This time, we would like to introduce a topwater technique from Yasunao Hondo, an EVERGREEN-supported Japanese tournament pro.

Hondo competed in the JB TOP50 series for many years and currently fishes the JB Masters tournament series. He also guides mainly on Sameura Dam and other reservoirs in Shikoku, an area of Japan known for its beautiful mountains, rivers, and clear-water reservoirs.

The lure featured this time is the EVERGREEN Otter Crawler.
https://www.evergreen-fishing.com/goods_list/OtterCrawler.html

The Otter Crawler is a large jointed winged topwater crawler produced by Yasunao Hondo and developed under the supervision of Toshifumi Kikumoto.

It measures 11.5 cm, weighs approximately 2 oz, and is designed as a floating topwater bait.

Best Seasons

According to Hondo, the Otter Crawler is especially effective during two important periods.

The first is March, before the spring spawning season.

The second begins in June, when bass enter the post-spawn period, and continues until fall, when the fish begin spreading out across the lake.

Recommended seasons:

March: Pre-spawn
June–November: Post-spawn through fall

Where to Fish It

Hondo mainly uses the Otter Crawler close to structure.

Recommended areas include:

Rock walls
Bridge pilings
Standing timber
Bushes and other shoreline cover
Breaklines
Shallow flats
Inlets

Although it can be used over open water, Hondo’s basic approach is to retrieve it near something that can hold or attract bass.

A big bass may rise from beside a bridge piling, standing tree, rock wall, or bush to attack the lure on the surface.

The Basic Retrieve

Many anglers associate winged crawler baits with extremely slow retrieves.

However, Hondo says the basic speed for the Otter Crawler is a medium retrieve.

This allows the lure to generate a strong combination of sound, water displacement, and surface disturbance while covering water efficiently.

The lure can also be retrieved dead slow or fast.

This wide retrieve-speed range allows anglers to adjust the presentation according to the activity level of the fish and the type of structure being targeted.

Start with a medium-speed retrieve.

If the bass are inactive or following without biting, slow it down.

When the fish are aggressive or when you want to cover more water, try increasing the speed.

Multiple Sounds to Trigger Bass

The Otter Crawler creates several different sounds.

Its wings interact with the water and hardware.

The jointed body produces a lower knocking sound.

The rear metal blade creates a higher-pitched sound.

These sounds overlap to create a complex acoustic appeal.

Hondo believes this combination can switch on big bass positioned around structure.

Complex Water Displacement

Sound is not the only important feature.

The underside of the Otter Crawler has concave sections that create complex water displacement.

These shapes push water both sideways and downward while also helping generate vibration, bubbles, and surface disturbance.

The result is a large topwater bait that appeals to bass through several senses at the same time.

It can be seen on the surface.

It can be heard.

Its vibration and water movement can also be detected from below.

A Structure-Oriented Topwater Technique

The key to Hondo’s Otter Crawler technique is not simply making a long cast and retrieving it across open water.

The important point is to place the lure close to structure and keep it moving through the most productive zone.

Cast beside a rock wall.

Bring it past a bridge piling.

Retrieve it along standing timber or the edge of a bush.

Follow a breakline or work it near an inlet.

The Otter Crawler’s combination of multiple sounds, complex water displacement, and a wide range of retrieve speeds makes it a versatile topwater bait for these situations.

Lure: EVERGREEN Otter Crawler
Rod: EVERGREEN ORION Stargazer
Line: TORAY Premium Plus 20 lb
Type: Jointed winged topwater crawler
Best seasons: March and June–November
Basic retrieve: Medium speed
Key areas: Rock walls, bridge pilings, standing timber, bushes, breaklines, shallow flats, and inlets

Pro angler: Yasunao Hondo
Instagram: @yasunao_hondo
Main field: Sameura Dam and reservoirs in Shikoku, Japan

This is a real Japanese reservoir topwater technique from an EVERGREEN-supported tournament pro.