Check Out Hackney's Picks For Fall Topwaters

By David A. Brown
Special to BassFan

It’s basic retail logic – sell ‘em what they wanna to buy. For the fall season, Greg Hackney knows that means topwater baits.

Sure, the decorated Bassmaster Elite Series angler from Gonzalez, La. knows a selection of subsurface baits will also produce autumn bites throughout the water column. But Hackney’s not interested in poking around when the fish are on the move and mostly feeding in a manner consistent with the surface assault.

“The biggest reason is the fish are looking up; it’s what they’re eating,” Hackney said of the seasonal preference. “They’re following (baitfish).

“And they will eat (topwaters) all day. We’ve come out of summer when it’s mostly an early topwater bite, but in the fall, they’re in the mood to eat topwaters all day."

Conditions Count

Expounding on the seasonal spike in topwater potential, Hackney points to the annual cooling pattern as the key determinant.

“When that water temperature drops, they’ll eat it all day,” he said. “It’s the water temperature more than the daylight.

“But it’s all relative. There are places where the water needs to be 65 degrees or below, but 75 degrees is fall temperature in Florida. It’s not so much about the number; it’s about how much it drops. It doesn’t shock the fish, it just tells them it’s time to go.”

That being said, photo period definitely matters. Days have been shortening since the summer solstice, but once we pass the autumnal equinox (day/night equal in length), daylight occupies an increasingly smaller amount of each 24-hour period.

“The shortening of daylight is what triggers all wildlife,” Hackney said. “Once we get past (the equinox), even if the temperature doesn’t drop, when the daylight starts to decrease, they know it’s coming.”

Noting that the water temperature slide typically becomes pronounced after the first couple of cold fronts, Hackney said he prefers a cloudy fall day for maximum topwater success. If sunny conditions prevail, a little breeze breaking up the surface helps the cause.

What He Throws

Hackney’s topwater lineup gives bass ample opportunity with the right look for any scenario.

> Strike King Tour Grade Buzzbait: Rigging this noisy bubble-maker with a Strike King Gurgle Toad, Hackney likes white and black in the fall. Generally, it’s white for bright days and black for dim conditions, but he keeps an open mind.

“There are days when it’s sunny and they like the black one in the fall,” he said. “You have to let the fish tell you what they want.

“I’ve had days when the skies were dark and the fish would blow up on the black one, but not eat it. Then I’d throw a white and they’d eat it. Sometimes it varies, but I always start with the logical color.”

With either look, it’s all about slicing up large swaths of shoreline to find the fish that want to eat. If they’re ready, fall bass cannot stand to let a buzzbait go by unmolested.

“The biggest thing with a buzzbait is it’s such a good bait for covering water,” Hackney said. “They’re on so many places in the fall – rocks, wood, grass, docks – you can throw that buzzbait anywhere.

“You’re not necessarily looking for schools of fish, but individual fish that are aggressive.”

Preferring lower-light conditions in clear-water lakes, Hackney said the buzzbait is particularly effective at calling fish out of cover. From grass, to lily pads, to laydowns, this bait’s really good at creating those show-stopping moments.

As far as retrieve, Hackney said a straight, steady course is best. Too slow and they lose interest. Too fast they might not even bother. A lot of this is the “feel” born of experience, so pay attention to what works and replicate the appealing pace.

> Strike King Sexy Dog: Favoring the walking topwater for higher clarity, Hackney goes with natural shad colors in the fall, but he always keeps a black topwater handy for the picky ones.

Generally throwing the Sexy Dog around groups of fish when his targets are getting a good look at potential meals, Hackney knows the importance of closely mimicking a shad. And once he determines the preferred pace, consistency rules.

“I’m a fan of steady retrieves,” Hackney said. “Changing cadence might get more bites, but it won’t always catch more fish.”

Hackney selects the 200 or 300 size to match the baitfish. Matching the hatch is always wise, but particularly in clear water where realism can be a deal-maker or breaker.

“In that clear water, you’re seeing what those fish are eating, but so are the fish,” Hackney said.

> Strike King KVD Splash: Hackney often turns to his popping bait when the bass are on smaller baitfish. Fall sees this a lot and as a school of fish has its sights set on young-of-the-year shad, a full-size walking bait is just too much for them.

“Typically, you’re dealing with fish that are (hesitant) to react; they won’t touch the Sexy Dog,” Hackney said. “Maybe it’s slick calm and no wind, but I can use that popper to irritate them into biting. I’ll let it sit, move it fast, then let it sit.”

As Hackney explained, he’ll use the KVD Splash for specific targets, but he’ll also use it to comb through areas where he got buzzbait bites. The key attribute – persistence.

“It’s not a bait I’m going to cast 60 yards and work it all the way back,” he said. “It’s a bait I use when I need to leave it around them longer.”

> Strike King Hack Attack Pad Perch: Hackney rounds out his fall topwater arsenal with a bait he feels affords him better versatility than a traditional topwater frog. He’ll also keep a Strike King Sexy Frog rigged, but the Pad Perch’s streamlined form allows him to smoothly traverse vegetation and then quickly walk across the open areas at a pace consistent with fleeing baitfish.

Don’t Miss the Chance

So, what does Hackney consider the biggest fall mistake? Simple – not keeping a topwater handy at all times. While all-day potential exists, one day to the next may find the fish a little more or less “on” at different times.

Giving the topwaters enough opportunity to prove themselves is key. You might get rejected, or you might pop the cork on a champagne bottle of opportunity.

“One of the best days I had with the buzzbait, it was a cold morning and I didn’t catch any on a buzzbait,” Hackney said. “I caught ‘em on a jig earlier, but when the day warmed up, they ate the buzzbait.”

As Hackney notes, some days start off with a bang, while other days the fish need a couple cups of coffee.

“Never think you know what the fish think,” he advised. “Don’t look at the water temp and think it’s too cold for a topwater bite.

“They know winter's coming, so they’re more willing to eat a topwater.”