Ways & Means
Finding the zones
By Michael JonesThe trick to being efficient with a topwater lure is speed. Specifically, the speed at which you can determine which bait to throw, where to throw it and how fast to work it.
To quickly evaluate any topwater scenario, a fisherman needs to recognize and understand two important zones. The first is the traditional "strike zone" — the distance a bass will move to a lure dictated by environmental factors and feeding mood. The second is the "commitment zone" — the distance a lure will draw a bass to it. When these two zones overlap, something good generally happens.
While the size of these two zones varies, it only takes a few strikes and some careful observation to determine what adjustments must be made. A crucial part of this process is being able to visualize where bass were positioned before the strike. Did they move out from the weedline or up from a submerged rockpile? Whatever the case, it's important data in deciding how large the strike zone is.
Determining the relative size of the commitment zone requires observation as well. If you're not paying attention to the cadence and speed of the lure at the time a bass strikes, it's very difficult to fix the drawing power of a lure. Duplicating what draws a strike is paramount.
Once you've got a sense of how far the bass will move and the drawing power of the lure, the other presentation factors will fall quickly into place. Now you know how fast the boat can be moved, how close to cover casts must be made, and the best casting angles for maximum efficiency.
The ability of some topwater anglers to make the most of each situation comes from an intuitive understanding of these concepts. When a fisherman can visualize one zone overlapping another, generally the strikes come as no surprise.
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