The Top Gun of Lures

TOPWATERS ARE TOPS FOR saltwater plugging. e surface lure carries that light-tackle game to a higher level because two additional senses, sight and sound, are brought into play when a sh strikes.

e contact is abrupt and thrilling. ere is nothing timid about a jacked-up predator rising to snatch eeing prey from the surface. Some topwater strikes are more dramatic than others, but all are an eyeful, especially when the blast or boil occurs following several hours of empty casting.

And, as a bonus, surface lures o en a ract the larger sh that feed primarily on bait sh.

One of the largest catch-and-release speckled trout of my career crushed a topwater plug over a shell reef in Louisiana’s Lake Calcasieu. It scaled 9 lbs 4oz. And, moments later, a larger one pulled free. At least, it seemed larger. e blowup was bigger, and it made a longer run. It just pulled o underwater, soul-deadening slack!

Along the Texas coast, topwater plugs are most e ective on specks and almost as good on red sh, and by happy coincidence, our two top light-tackle game sh. Chunking oaters has great tradition and a cultlike following prevails among salty waders in all our primary bay systems.

ree basic types of “hard” (hollow plastic or wood) plugs are available, but the overwhelming favorite design is the so-called dogwalker. ese cigar-shaped lures with sets of dangling trebles were spawned by the original Heddon Zaragossa, a wooden lure introduced in the 1920s.

e Zaragossa was intended primarily for largemouth bass, but saltwater anglers in Florida soon discovered it was kick-ass for the usual inshore suspects.

During the 1950s, Heddon o ered the plastic Zara Spook (so named because the hollow body was ghostly opaque). Giving credit where due, the DNA of that version is responsible for proliferation of current dogwalkers on today’s tackle shelves.

Incidentally, “dogwalker” stems from the side-to-side cadence given by rod tip and reel crank during the retrieve. Proper coordination allows the buoyant plug to skate back and forth, creating a seductive wake that the nearest goggle-eyed sow speck nds hard to resist.

Learning proper dog walking technique requires practice, as does learning proper freespool casting technique, su cient reason that salty pluggers are justly proud of the stylized act they carry to the tide line.

But rigorously working a dogwalker is not for everyone. e constant jiving action can be fatiguing on wrists and forearms during a long day of steady casting. High-riding models are easier to coax, but sadly, easier to miss strikes on.

Despite the dominance of dogwalkers, another e ective and easier-to- sh option is available.

A favorite of mine is the slush-type plug. Most models are cigar-shaped, similar in pro le to the dogwalkers, but ed with small propellers. Some sport only a tail prop, others boast fore-and-a spinners. Either way, the straight retrieve (opposed to the zig-zag) is much easier to live with. And the lure is versatile.

You can rip it with occasional lusty yanks, or just chuckle and tinkle it along, or ideally, a combination of the two.

Side sweeps with the rod keep things spu ering, and here’s a trick worth remembering for tiring arms: Brace the bu of the two-handed stick against the o hip and simply twist in the direction of the next slush.

is simple motion rips the plug and takes strain away from the stable arms.

I learned this while chunking XXL slush baits all day for peacock bass in Brazil.

Slush plugs can excel over deeper depth or in o -color water or amid heavy chops. ey create taunting commotion, “Come on, hit me with your best shot!”

Conversely, so dogwalkers are strictly a nesse approach, most e ective across calm or ri ed shallows. ey tend to get lost under heavy-water circumstances. For this reason, having both types within easy reach is a solid plan during a long day.

A drawback to the slush bait is that it is more fragile than the no-frills dogwalker. e thin metal props can bend, especially a er ge ing mauled by a sow trout or a big

:: by JOE DOGGETT TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

red sh, you lucky rascal! If a blade doesn’t twirl properly, take a moment with needle nose pliers to reposition it.

Both plug types bouncing amid air and water can tangle the casting line in the trebles, but the slush baits sport the added interference of the jazzy propellers. A good way to minimize tangles is to rig a short mono “shock leader” of 20 to 30 pound test. e heavier line is sti er, less apt to ip over and snag.

A loop knot can improve the action, allowing either type of plug an easier range of motion. If you must, a small metal snap swivel will su ce, but make certain it is of top quality. An “el cheapo” snap might straighten on the very sh you so desperately want. Trust me on this. In fact, trust me it was several times before I learned how to tie a simple and bulletproof loop connection.

Frankly, an improved clinch knot snugged tight works. Assuming the rod tip is doing its job, the nearest trout or red probably could care less.

Popper-type surface plugs with dished-out faces are be er suited for popping and pausing, dallying in speci c ambush spots. For this reason, they are a mainstay among bass anglers casting to de ned targets, but not so e ective for covering open bay water. Exceptions might be working the sharp edge of a deep channel or chunking tight to je y rocks.

ese are the three primary types of topwater plugs. ey have di erent applications, but all share a common denominator: ey are horrifyingly easy to snatch away from a big sh with an open mouth doing its best to get caught.

Remember those two senses of sight and sound. When they overload, it takes a cool hand to hold re and “wait for weight” before yanking.

oly smokes! at ram is beautiful!” rough the 400 mm lens of my camera, I could see the girth of his horns was massive and the herd didn’t seem bothered by our presence here on top of the namesake of Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Alpine.

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD DUSTIN WOLFE SPOKE THOSE words as he looked through binoculars at a herd of desert bighorn ewes and lambs escorted by one big, impressive male.

“We can get a li le closer,” said our escort Benny Benavidez with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

“As long as we don’t move too quickly, they shouldn’t spook.” e aim was to get photos of Texas bighorns for upcoming stories and at the same time teach Dustin about wild sheep and other wildlife of the Trans-Pecos.

Our Higher Calling Wildlife outreach mentors teens, especially those facing special challenges, to get involved in conservation and this was our very rst outing.

Disease In The Desert

at was November 2019 and the Texas desert bighorn population stood at an historical high of 1,500.

at was a er years of translocations of sheep from Utah, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico and very hard, innovative work creating viable sheep herds here.

As of the latest surveys conducted in Nov. 2022, the estimates were between 900 and 1,000 according to TPWD Desert Bighorn Program Leader Froylan Hernandez.

“A er years without major disease issues, there was a disease event south of Van Horn in the fall of 2019 and another at Black Gap WMA in the spring of 2020. And then the numbers in some of the other mountain ranges are lower than average,” he said.

Disease is the number one issue facing wild sheep in North America.

When Lewis and Clark set forth on their historic expedition, some estimate there were as many as two million bighorns. By 1950, there were around 25,000.

Domestic sheep and goats can carry Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi), a pathogen that causes respiratory issues with wild sheep and can wipe out entire herds.

It is such a threat, in fact, Colorado has a policy that calls for killing any bighorns seen in contact with domestic sheep.

“Movi is particularly harsh on lambs and that is why disease-stricken areas will sometimes have zero lamb survival,” Hernandez said.

Aoudad Challenges

In the 1950s, a handful of aoudad (Barbary sheep) were released into the Palo Duro Canyon to create new hunting opportunities. In the following decades, thousands more were moved around Texas to stock on high-fenced hunting ranches.

Now, the free-ranging (outside of fences) population of aoudad is estimated at least 25,000 and the bulk of that is in desert bighorn territory. A 2018 survey showed 3,808 aoudads in three mountain ranges compared to 1,500 desert bighorns in seven.

On top of that, recent research by Texas A&M University shows aoudad can transfer Movi to desert bighorns. ese African imports are also far more aggressive and can outcompete sheep, mule deer and other desert wildlife for food, water, and space.

“Texas is 97 percent privately owned and aoudad hunting is a way for landowners to make income. We don’t slight them for that,” Hernandez said.

“We will however continue strong aoudad control on public land where we have the ability to do that, work with private landowners interested in bighorns about the aoudad issue, and move forward with positive actions to help our native desert sheep.”

Moving Forward

e Texas Bighorn Society, founded in the early 1980s, sole mission is to aid the

Banding Together for Wild Sheep

THE TEXAS BIGHORN SOCIETY’S sole purpose is to help conserve desert bighorn sheep in Texas.

The group has rich roots that include prominent members like the late, legendary Dr. “Red” Duke and a proven track-record of desert sheep-centric fundraising, work projects and cooperating with landowners and TPWD.

It is the first conservation group I ever joined at 19-years-old and I’m still conservation of desert bighorn sheep in Texas.

A huge part of that is creating “guzzlers”, structures that trap rainwater and store them to bene t bighorns and other wildlife.

“When you have stresses on the herd as you have now, having access to water is even more crucial. We just completed two guzzlers on private land in the Eagle Mountains and did two last year there as well. Two years ago we also did two guzzlers in the Beach Mountains, again on private land. We are always working closely with TPWD and private landowners to improve things for desert bighorns,” said TBS President Dr. Sam

Cunningham.

TBS provides an on-ramp for individuals to get involved to get involved directly with sheep conser- vation in Texas. ert bighorn population back to former levels even

“We certainly raise funds through ra es, our annual Roundup, and its auction, but we are still very much a boots-on-the-ground conservation group. If you want to put in sweat equity for the sheep, we have opportunities to get involved in guzzler construction projects. We are also about to initiate an “adopt a guzzler” opportunity to help maintain those structures,” Cunningham said.

TPWD is currently studying at least one range in West Texas devoid of bighorns (and aoudad) for possible translocation and is continuing to improve habitat, work with private landowners and research how to get the desert bighorn population back to former levels and perhaps even higher.

“ ere isn’t a state or province that has bighorns that have not dealt with this at some level. We’re going to put our best foot some level. We’re going to put our best foot very much proud to be a member.

You can learn more and join at www.texasbighornsociety.org.

I’m also a proud member of The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF).

WSF’s mission is to put and keep wild sheep on the mountain.

Operating in the United States, Canada and Mexico as well as in Asia, the group raises millions of dollars annually for sheep conservation and works diligently on issues like disease, habitat loss, predation and regulatory issues that impact wild sheep.

You can learn more and join at www.wildsheepfoundation.org forward and help keep the legacy of the desert bighorn strong in Texas,” said Froylan Hernandez.

Hope For The Future

In 2019, TPWD’s Trans Pecos sta generously allowed us to bring Reannah Hollaway to a desert bighorn capture.

As part of our Higher Calling Wildlife outreach, she has cystic brosis and was wanting to nd a way to contribute to wildlife conservation.

She had the opportunity to put a GPS collar on a big ram that day.

“I still can’t believe I got to do that. ose TPWD guys were so nice to me and honestly, that day is a big part of what made me sure I wanted to get into wildlife conservation,” is December she graduates from Texas Tech University with a Natural Resources Management Degree with a Conservation Science Concentration and is currently considering graduate school. at gives guides a very practical reason to keep them on the boat as they never know what preference their clients might have in that department. e presence of strong wind does not mean the sh will not bite but it certainly makes things more di cult in the casting department. e casting is more forgiving and keeps you in the action, instead of pulling out backlashes. Another advantage here is spinning reels typically have a slower gear ratio than casting rods. It’s best to work a few feet under a dock slowly than to pull out with a crank or two before the sh get a good look. is is a huge advantage for anglers shing spinning gear.

Hollaway said.

Upon returning home, we realized the ram she collared was the same one me and Dustin photographed two weeks earlier. Amazing.

But what is more amazing is the trajectory Hollaway’s life has taken a er her sheep encounter.

“A lot of great people have helped bighorn sheep in Texas and in a big way desert bighorn sheep helped inspire me. Now I hope to make a positive impact on wildlife,” she said. ere is no question Texas’ desert bighorn herd is facing a great challenge but TPWD, TBS, and others are working hard to get it back to those historical highs.

And there is a new generation of conservationists out there, ready to rise to the higher calling of wildlife and wild sheep conservation.

T’S AN AGE-OLD DEBATE among anglers but in many ways, it is a useless argument. Both have their advantages and in the bass world this is clearly understood.

Sometimes you simply need spinning gear to get the job done.

In saltwater, there are still diehards who prefer one or the other with a majority in the casting column on the Texas Coast. A growing number of anglers are however learning the advantage of using spinning equipment for specific tasks.

Here are seven ways it can give you an edge in catching fish along the coast.

COASTAL FINESSE FISHING: Spinning reels only need to pull the weight of the fishing line, so they are perfect for casting light lures.

Throwing a tiny curl tail with a 1/16ounce jig head is difficult on casting gear but works perfectly on spinning gear. There are numerous times when tiny lures get the job done when nothing else will for flounder, especially during spring months when their preferred baitfish is tiny menhaden.

A great choice for this is the 7-foot Light/Fast Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod from St. Croix. Standard flounder rods are medium/ heavy but when the bite is soft you need something that allows for working tiny lures and while you might lose some at the boat, you will get far more bites this way than staying with the typical approach that doesn’t work when the fish aren’t feeding aggressively.

WIND CASTING: Let’s face it, few anglers can throw in the heavy wind all day with casting gear and not get a backlash.

Spinning rigs make it easier to adjust drag, when a surprise monster bites.

And it’s also a reason for you to keep a few handy as guests on your dock or boat might be not only beginners but le ies that have a hard time with right-handed setup.

BIG FISH BATTLES: One of the beauties of saltwater shing is you never know what you might catch. Instead of a speckled trout at the je ies, you might end up with a king mackerel. And the slot-sized red you’re seeking might end up being a 40- incher.

Since backlashes are few and far between on spinning gear they are perfect for those prefrontal days when winds are blowing in the bay but the barometer is dropping and the sh are on a strong feed.

SKIPPING: Docks in bays and channels are great places to pick up on ounder, sheepshead, and snook (on the Lower Coast). Skipping lures under docks is a great way to pick up on sh that target in saltwater and there is no be er way to do this than with spinning gear.

A 6’6 Medium/Fast Avid Series Inshore Spinning Rod from St. Croix is a great choice for skipping. You can technically skip with any but shorter is be er and having the action to work a bait while the backbone to get a strong hookset is paramount.

LEFT OR RIGHT DOESN’T MATTER: Nearly all spinning reels come with the ability to adjust for right or le -handed anglers.

Either one of those scenarios will require some drag adjustment. Drags are much easier to access and tweak on the spinning gear in the heat of ba le.

Many sh are lost because a drag adjustment could not be made quickly and with spinning reels, you can do it quickly and without fumbling around too much.

A 7-foot Medium-Heavy/Fast Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod is a great choice when you’re shing areas where the catch could be regular-sized or jumbo.

VERTICAL FISHING: Working a big jig for snapper around an oil rig or targeting a drum over a deep drop-o in the channel requires shing vertically.