Walk-the-Dog Topwater & Pencil Baits

Match bait size to forage first: 4 to 4.5 inch baits cover most largemouth situations, while 3 inch versions work better for finicky smallmouth or heavily pressured lakes. Look at the nose and belly shape too, since a wider belly and flat nose gives a tighter, faster walk while a rounder nose walks wider and slower, which matters when bass want a specific cadence.

Low light is prime time, so dawn, dusk, and overcast days will get you the most reaction strikes, especially over grass flats, points, and shallow flats in spring and fall. Calm to slightly rippled water lets bass track the bait, though a true pencil popper can still draw fish in light chop when a softer walker gets lost in the surface noise.

Most anglers use a 6'8 to 7 foot medium action rod with a fast tip, paired with 12 to 17 pound monofilament since it floats and gives the bait slack to dance side to side. Braid or fluorocarbon sinks and kills the walking action, so stick with mono unless you're adding a short fluoro leader for extra clarity in gin clear water.

Yes, we ship every topwater and pencil bait in this collection free of charge to the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, and New Zealand with no minimum order required. Orders typically leave the warehouse within one to two business days, and international customers are responsible for any customs duties charged on arrival.