats true, but the thing is the canal I fish in is totally fresh water, and has no ditches or estuaries that lead to brackish or salt water. So it was either a gar which I doubt, they usually make a big scene at the hookset haha, or a big bass which Im leaning towards because this thing imediately dove for heavy cover and basically stayed in one spot throbbing or "digging" in the stuff. My biggest bass thus far has only been around 6 pounds, and I caught that when I was really little so Im not too sure on what a really big bass fights like...but maybe now I know?

the 9 pounder i caught actually pulled a lot harder than i thought it would so i could have been a large bass, but that would have been cool if it was a gar though  8-)

good job with the advice these guys gave