In this blog, I'll take you to the IJssel river, where fishing for asp with topwater lures is not only effective but also incredibly spectacular.
You'll recognize it immediately: a bow wave in the current, followed by a splash on the water's surface. A silver flash, a short but fierce run – asp! For me, there's little that compares to that brutal topwater strike, right before your eyes!
What makes asp so special?
Asp (Aspius aspius) is not your standard predator. It has no teeth, no menacing mouth, but it does have something other predators don't: speed and aggression. It prefers to hunt just below the surface, often in the current, slamming into schools of baitfish at full speed. And that makes it the perfect fish to target with surface lures, or: topwaters. You're fishing visually, actively, and sometimes you get that strike literally at your feet. Believe me: once you've experienced it, you won't want anything else.
Best time to fish with topwaters
Peak season is between May and the end of October, when the water temperature is pleasant. Asp become more active then, and you'll immediately see it in their behavior: hunting on the surface, boils in the current, panicking baitfish.
The best times of day are undoubtedly early morning and late evening. Less boat traffic, calmer water, and asp come closer to shore to hunt. But on cloudy days, you can also score well during the day, especially if you have some wind to break the surface.
Hotspots on the IJssel
The IJssel is a topwater paradise. With its currents, groynes, side channels, and bridges, this river offers perfect conditions for asp. My favorite spots are:
End of the groynes: Where currents converge. Also, cast at the groynes from the side before you step onto them, and do so as quietly as possible; they are easily spooked.
Current seams: You'll see the difference in water movement; that's where you want to be.
Side channels: Less current, but often a lot of baitfish.
Bridges and obstacles: Asp love to hunt in the shade, and the bridge piers create a change in the current, causing the asp to lie in wait in the calmer water and ambush anything that passes by.
So keep your eyes open: jumping fish, boils, or hunting birds are your guides. If you don't see any of these signs, it's still worth casting every groyne head. I daresay your chances might even be higher this way. They can be tricky customers; on days when they are aggressively hunting in large numbers for small bait, they can still be difficult to entice.
Gear: light and fast
You don't need heavy tackle, but you do need precision. This is what I use:
Rod: Up to 2.40m with a casting weight around 10–30 grams. (Poison Adrena 276M2)
As for color? In my opinion, less important in this type of fishing; I think the silhouette and action of the bait take precedence over color. Just try different ones and switch if it stays quiet.
Technique: walk the dog
The most popular topwater technique is the so-called "walk the dog": short twitches with the rod while retrieving. This makes the lure move nervously in a zigzag motion across the water. Like a panicked baitfish, and that's what triggers asp.
Tip:
Vary your retrieve speed.
Occasionally pause.
Fish all the way to the bank; asp sometimes strike literally in the last meter (see the spectacular strike video).
Use polarized glasses for better visibility. You often see the bow wave or a ghost of an asp just before the strike.
Find the action
Asp are mobile. So should you be. Don't linger in one spot if nothing's happening. Cast a groyne a few times, no action? Move on. You're looking for that one active fish that's hunting, and you need to be on top of it at the right moment.
Catch & Release: care for your fish
Asp can fight fiercely, especially in the current. So give them some extra love when releasing them:
Let the fish recover calmly, especially in warm weather.
In short: try it yourself!
Topwater fishing for asp on the IJssel is truly addictive. You're active, fishing visually, and every strike is a spectacle. You'll learn quickly, don't need much gear, and you're fishing in one of the most beautiful rivers in the Netherlands. So: grab your topwater, rod in hand, and go. Maybe tonight you'll hear that splash on the surface again, and you'll know for sure: this is why we fish.
Have you already caught an asp on topwater? Let us know and/or share your story and your catch photos!
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