(Editor's note: The following is the latest installment in a series of fishing tips presented by The Bass University. Check back each Friday for a new tip.)
Second-year Elite Series pro Matty Wong has made no secret of his love of big baits, but generally that has exposed his favorite swimbaits and gliders. He’s also a fanatic when it comes to oversized topwaters in any situation where bass are looking for a single big meal to fortify them for days.
One of his favorites is the Megabass Megadog, a walking bait that comes in 7- and 9-inch sizes. “When you see this thing you just think of ‘big baits equals big fish,’” he said. “And it’s proven it on many different occasions.” In similar situations, but especially early in the year, he also likes the harder-to-find silent wooden Lunker Punker, which has a wider gliding action. That addiction was developed during his years in Southern California, when the winter meant “It’s trout time!.” The trucks full of stocker trout show up at local lakes, and the bass lie in wait. “It’s like a dinner bell starts going off for these large bass to start feeding up.”
As the springtime arrives and grass starts to grow and bass are generally more active, Wong expands his list of oversized surface lures. “Matching the hatch is really important this time of year,” he said. He’ll often use the Megabass Pop Max around cover, and the Big Gabot hollow frog in a variety of conditions. “It’s not just a frog imitation,” he explained, noting that with the right action and color scheme it can be made to imitate shad, bluegills, perch and other forage.
Summer is one of the best times to employ these big lures. “The bites are ferocious. When they eat it, they really commit to it and there’s no guessing that you got a bite.” Because of their aggressiveness, he’ll often speed up these big baits. Proper body mechanics – with elbows tucked into your sides – are critical, because otherwise you can get fatigued or, even worse, injured.
In the fall, when the baitfish pull up shallow, Wong will focus on the backs of pockets, firing in the big surface lures when the opportunity presents itself. He recognizes that in most situations this is a situational tactic. “This is not a technique that you’re going to go out and catch numbers of fish,” he said. Nevertheless, the long casting ability and big profile lends itself to nabbing a kicker, or starting off with it in the morning, when the biggest bass of all may be on the prowl.
“They work together in packs,” he added, noting that while a kicker may be the goal, sometimes opening the lid on that jar pays off with additional dividends.
Finally, when fighting fish that eat these giant baits, there should be a minimum of playing them. These bass grew big for a reason. Accordingly, between that knowledge and sheer adrenaline, Wong ends up boat-flipping many giants.
If you want to learn some more of Wong’s topwater secrets, including the specific tackle that he uses and hints of more that’s coming down the pipeline, check out his full on-the-water video, available only by subscribing to The Bass University TV.
