Off the beaten path is a well kept secret, a fishing hole, disguised as a gravel bar that lays across a well used county road in southwest Missouri. The little wet weather creek runs at a constant flow through spring and slows down to a trickle by mid July except for those occasional summer showers which fill its banks again. This running water is a favorite spot for many families in our rural community and since it is not known to outsiders it doesn't get crowded on those hot summer days like the favorite beaches on the lake. I recently came into the knowledge of the fact that the deeper waters above this gravel bar hold fish year round and set foot upstream to try my luck at this honey hole. Thrashing along the bank, I walked with my family into the murky flow of Ingals Creek until I came to stand in water about hip deep, where we stood taking turns casting into the mirrored surface.

Having fished this proven spot several times now without much luck I decided I wanted to try another approach to catch the fish I had seen swimming in this pool. Top water lures are always claimed to be a much more exciting fishing experience, so I set out to find out how true that was with the help of an experienced fisherman. My husband showed me how to cast for top water fishing. Spin reel cocked he lifted the ultra lite backward careful not to cast overhead, but instead with a sideways motion and then giving careful instructions about flipping the caster over as soon as the lure hit the water, so that I could reel in the slack line immediately to receive a bite on the taunt line. I watched and then practiced a few times, returning the pole to him. I was amazed to see the result of this top water lure at his mercy, glide and shake at the turn of his wrist until he brought the splashing strike of a spotted bass out of the water and in hand to remove the irresistible bait from its mouth. My fishing success rests with river worms on hooks suspended from bobbers and crappie jigs with the colorful feathers, these almost always bring me perch and if I persist an occasional catfish.

The return of his well tossed 'minnow' top water lure brought a pan-sized perch from beneath the extended roots of an old oak tree along the far bank and as I watched in amazement at the speed at which they hit the lure, I thought, "I can do that." With no rain for the past three weeks to stir up the algee or bring food from up stream, these fish were hungry enough that the bait immediately brought them to hit it time and time again as it landed in the water, sometimes following the lure for a few feet before taking it. The wiggling action of the lure at the waters surface mimics smaller feeding minnows and water bugs, this type of movement attracts the larger fish to give chase to the lure and strike. Shaking the minnow as you reel it along in the water is what makes the lure appear to be alive and so desirable as bait.

He made it look so easy shakin' that top water minnow, and reeling it toward him every few seconds with most of his casts resulting in another 10 inch bass. I took over the reel and gave my own efforts toward shakin' and working the top water lure, getting a few almost but not quite splashing attempts as I jerked the lure to quickly from the latch of a fish. Persistance and practice helped me find the feel for that just right motion that brought the fish into range as I worked the waters surface. Wiggling the reel, I managed to slow the lure along pulling it just inches instead of jerking it a foot at a time this was more readily taken by the waiting fish. The next cast brought me a large mouth bass about 8 inches long, though he wasn't a keeper due to MO state limit requirements I was still pleased with my success at learning another fishing method.

Our nine year old waited down stream splashing and swimming until we called her to take a turn learning to cast the top water lure. She was unsuccessful at first but with some coaching she was able to work the lure until a fish took the bait. Her first catch ever was a10 inch large mouth bass, which fought hard all the way to the waters edge. She had just cast into the creek when the line drew tight and as she began to reel in her line it was apparent that she had a fighter on the other end. With more excitement than ever she reeled and pulled and then, as the bass jumped through the waters surface she shouted, "I GOT ONE!" before he fell back into the water again, then she reeled him close enough to lift him out of the water. Her daddy showed her how to unhook her prize from the lure and I got to teach her how to hold it by the mouth safely. Thats all it took to motivate her to keep casting and reeling through the water searching for her next bite.