Why it is on the list
Why the Joe Bucher TopRaider is on the musky checklist
Summer nights on the Collins River flats.
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How it is used here
Using a topwater like this on Tennessee water
A lure imitates what the fish is eating, and in Tennessee that is mostly shad and bluegill in the reservoirs, crawfish on the rocky lakes and smallmouth rivers, and insects and small minnows in the trout water. The lures on each checklist are the ones that match the forage on that kind of water and have caught fish here for years, not this season’s catalogue.
Colour follows the water. Natural shad and green pumpkin in the clear highland lakes like Norris and Dale Hollow; chartreuse, white and black in the stained water of Reelfoot, Kentucky Lake’s creeks and the Cumberland. The What’s biting pages on this site say which lures are working each month.
Where to use it
Tennessee water for the Joe Bucher TopRaider
The Joe Bucher TopRaider is on the musky checklist because it works on Tennessee water.
Goes with
What the Joe Bucher TopRaider pairs with on the musky list
The rest of the musky checklist, each with its own page.
Same job, other fishing
Other topwaters on the Tennessee checklists
Common questions
Joe Bucher TopRaider questions
What is the Joe Bucher TopRaider for?
Summer nights on the Collins River flats. It is the topwater on the musky checklist on this site, and it earns its place because it works on Tennessee water, not because it is new.
Which fish is the Joe Bucher TopRaider good for in Tennessee?
The musky checklist covers muskellunge, musky leaders, northern pike. A lure imitates what the fish is eating, and in Tennessee that is mostly shad and bluegill in the reservoirs, crawfish on the rocky lakes and smallmouth rivers, and insects and small minnows in the trout water.
Where would I use the Joe Bucher TopRaider?
On the Tennessee water that holds musky: Barren Fork, Calf Killer River, Clear Creek, Clinch River among others. Each water page on this site lists the public access points and what swims there.
What goes with the Joe Bucher TopRaider?
The rest of the musky checklist, starting with St. Croix Mojo Musky casting rod, 8 ft heavy, Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast, PowerPro braid, 80 lb. The checklist page has all 11 items.
Is there a different topwater for other fishing?
Yes: Heddon Zara Spook on the largemouth bass list; Rebel Pop-R on the smallmouth bass list; Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper on the striper and hybrid list.
How much does the Joe Bucher TopRaider cost?
The Amazon link on this page shows today’s price. The checklist items are standard tackle rather than premium gear, and the bait shops on the county pages carry most of them.
Can I buy the Joe Bucher TopRaider in Tennessee instead?
Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. The link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag and pays a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission.
Do I need a licence to use it?
Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, plus the trout privilege for trout. The licence page on this site has prices and limits.
Keep going
More Tennessee water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.