Walking Topwater
Topwater technique
Walking topwater means working a cigar-shaped plug in a side-to-side "walk the dog" glide to imitate a fleeing baitfish. It draws explosive surface strikes at dawn and dusk and over schooling fish, and it is a summer staple on clear Central Texas lakes for bass and stripers.
Why: Walk the dog for explosive strikes.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Walking Topwater (Spook) · All bass techniques
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026
A pointed floating plug worked with slack-line rod twitches so it glides left and right across the surface.
Walking Topwater at a glance
- Category
- Topwater
- Skill level
- ●●●○○
- Bryan's confidence
- ●●●●○
- Target depth
- 0-2 ft
Best for: Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass
Gear
- Rod
- 7' M (moderate-fast)
- Reel
- Baitcast 6.3:1
- Line
- mono — 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid
How to fish the Walking Topwater
- Cast past schooling activity or over a point.
- Point the rod tip down and twitch with slack line between twitches.
- Establish a rhythm so the bait glides side to side.
- Vary the cadence and add pauses over active fish.
- Wait for the weight before setting.
Retrieve: Rhythmic slack-line twitches to walk it side to side; speed up over schooling fish, pause on calm water.
Where it shines
Cover: open, grass; structure: points, flats, main lake, bait schools; clarity: clear, stained.
When to use it
Best seasons: Summer, Fall, Spring
Best conditions: Calm / Slick Conditions, Shad Spawn, Cloud Cover
When Bryan reaches for it: Summer mornings and any time fish are schooling on top — one of the most exciting bites we get.
Lakes where it works
Lake Travis · Inks Lake · Lake Marble Falls · Stillhouse Hollow · Lake Bastrop · Fayette County
Lures to throw
Common mistakes
- Keeping the line tight, which kills the walk
- Setting on the splash instead of the pull
- Fishing it too fast to establish a rhythm
Pro tips
- Slack line is the secret to a wide walk
- Keep it coming after a miss — they often come back
From Bryan's logbook
Based on Bryan Cotter's on-the-water observations.
In summer on Bastrop the bass school up in the middle of the lake, and there are spots where you can sit and catch lots of fish - some days over 100.
Keep exploring
All bass fishing techniques · Popper · Buzzbait · All bass lures · Central Texas bass fishing guide
Want to learn the Walking Topwater on the water? I'll put it in your hands on a guided trip. See rates and book or call 512-762-0190.