Murray said the key to effective topwater retrieves — particularly for walking baits — is a 6 ½- to 7-foot, soft-action rod. No spinnerbait or worm rods here: Just something with the right amount of fish-fighting backbone that still has sufficient flexibility.
Murray said you’ll know you have the right rod when you tie on a lure, shake the rod and watch the tip move about 5 to 6 inches to either side.
“All you’re trying to do is hit the end of the slack (line) on the presentation,” he said. “You’re not trying to jerk the lure, you’re just making it change directions.
“When it changes directions with a hard pop on a soft rod, it sounds like a fish striking. That sound draws fish to it.”
Murray finds the stretch of monofilament best serves his topwater action, but reel speed matters little. Control comes from the winding cadence, so a slow or fast reel will suffice.
