I Love it When You Call Me Big Poppa
When we first visited the Amazon in 2011 and then again in 2012, it was tough to find readily-available walk-the-dog topwaters larger than a Super Spook. That’s why we turned to various JDM hard baits like the Maria Miss Carna 140 and the Imakatsu Trairao when the fish would come up to eat but not crush our prop baits.
Fortunately, in the ensuing decade manufacturers have heeded the call for more big dog walking topwaters. You can still get somewhat smaller batch items like the Lunker Punker, but there are plenty that just require a quick trip to the Tackle Warehouse website. Here’s a quick inventory of their “cigar-shaped” topwater lures – we’ll save surveys of pencil poppers and other shapes for another day. I’ve categorized these by price – those over $16 and those under that mark, with each group organized in descending size order.
OVER $16
$59.99
8.6”
Lucky Craft Super Sammy 198
7 4/5”
$39.99
$59.99
6.5”
6” and 5 ¼”
$15.99-29.99
6”
$18.99
$35.00
5.75”
$36.99
5 ½”
$19.99
5 1/3”
$16 OR LESS
5.9” and 5.1”
5.5”
NOTES
If you’re chasing peacock bass, the stock hardware may not be sufficient. Consider upgrading to 4X or stronger treble hooks as well as matching split rings.
Some anglers throw these on braid with a mono leader. I don’t trust the extra connection with big fish so I prefer straight braid. If you follow my lead, just be sure that if the fish spits the lure and it comes boomeranging back that you duck or dodge.
I find a 7’ rod to be the perfect length for these lures, especially when chasing peacocks, where a fast, downward jerk is the way to elicit the most vicious strikes.
In case it wasn’t clear from any of the above, these are all likely largemouth and smallmouth killers, too.
I’m 99% sure that the Molix is the first lure I’ve ever seen painted to resemble a tarpon.
