Northwest Fishing Reports

I've been working a 4 or 5 inch baby bass zara spook jr. lately and haven't had any bites. But I just love the way the lure looks, it's almost reward enough to watch the action as I walk the dog with it. I really want to get good with this lure and have it as a valuable asset I frequently use during the summer.

But I'm not quite sure this lure is effective enough here in the northwest. Just as bassackwards said, these type of lures just don't seem to work up in this area.

I think the success of the lure could be in my retrieve. A fast walk the dog retrieve will look very realistic I think and will not give the fish a good look at the lure, and therefore the fish may just lunge at it on instinct.

A twitch then stop retrieve will let the fish eyeball the topwater, and I think after checking out the lure, most fish will leave?

Any thoughts? Thanks 4 the advice

I love Zara Spooks. I work them in the morning and evening around cover. I think they work best with a little bit of chop on the water.

Hey there Bassmaster2008 ..Gjorgy is right , i wouldnt throw a lure like the spook unless the wind was blowing a little .. if no wind on the water and you still want some top water action get a FROG and have at it ... since i'v been here that frog has out produced all my topwater baits ...BBD

I like the LC sammy better - much easier to walk with since I suck at it :D

The Spook is an interesting bait. When it works, it is an excellent bait. When it doesn't, is seems like it was only made for casting practice.

A few pointers that I have found. First, Spooks work best on fish that are feeding on schooling bait fish. Now don't get me wrong, they work at other times as well, but the fast dog walk imitates a fleeing bait fish.

Second, a clear version of the Spook works best on pressured fish, calm days, or times when the water is so clear you think you can see old man Neptune on the bottom. The clear versions can be fished much slower.

Third, smaller is normally better, but not always.

Forth, a tiny bit of chop on the water helps, but waves hurt. Low light ,like early and late in the day help, but even better is a cloudy day when it has been hot and dry for quite a spell.

Fifth, the spook often works well in water up to 10' deep, especially over wood, near floating docks, over deep weed beds, or along rocky cliffs and banks.

last, don't fish all day with the Spook. If it is going to work, you should catch a fish, or at least get a strike, within the first half hour of use. If you come up empty, put it away and try it when the conditions are better.

"zara spook, worth the investment or not"

are you kidding me? the lure costs about 5 dollars...it is like buying a shot from your local bar? i might understand if you say "lucky craft sammy, worth the investment or not?" the sammy costs around 15 dollars. lol. go and buy several zara spooks!!! it is popular stickbait you could find! the elite pros still throw them but the sammy is getting famous now.

anyway i enjoy working the zara spook under the low-light days...during the calm day or on the lightly ripple water. i will switch to super zara spook or sammy 128 when the water is choppy.

i have to say lucky craft sammy 100 or 115 works the best for me. speaking of my experience, i have the easiest time walking the dog with sammy than zara spook. however i own several different brands such as zara spook, sammy, vixen(by reaction innovations), megebass, etx.

Everyone is right so far, the Zara Spook is an awesome lure if used in the right situation. I have made great catches of bass on numerous Washington lakes on this lure. Try late summer and early fall in calm water with this lure, that is what seems to work best for me.

Sounds like it isn't a very good bait to just throw all the time, has to be ideal conditions for the lure to work to its potential. The "investment" wasn't the money by the way. I already own one. It was the investment of my time and effort trying to make it a confidence go-to bait for me. Sounds like the confidence will only be in certain situations.
Thanks for all the advice.

I also like to toss them when it's raining. I have used spooks and sammies and like them both, both of the walk the dog lures, only the Rapala Skitter Walk has worked for me.

Talked to a friend from Texas and he said he fishes them a lot in deeper open water if it is clear. Don't know if it will work up here, but you could give that a try.

they work awesome on the rivers for smallies!!!!!

i caught about a 3 pound largemouth at silver lake a few weeks ago. only topwater fish i got.

too bad i never really see bass feeding on a school. That would be a really neat sight. I've had 1 pounders explode on little topwater minnow things I have, but that was a year ago. That is really fun. Is there a size where bass stop schooling like I described?