I can't get my mind off that frog colored Tiny Torpedo.  I use to lay it on them with it.  After reading about it again I went to the shop and started going through several tackle boxes that had been put away for awhile.  Found an older model Bomber Model Long A--its changed packaging several times but basically is the same deal.  Pulled out a couple of them that use to be really bad if you know what I mean.  I cleaned them up and put new hooks on them.  Went down to the lake and after about ten casts I hung into one that must have gone over 12 pounds(maybe 14).  My friend who was with me reached to dip him up, trying to help I messed around and let her get the line under a rod holder, SNAP, quick release!  I have never scene a bass with such a mature broad wide tail.  After it sunk in I realized I had not only lost a huge fish but one of my favorite lures (out of production).  First, I called Pradco to see if they had any? NO!  Of course if I wanted them to make a special run they might consider it if I bought 300 of them--it use to be 144.  Started to call NAFC and ask if they might give them in the place of that rod some of you are waiting on.  They're coming a little bird told me so. Then I even looked on Ebay--its amazing how much money you can spend when you really want a special lure and some others.  Before they are all gone I thought I would share with you a lure you may not have tried.  It is clear with a mirrored foil liner on the inside--it reflects the sun like a scale off a big tarpon and bass love it.  Try it in the shallow runner and the deep runner--I always do best with the shallow.  Bomber who was bought out by Pradco still makes one similar that they call "Prism" good but not the same.  Who knows what a trip to your old tackle box might  find for us.  They had great names like Lucky 13, Creek Chub, Devil Horse, Lazy Ike or was it Crazy Ike, and Tiny Torpedo. When is the last time you caught one on a Floating Rapala.  I use to paint the front red on that master of plugs, drill hole in the back or add lead to rear hook which made it sit up in the water.  You could twitch it lightly a couple of times, let it sit still for a moment and boom the water would explode.  Probably, half of us caught our first big topwater bass on that one plug.  Sorry, about the length.  It was about this time in church when my son would lean over to his mother and whisper:  "Mom is Dad still preaching or is he telling the truth!"  Uncle Tom Don't miss the next edition

Great to see you back on here Jim. I wish I had saved more of those Topics on Word documents that we lost in the 2007 Forum change. Still have all the pics in Photobucket though.

Back to the topic.

There ARE days that you can fish a topwater by constant retrieval...but for me....letting sit until ALL the ripples are gone is the best way to drive a fish nuts. As mentioned...many times just a twitch or 2....followed by mmore "do nothing" time...really can "get their goat".

Last but not least....don't try to set the hooks until you feel the weight of the fish on your rod. This is critical to getting a good hookset.

Uncle Tom, it was Lazy Ike, and I have some woodies from the 60s ready to fish. My mother passed when I was 64. My sisters went through her belongings, called to say "Jimmy, get over here, We have something you will want." It was tackleboxes full of stuff I had fished out of back then. It was all there, like time had stood still.

My first bass came on a black wooden Zara Spook with the white ribs, the only lure I owned as a boy. i tied it to a cane pole with braid and kept fish on the dinner table with that until I got my first Shakespeare steel rod and reel combo. Spooks remain close by ready for topwater action.

Those Lazy Ikes were bass killers in summer, one of the slowest swimming lures ever made, no matter how hard you pulled on it. I plan to use some this summer fishing under a big bridge for the shade.

Jim

Welcome back Jim its good to see you on again .