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Summer 2022
ROVER
topwater options with Ish Monroe
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WHAT: River2Sea Rover
WHY: A loud knocking topwater bait that attracts big bass. “It’s a walking bait with a loud, loud knocker,” he said. “You can cast a long way and give a different look than a frog.”
WHERE: Everywhere. “I’ve caught ‘em all over the country with the Rover, but when we look at the West Coast specifically, I have caught ‘em from the Columbia River to Lake Havasu with it,” he said.
CONDITIONS: Ish chooses the Rover in more open water situations when it’s calm to mild chop. “It’s got a better hook-up ratio,” he explained. “I mean it has three hooks on it.”
TIME OF DAY: Lowlight for quantity. “Lowlight is probably going to be the best bite; but your biggest fish are probably going to come in the middle of the day, in the high sun, when you’re least expecting the bite,” he added.
RETRIEVE: Walk the Dog. “Let the fish tell you the speed; but usually in the warmer conditions or the first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, they want it fast,” he shared. “Middle of the day, or cooler water, they want it slow.”
COLOR: Powder 75 percent of the time. “Lights, or Powder usually, in the middle of the day; but I like something a little darker in lowlight conditions, such as the early morning or evening times,” he said.
MODS: Nope!
GEAR: Braid. Forty- to 50-pound Daiwa J-Braid. “I absolutely DO fish it on braid,” he said. “Daiwa Tatula Elite 7’4” Brent Ehrler Bladed Jig Crankin’ Rod. It’s a composite rod that has a moderate to slower taper to it that allows the hookset to get into it and a 7.3:1 Tatula Elite reel for long distance casting.”