talking
TOPWA T E R
Story
BY JEN EDGAR
with Trait Crist
O
riginally from Texas, Bassmaster Opens
pro Trait Crist has been traveling the
country, fishing her signature series Pink
Rods by Wright & McGill. Crist is in search of an Elite Series qualification. En route to her next
stop, she found time to talk topwater.
Starting with observation of conditions,
Crist noted the importance of paying attention
to environmental factors to determine which
topwater bait to pick up.
According to Crist, water temperature is
definitely the biggest factor. “Some people think
you should wait until after the spawn; but when I
see 55, I usually have a topwater on deck,” she said.
Crist focuses on different types of structure
during different times of the year. When fish are
post-spawn, shade lines such as overhanging
trees, dock shade, etc. is what she targets first.
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When the temperature warms up she searches out matted vegetation and in late summer, early fall rocky points are the main structure for topwater.
When searching for fish moving shallow, Crist relies on a frog or big wake bait like the AC Plug Minnow to get fish to show themselves.
SHADE
Post-spawn fish are guarding fry, they like to stay close by, but roam a little distance. Water temperatures are slowly warming consistently and the bass are starting to search out protective cover. More often than not, this time of year, bass make their hiding place in the darkness of shade.
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