Casting poppers all day can become tiresome. This is why all anglers carry a mix of both poppers and stick baits on their trips away. Having a good mix of different lures for different styles is imperative for a successful day of topwater fishing.

If you are looking at expanding your lure roll, check out our top 5 stick baits.

Siren – Deep Seductress

When it comes to rough conditions or deep fish you can’t go past Sirens’ ‘Deep Seductress’. It is a fast sinking lure so you can work it through the water column where you are marking fish. All of Sirens’ sinking stickbaits give off a wobbling flutter as it sinks to re-enact a dying or wounded baitfish. Working the lure couldn’t be any easier. A normal retrieve will give the lure an S swimming motion. It can also be worked with a sweeping motion to give the lure a more erratic action to mimic a wounded fish.

Rigging

Belly – Treble 31 2/0 or 3/0 Single Assist 4/0 – 5/0

Tail – Single Assist 4/0 – 5/0 

Dimensions – 155mm long and weighs approx. 88 grams

Black Ledge – Slow Sinking Peanut 130g

From Mahi Mahi to giant trevally – there’s not much that doesn’t eat Black Ledges ‘Peanut’. Originally developed for peak sportfishing in Exmouth, Western Australia. This lure can be cast a mile and catch fish with any rod work, even by a total novice. With a straight wind, it gives off an erratic swim motion. It can also be worked with a sweeping motion to create a bubbling stream along with the erratic movement.

Rigging

Belly – 5/0 to 6/0 treble

Tail – 7/0 to 8/0 single

Dimensions – 180mm long and weighs 130 grams

MB Customs – 130 Slider

We just couldn’t have a top 5 topwater lure selection without the new MB Customs ‘130 Slider’. Just like the past range of stick baits, each lure is hand-painted and coated in a thick layer of epoxy coupled with a 2mm tough wiring system that is proven to hold up to 220kg. These lures are made to not only look good but last as well.

Being a floating stick bait, each sweep produces a nice ‘S’ motion leaving a bubble trail that is irresistible to G.T, dogtooth tuna and kingfish.

Rigging

Belly – 6/0 treble

Tail – 6/0 treble

Dimensions – 230mm long and weighs 130 grams

OTL – 100g Chop

Handcrafted stick baits from Waipu, New Zealand, the OTL is designed and made to target your big predatory species that we all love. In a very short amount of time, they have become a go-to lure for the GT sport fishing fraternity.

The OTL 100g chop is a floating stick bait that gives off an irresistible ‘S’ motion with a nice big tail kick and every sweeping motion leaves a huge bubble trail.

Rigging

Belly – 4/0 treble, 7/0 single

Tail – Belly – 4/0 treble, 7/0 single

Dimensions – 200mm long and weighs 100 grams

Strategic Angler – Walker

The ‘Walker’ by Strategic Angler is a top of the range, all-round floating stick bait that can be worked in a plethora of different ways.

Walking the Dog

By twitching the rod tip in a downward motion, the stick bait will work side to side mimicking bait feeding.

Sweep

Sweeping the Walker will allow for it to do a shallow dive and create a bubble trail similar to what you will see in other floating stick baits.

Skimming

This action is created by having your rod tip up and skipping the lure whilst pausing intermittently to mimic a wounded alligator gar or flying fish.

Rigging

Belly – 5/0 4/0 treble, 3/0 treble

Tail – Belly – 8/0 – 10/0 single

Dimensions – 200mm long and weighs 100 grams

The Last Cast

Having a selection of different lures, from poppers to stick baits, is a no-brainer when embarking on a trip where you know you’ll be chasing different species and facing ever-changing conditions. Everyone will agree, having the lure do the work makes all the difference.

My main criteria for choosing a stick bait include sturdy construction, ease of use, castability and most importantly is perfectly weighted. Check out our gear section in the Ocean Blue Mag here for more!

You may also like:

• 2021 Revelry Reel Revealed Daiwa Drops Latest Tech!
• Is the 2021 Shimano Ocea Jigger the Real Deal?
• How the Shimano Twin Power redefines the game fishing reel
• The New PENN Hooker Electric Fishing Reel Series
• Can the Accurate ATD Series Tackle the Offshore Scene?
• Mad About Popper Fishing? Our Top 5 Must Have Lures to Add to Your Tackle Bag
• The Zenaq Tobizo Rod Range Redefines Offshore Casting
• Penn Slammer IV: Affordability Meets Hardcore Fishing
• Smart Lure Model Zero. Artificial Intelligence or just another artificial lure?