How to Fish a Bird Lure for Bass
Former 49er Super Bowl Champ and Inventor Of The Flip In The Bird Lure
The Twitch and Pause Retrieve
The most effective retrieve for a bird lure is simple.
Cast near cover and allow the lure to settle.
Then use a short twitch followed by a pause.
The twitch creates a small disturbance while the wings flutter and ripple the surface.
The pause is critical.
Predators often strike during the pause when the lure appears most vulnerable.
Let the Lure Sit
Many anglers make the mistake of moving topwater lures too quickly.
A bird struggling on the water often pauses or drifts.
Let the lure sit for several seconds between twitches.
Sometimes the biggest bass strike when the lure appears motionless.
Gear Recommendations
Fishing bird-style topwater lures works best with equipment that can handle heavy cover.
Recommended setup:
medium-heavy or heavy rod
baitcasting reel
40–65 lb braided line
Braided line helps drive hooks through thick vegetation and allows anglers to pull bass out of cover.
Top Water Fishing in Algea
When to Throw a Bird Lure
Bird lures are most effective during:
early morning
evening
overcast conditions
calm water
However, they can also work during midday when bass are holding near cover.
The key factor is ambush opportunity, not necessarily time of day.
The Strike
Few experiences in fishing compare to watching a bass explode through the surface and engulf a lure.
Bird lures trigger this type of strike because they imitate something bass rarely see—but instinctively recognize as vulnerable.
And when predators see vulnerability, they attack.Learn more about the science of The Strike and Bass Eating Birds.
