walk the dog style topwater question

[carp174]

Whats everyone's go to walk the dog style topwater lure? I'm looking to buy a few this year and try them out. Whats your favorite brand, size, weight, color? Thanx for the input. 

[the pyromaniac]

Zara Spook (shad)
Imakatsu Trairão (trairão or hasu)

Those are my top 3

[Deluca]

I caught quite a bit with the Rebel Pop R in Foxy Shad, I also like the Rapala Skitter pop, not sure what the pattern is called but its blue top, silver in the middle and orange on the underside.

[boudreaux 23]

Definately a Zara spook in pearl or frog color in Louisiana. Or the Zara puppy for something smaller

[docav]

ima Skimmer, spook and sammy will always be in my tackle box. doug

[pawpaw]

It's not a true walk-the-dog bait but a Chug Bug does walk pretty well and it will also pop and spit.

[WV PT175]

Lucky Craft Sammy.

[-Shawn-]

I love a Swayback spook!   They are reasonable on price and easy to walk.

If I want a bait that will make a little more comotion and still have a true walking motion, I like the LC gunfish.

[the pyromaniac]

I do like the Chug Bug, and the Yo-Zuri Banana Boat is a pretty good one too...  The Heddon/Excalibur Spit'n Image has also been responsible for some very large smallmouths for me.  The Rapala Skitter Pop does a nice walk the dog in its bigger sizes and will also account for its fair share of big smallmouth and some largemouth.

I hope this has been helpful...

[docav]

Shawn great point on the LC Gunfish. i started using them this year and it is a great walk the dog, spitting, popping and chugging bait. it is really a combination of just about all topwater baits minus prop baits. doug 

[Beagle]

Well, I'm giving up a secret, Zarra Puppy for me. I've been fishing it for 30+ years. It second nature to me making it walk, walk right, walk left, dive, and even jump. I wouldn't recomend it for someone starting out trying to learn. I would go with a Sammie.

[rawthumb]

gotta go with the zara spook, easy to walk for sure. also saw fish fishburne fishing with a pencil poper, used for stripers i guess, but he was nailin em. its got a real tight turn when u walk it. gona prob try that one out.

[coldfront]

Well, I'm giving up a secret, Zarra Puppy for me. I've been fishing it for 30+ years. It second nature to me making it walk, walk right, walk left, dive, and even jump. I wouldn't recomend it for someone starting out trying to learn. I would go with a Sammie.

the Pup has definitely been a part of some 'fun' for me as well...

[REDFISH]

Well, i use the X-Rap or skitterwalk made by Rapala.  The X-Rap has that sureset hook on it, use mostly in saltwater for reds and specks and it walks really well.  If it can stand up to saltwater conditions then it should be good for freshwater.  Being from southwest louisiana i find myself throwing a frog mostly when it comes to topwater...or a black buzzbait.

Chris

[-Shawn-]

While we are having this discussion, I will share a couple of my secrets with it.

First I usually only throw a Walking bait when the buzzbait bite is off,( If your buzzbait is leaving a trail of bubbles that are not popping imediately, then the barometric pressure is high and they will be in a more nuetral or negative mood)  Time to break out the Spook,  When you throw these baits don't be happy with just walking them, Really learn how to control them.  Probably the most productive way I fish them is  to make fairly long cast through the stumps, Then walk it right up to a stump and let it set for 10-20seconds, Then slam the head of the spook into the stump,  Sometimes I  slam it 2 or 3 times, this WILL draw a reation strike from a less active fish.  If no strike then walk it to the next stump and repeat. 

[SenkoSam]

XPS banana style Slim Dog and XTS (formerly known as Lew's) Speed Stick are easy to walk and cheap to boot. I change the hooks. Bass Pro carries both.

A 4" Spook is my favorite for early, pre spawners and pickerel.

I never considered an X-rap a walking topwater.

Does anyone use a split ring or cinch tight to the line tie? I cinch tight using a double clinch and make sure the knot stays down under. I also use two double rings on the rear hanger and have lost no jumpers.

[loomisguy]

For me... I like the spook ,  the gunfish and the giant dog x . I dont tie directly to the bait, i use a fast snap

[the pyromaniac]

I love to make the Zara Puppy jump, and I've had a lot of success with it on still-water largemouths as well as river smallmouths...  I forgot to mention the Lew's Speed Pencil as well...  That's a good one and it's in everybody's price range!  I've also done OK with the long-discontinued Mann's MannDancer and Arbogast Phydeaux...  It's really less a question of individual lures than it is a question of technique.  My favorite is to walk the bait left then hobble it right just an inch or two, then left again, hobble again, all the way back.  It drives the big 3 species of black bass (as well as stripers, jumbo rock bass & crappie, and brown trout) to the point I'd call criminally insane......

[Kuntry Jr.]

My tthree favorite are the Lucky Craft Sammy and Gunfish and a Jackall Bowstick.

My favorite colors for the Lucky Craft are American Shad, Blue Back Herring, and Aurora Black. For the Bowstick Tennesee Shad and Aurora Black.

[gillrod2728]

Here is a ? for you all. when do you use a walk the dog lure and where at around structure,grass or other?

[the pyromaniac]

I use them both around cover (especially rocks & wood) and in open water when I think conditions are right for a predator fish to come up for a meal or they're angry enough I can piss them off and they have to smack the thing on the surface.