Bass will bite a topwater throughout the year. This can be a great bite across the country, especially when fish are schooling. However, knowing what size of topwater to use at a particular time could be key to getting those bites. Strike King makes three great sizes of the KVD Sexy Dawg. These include the Sexy Dawg Jr (3.75”), The Sexy Dawg (4.5”), and the Mega Dawg (6”).
Andy Montgomery will throw the Sexy Dawg Jr in shallow water, or when the conditions bring sun and no wind. “Even though it’s little, it generates a lot of bites and big bites,” explains Andy. This bait also shines when the fish are pressured. He will put the original Sexy Dawg to use when there is a little bit of wind. The reasoning behind this is that the mid-sized bait provides a better hook up. Montgomery explains that he is “going to have a little bit better hook up ratio with the three hooks.” The wind puts a little bit of a chop on the water and allows him to throw a larger bait and get a way with it.
When rough conditions arise, or when fishing over really deep water, Andy likes to use the Mega Dawg. This bait will call fish up in those conditions where other baits will not even get a look. “I’ve seen fish come from 15, even 20 foot deep to get a topwater, especially around home lakes like Lake Murray and Lake Hartwell,” Andy states. The fish are often not sitting high in the water column. A big bait like the Mega Dawg really helps to get their attention. Montgomery also says, “if there is a lot of gizzard shad present, keep this big Sexy Dawg in the back of your mind.” The bigger topwater matches the profile of the bigger gizzard shad and catches the eye of the big fish feeding on them.
Andy loves to throw these baits but knows when to switch sizes. Pay attention to conditions and water depth when making bait choices. Also make sure to switch up your retrieve. When bass aren’t eating a topwater, a faster retrieval will make more noise and potentially be more effective.
