For many anglers, catching fish on topwater lures is the ultimate fishing thrill. This thrill is exponentially greater when you’re fishing the flats with topwater lures. Where you have an abundance of redfish, snook, tarpon, and sea trout, you have a prime setting for using Heddon Spooks. Today, we’ll take a look at how.
Heddon’s Rattlin’ and One Knocker Spooks are a few of my favorites for inshore topwater action. When I target big fish on the flats, I typically start with 4 ½-inch models. If I’m not getting any strikes, then I’ll switch to a smaller 3 ½-inch Heddon Super Spook. With these, I like to use a steady walk-the-dog retrieve all the way back to the boat. If you get strikes, but no hook-up, don’t worry; just keep the retrieve going. The fish in the shallow flats will still nail it thinking it’s a baitfish trying to get away after a strike.
The color patterns you’ll want to throw will vary, though, depending on what the weather’s doing. On cloudy days, for instance, a darker color pattern is a good idea, whereas on sunny days, a more transparent color will do a better job of drawing strikes. Try Heddon’s Bone, Chrome, and Silver Mullet color patterns to start on the right foot.
For gear, try to keep it simple. I prefer a 7-foot medium action spinning reel with 10-pound braid and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to my Heddon Spooks. The heavier leader works well because it’s stiffer, which keeps the line from tangling in the lure’s hooks when a fish strikes.
Fishing the inshore flats for redfish, snook, and tarpon can be quite an exciting experience with topwater lures, such as Heddon’s Spooks and One-Knockers. Knowing how to work these topwater beauties to their fullest potential will produce strikes in even the shallowest of inshore waters. The tips outlined today will help you do just that!
