I love topwater fishing. Frogs, poppers, floating stick baits, spooks, buzzbaits and wake baits are my passion. It’s a magic time when bass are susceptible to topwater lures, and when it’s right, there is no better action. Giant blow-ups over weeds, around wood and even in open water make my heart race. When the water approaches 60 degrees, I get the itch, and I always have a topwater of some kind tied on.
I am eaten up with topwaters and am always experimenting. I gravitate towards new topwaters and always like ones that have a slight difference. Shaving a lip, adding a feathered hook, or something as simple as a larger hook to replace the back hook can make a subtle difference and mean more bites. I am always searching for proven baits but often I’m in search of something just a little different.
I have pencil topwaters that haven’t been made in years. I have original poppers that sell on the net for big bucks although I would never sell them, and I am always looking for that perfect situational bait that might help me put one more big fish in the tank.
The ABT Lures King Dawg jointed walker fits the bill of different but effective for tempting bass. I was fortunate enough to have been able to throw one of the first ones and immediately fell in love with it.
Walking baits have a special time and place, and this beauty, due to the fact it is jointed, walks differently. This spring I have been experimenting with line, rod and reel for this bait alone. I like a 6-foot, 6-inch rod and for these tests I used a Dobyns Coalition rod. For testing the bait we used a Lew’s Tournament Speed Spool with a 6.4:1 gear ratio and Seaguar Senshi 12-pound monofilament and Sunline Natural Monofilament as well. Both perform equally well.
The King Dawg is easily walked right out of the box; even a first time angler can do it. I really liked the split ring on the line tie. It gives it more action. The 5-inch, 3/4-ounce bait casts a country mile. Because I am short, I like the shorter rod and like to fish it in hard to get to places. Hang ups don’t deter me from these areas because fish don’t always see a topwater in these locations.
I remember speaking to Dean Rojas about how he got started using a frog by throwing it in the tough to get to spots so why not a topwater. No question you have to be strategic, but cast lines can be figured out even in the gnarliest of locations.
The King Dawg can be worked in tight locations and sits with the tail down slightly during the pause. It’s a two-hook bait and is cigar shaped with a molded split tail that mimics baitfish well. The tail acts like a keel to add to the action of the bait. The tapered nose with 3D eyes and print patterns make it stick out. ABT calls the patterns “Natural Image Transfer,” and it perfectly resembles forage fish.
The King Dawg comes in Blueback Herring, Threadfin Shad, Rainbow Trout, Baby Bass, Chartreuse Shad and Splatter Back. My favorite due mainly to where I live is Threadfin Shad. The white belly with a blended oily looking brown sides looks exactly like a shad. I missed very few fish on this bait and positive hook-ups occur.
I have fished this bait in super clear water to stained water, and the bait is usually absorbed by the fish. They will hammer it, but many bites are swirls followed by a disappearing King Dawg. It comes with super sharp round bend trebles and is very durable. Quality hinges and joints allow even big fish to be boat-flipped without worry.
If you like walking baits and great topwater action, we think the King Dawg could be a new favorite in your tackle box. The King Dawg retails for $10.99 and can be found at ABTlures.com or Tackle Warehouse.com.
