Favorite Topwater Lures 2024

papajoe222 reply :

Although I do like buzzbaits and hollow body frogs, they aren't in my top three when it comes to favorites. What are your top three?

1. Zara Spook..................It just seems to be able to call up fish like no other bait, big ones too!

2. Chug Bug....................LIkely the most versatile top water both in the way it can be worked and the conditions it will work in.

3. Torpedo........................Great multi-species bait and a better alternative to a buzzer for 'target' fishing. It also covers water quickly when attempting to locate active fish.

ABW reply :

1. Livetarget frog - love seeing bass explode on a frog

2. Spook

Don't have a third because I rarely throw buzzbaits or other topwaters

Mccallister25 reply :

Not sure if I really have a top three. Hands diwn, my favorite is a spook. It just flat out produces. During the summer if I'm not catching fish on anything else, the spook more times than not does the trick. To be such a simple lure it sure can catch some big bass.

Jrob78 reply :

Gunfish

Yellow Magic

Jackall Frog

ColdSVT reply :

Vixen

sammy

livetarget frog

yakingfisherman reply :

There are a few that I use but hands down super spooks always seems to be tied on when they want some topwater.

Lunker Chunker 88 reply :

Cavitron

Pad crasher

Horny toad

Bluebasser86 reply :

Cavitron

Zell Pop

Super Spook Jr

BasshunterJGH reply :

Spook: I like the original heddon super spook, ri vixen, and Sammy best. I also like poppers, rebel pop-rs work fine but I really like the megabass pop-x and pop-maxs. The pop max is a really versatile bait. I find myself walking it 90% of the time though. As far as frogs go the spro 65 is the best I've found.

SirSnookalot reply :

Chug bug

Poppa dog

Catch 2000, sub surface, maybe the best of all.

Weld's Largemouth reply :

Heddon torpedo

Popper

Fluke

Comfortably Numb reply :

Megabass PopMax walked

Ima Roumba

SK Wake Shad

riverbasser13 reply :

Zara Spook

Rebel Pop R.

Hula Popper

WIGuide reply :

Booyah Pad Crasher
Spro Bronzeye Frog
Live Target Frog

....I rather enjoy throwing frogs haha

Jaderose reply :

Pro Tourney Scumfrog....hands down. That 1-2 second wait between blow up and hook set is the most agonizing wait imaginable...lol

A KGB Operative reply :

I have this little 2 inch popper that has been in my tackle box for years. No clue what it is. It is silver and black, looks similiar to a rebel just but 3d eyes and not that terrible looking scratched look. it has some like 3d holographic vibe to it.

Other then that, rage tail shads. my god one of my favorite topwaiters hand down.

Then the bluegill sexy dawg jr zara spook.

scaleface reply :

Buzzbait / Lunker Lure

Bomber long A Minnow

Rebel Pop R , chugger , the big one

Crank Bait Nut reply :

Sammy , Popper's and Buzz Baits .............

Mike

benzmech reply :

Zara spook

Deps Buzzjet

Jackall Pompadour

Crestliner2008 reply :

If the water is relatively open, I've found this little bait to be a sure bet most of the time:

Not only does it possess a great popping action, this bait is the easiest I've had to walk the dog.

For deep, open water fishing, I like a full sized Sammy. Have taken some giant smallies on this bait over the years.

If I'm pad/junk fishing, just about any soft bodied frog/mouse will get you bit - if there are bass there. I've tried about a dozen different ones over the years. (I still have a couple of the original Bill Plummer Bass Frogs and they still work!) None outshine any other, at least from my experience. If it moves, on top of the junk and there's a bass there, he's going to hit it. Pure & simple. He certainly isn't counting the number of realistic looking spots on the top of the plastic frog, even if he could see it! One of my favorites is the Johnson Silver Minnow.

It is my sincerest opinion that if you spend big bucks on a detailed frog imitation, then you have more money than I do. Doubtful that you'll entice any more strikes though. Again, it comes down to confidence. It's something that is hard to prove!

kickerfish1 reply :

Pop-max

X-pod

Spro frog

Honorable mention would be the buzz jet and gunfish.

Bigchunk reply :

Anyone try the yo-zuri 3db pencil?

junyer357 reply :

#1 for me is whatever i have that they will hit on topwater!!!!! Topwater is my favorite way to fish if they are biting i usually try:

Buzzbait

pop-r

frog

spook

Scott F reply :

I have some Mitzuo poppers that I got out of a budget bin for about $2 each. I replaced the hooks and tied some feathers on the rear treble. I've gotten a ton of smallies on those over the years. Another bait that I rely on is the Rapala Skitter Walk. Walks easily and the smallies love it.

gunsndrums1 reply :

Hula popper

Heddon torpedo

Jitterbug

Bought a live target frog hopefully a frog can be on my list too

justhere reply :

1 Jitterbug

2 Rebel Pop-R

3 Hula Popper

Alpha Male reply :

Frogs (spro, pad crusher, ***n and live target)

Buzzbaits for moving baits

And a Hendon super spook Jr.

Its not a topwater lure but it works too so I will tell you. Some times I will TX rig a berkley kicker frog with a very light weight and work it like a swimmer doing the breast stroke. It works great.

bigbill reply :

Bps xps uncle bucks topnocker #1

Spooks

Mr twister top prop.

Torpedoes

Spinnerbaits

Hold the rod at 12 o'clock. Reel just fast enough so the spinnerbaits on the surface and the blades are slapping the water left and right.

I also use any floating crankbaits. Let them stay on top over submerged weeds reel them fast enough to wiggle. Then I stop them over the open weed pockets and twitch it.

Try a original floating rapala. Reel it slow or twitch it.

Any floating bait can produce bass in a top water situation.

wytstang reply :

Rage Toad had been my go to I just hate when a small bass tries to eat it and can only eat a leg. Kills the bait and these toads aren't cheap, but when a 3+lber explodes on one man what a freakin rush.

ww2farmer reply :

Hollow body frogs.................I'll fish them in open water too. It's rare that I toss a spook or popper, but I have a few.

dday07 reply :

1. Buzzbait-got my 1st couple topwater fish of the season today on a buzzbait...it begins!

2. Zell Pop

3. Zara Spook

CRANKENSTIEN reply :

Sammy And spooks. Something about the way that Sammy bobs for clear water.

Bankbeater reply :

Jitterbug, buzzbait, and frogs. That is about all I ever use.

Cgrinder reply :

Gunfish x 3

Mumbly reply :

Super spook jr.

Pop R

Heddon Torpedo

Grizzn N Bassin reply :

Buzz baits, Ms slammer, spook , Hula popper , jitter bug. are my favorites. No order I love them all.

Gundog reply :

1. Torpedo (check my profile pic) 2. Pop-R 3. Zoom Horny Toad

4. Jittery Bug (but only on nights with little moonlight)

5. Buzz bait

6. Zara Spook

Alrab23 reply :

Black cavaitron

Mouse

Spittin' image

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

Spooks and jitterbugs

Angry John reply :

Frog has to be the popping spro

Sammy's

Duo pencil's

R2S bubble walkers

matuka reply :

On 4/1/2015 at 10:58 AM, papajoe222 said:

Although I do like buzzbaits and hollow body frogs, they aren't in my top three when it comes to favorites. What are your top three?

1. Zara Spook..................It just seems to be able to call up fish like no other bait, big ones too!

2. Chug Bug....................LIkely the most versatile top water both in the way it can be worked and the conditions it will work in.

3. Torpedo........................Great multi-species bait and a better alternative to a buzzer for 'target' fishing. It also covers water quickly when attempting to locate active fish.

Why did I ever stop using this bait? It worked great! I can still hear the jingle from the commercial.

matuka reply :

Super Spook: baby bass or smoke and chartreause

Rico: I only own one and boy is it beat on.

Hollow body Frogs: I favor the old Bobby's Perfect

Ozark_Basser reply :

1. Frog

2. Punker

3. Spook

*Hank reply :

1.Spook

2.Pop-R

3.Hollow Body frog.

primetime reply :

Storm Chug Bugs, Rebel Pop'r, BPS Slim Dog, Ima Skimmer, Rebel T-10...I love topwaters, I also like the Yo-zuri Banana Boat for a walking lure.

Other favorites-Spro Poppin Frog, Spro or Booyah Hollow bodies, Light scum Frogs for heavy cover as they come through easy.

Honorable Mention-Sebile Splasher - Sebile Bonga Minnow - Heddon Torpedo, Devils Horse, then wakes-Red Fin, Long A, Yo-zuri SS Minnow, Manns Elite wakes......Heddon Pop'n Image is another killer hybrid walker/popper, Gunfish is a great lure as well obviously. I love me some topwaters...

primetime reply :

I like the Yo-zuri Pencil walking bait since it sits horizontal and comes with saltwater trebles great for heavy braid and the colors are really good. The bone with orange belly and the Red color have been pretty good the few times I have tried them and I added a feather to the white one & put a red hook in the front, but they walk easy, can be fished without snagging in only a few inches of water, and you can swing hard as the hooks are 3x strong.

Great lure for the money. You can find them for $7-$8 and Yo-zuri makes quality lures for salt and fresh, I have never really fished a yo-zuri lure that I didn't like, the Pin's minnow is a killer when fish are feeding on tiny fry, it casts far and is small but get's action on tough days.

carlm01 reply :

Live Target frogs and poppers

Vayned reply :

Heddon Torpedo in Bullfrog, works everytime I keep going back to it and don't get to try my other lures.

ThatFishin'Guy reply :

Pop-R's, buzzbaits and spooks

primetime reply :

If that was your picture that we thought was a Matzuo, I just realized that it is a Megabait....They used to be made by Pace industries and are a Japanese Company who has come and gone a few times and I don't think they are in business anymore, I just had to pay a nice penny for some Megabait Charlie Swimbaits that used to be $7 and were the Icast winner in like 2004....

I remember that holographic paint on the popper without marking and remember them from a local store as they never took off since Japanese tackle was not considered quality at one time, kind of like Japanese cars.....Megabait made some good lures, the crankbaits were hit or miss...Check it out if it was the Nano popper looking silver popper. Hope that helps, you can find em on Ebay or overseas direct for a buck or two.

Master Bait'r reply :

Slither K

Bettencourt Wake Rat

Grand Siglett

jcoffman55 reply :

Superspook Jr. with feather tail

booyaa popin padcrasher (although I found some nories nf 60's on sale and am liking them very much)

one of my new faves is the z man pop shad love that thing. it's like a floating fluke with a cupped mouth that pops a little and is totally weedless.

scaleface reply :

On 4/6/2015 at 5:48 AM, Vayned said:
Heddon Torpedo in Bullfrog, works everytime I keep going back to it and don't get to try my other lures.

I'll give you five dollars for that lure .

hatrix reply :

Spook

Buzz frog

Hollow body frog

For brands on the spook I have been liking the Yamamoto spooks. For buzz frogs hands down Stanley ribbits. As for hollows I like bronze eye shads for how far they can glide or koppers and pad crashers work also. I really like to throw a popping frog for the most part. It gives you another option now cast you can't get with a non popping frog.

madweazl reply :

_{I'm pretty new to this and I see the Spook and Spook Jr pop up constently in this thread. Which color variations seem to work the best? Baby Bass was mentioned in one of the posts but that was the only pattern I noticed.}

Zach Nute reply :

IMA Skimmer by far.....!

http://store.optimumbaits.com/p/ima-skimmer-isk153-blue-back-herring?pp=25

chadmack282 reply :

Vixen & Sammy

johnfl reply :

Wounded spook

Spook

Splash popr

Twin prop baits

Frog

bassinyea reply :

1. LC Gunfish

2. Yellow Magic Popper

3. Deps Buzzjet jr. (also can be used as a wake bait)

4. Cavitron Buzzbait

I can cover all different topwater presentations with these baits, if I cant get bit on anything above they aren't biting topwater in my mind.

primetime reply :

This week....Rebel T10 Jumpin Minnow with a feather on the rear treble, Torpedo, Clear and Black Chug Bugs, Rebel Pop'r, and the Sebile Bongo Minnow 72mm

Topwaterdude reply :

1)Speed Worm

2)Toad

3)BuzzBuzzbait

4)Big Ez

5)Torpedo

7) Pop R

8)Devil's horse

the reel ess reply :

Usually the last one I got some action on. So right now it would be Booyah Pad Crasher. But I've had a great year with Chug Bug and Pop R. I don't think I've caught anything on any other topwater. But that could be because these have worked so often. I've had great days on the Spook and some good buzzbait action-just not this year. Haven't caught a thing on the Whopper Plopper or Sprinker Frog.

YoTone reply :

Has to be a popper. something about twitching it and having it smashed on the pause is for me the most exciting thing about fishing.

same can be said for a frog thats walked in place.

soflabasser reply :

One of my favorite topwaters is a Rebel Pop-R.

KickingFish reply :

Ima popper and a spro/livetarget frog work the best for me

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Favorite Topwater Lures 2024

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