Fishing Topwater Lures Around Cover

Choosing a topwater lure starts with the water in front of you. Look at the cover, the space available for a retrieve and how much surface disturbance you want. Here is where the Bird fits alongside other surface baits.

Match the presentation to the spot

Walking baits: A side-to-side retrieve can cover open water. Exposed hooks need room to work without constantly collecting vegetation.

Poppers: Short pops and pauses let you work a small open pocket or cover edge without moving the bait far.

Hollow-body frogs and birds: Weedless hook arrangements suit grass, pads and shoreline cover. Flip In The Bird offers a bird-shaped profile and living-rubber wings for a different surface presentation. Weedless does not mean snag-proof.

How to fish Flip In The Bird

1. Cast beside reeds, pads, grass edges or overhanging shoreline cover. Aim for a clear landing pocket when possible.

2. Let the Bird settle. Start with short rod-tip twitches, then pause so the wings can move while the lure stays near cover.

3. Vary one thing at a time: shorten the twitch, lengthen the pause or change the casting angle. Notice which retrieve produces a follow or strike.

4. Keep working the productive part of the cast. A fast, straight retrieve can pull the Bird away from the spot you intended to fish.

Line, wings and small adjustments

Our existing Bird setup recommendation is braided line of 50 lb or more around cover. Match your rod, reel and drag to the line and conditions. Before casting, inspect the body, line tie and hook points.

Wing trimming changes the presentation. Start with the original wings and watch the movement in the water. If you want a shorter wing profile, trim gradually; you cannot put the material back. See our wing-tuning articles and fishing tips for more detail.

Choose a pattern, then compare results

Use contrasting light and dark patterns as a starting point, then let fish response guide you. No color is a guaranteed winner. The collection includes Red-Winged Blackbird, Midwest Golden Finch, Red-Breasted Bird, White-Breasted Tree Swallow and Bald Eagle.

Shop topwater lures for bass at $14.99 per single Bird, or choose a two-pack for $25.99 or three-pack for $34. Bald Eagle is sold separately. Shipping and applicable taxes are additional.

Watch the retrieve on the water

Start with inventor Sam Kennedy's demonstration above, then watch the angler videos below. See NDYakAngler fish the Bird, explore more real fishing footage, or read our topwater lure FAQs.