Favorite Topwater baits 2024

bugman reply :

I'm looking to add topwater baits to my collection this spring and could use some advice. Please list your favorite Jerkbaits/minnow, pop/chug, cigar & Buzzbaits. I can't see myself paying for high priced lures such as Lucky Craft but if you have a good argument for these lures I willing to listen.

frogtog reply :

Bugeye popper for me and a Boggie Man Buzz Bait. 8-)

bocabasser reply :

rebel pop r

zara spooks (in all sizes, especially the big one)

jitterbug

boondocks reply :

I caught a lot of fish last year on the Rapala skitter pops in the frog pattern. I treid other poppers(REBEL) and there was a huge preference for the Rapala. In some cases they wouldn't even touch the other brand. I thought it was a little odd. There was definately differences in the two lures. Different sounding pops, the Rebel had rattles, and the Rapala was quite a bit larger, different color patterns. I guess you just have to let the fish tell you.

Another underrated topwater is a the original floating Rapala twitched on the surface. Deadly.

Others I like are buzzbaits and jitterbugs.

TournyFish001 reply :

megabass pop max

WABass reply :

Spooks, buzzbaits, and frogs in the slop.

justfishin reply :

Zara Spook, Buzz baits, Torpedoes, Rico, floating worms.

BassChaser57 reply :

There is nothing more fun for me than walking the dog with a Heddon Zara Spook. I have best success with the clear with blue back model. These are as much fun as any in the boat! Good Luck 8-)

roadwarrior reply :

The three I recommend are:

Zara Spook (frog)

LC Sammy (Aurora Black which is blue)

Smithwick Floating Rogue (black & silver with an orange belly)

justfishin reply :

Hey RW, did you ever try a Tiny Torpedo on the smallies down there? We use them late in the evenings here just before dark and they are killers. Just curious.

roadwarrior reply :

Tiny Torpedos and the Zara Puppy (black & silver) are two lures I recommend to EVERYONE for numbers. If you are just starting or have never caught a bass on topwater, these two lures are as close as you can get to "guaranteed!" However, I don't fish them because I have never caught a big bass on either. Maybe I need to give them another try.

8-)

Bluecraw reply :

Jitterbug.....black. Replace the hooks and add slip rings.

CrazedL.IFisherman reply :

Zoom trick worms, floating lizards, and absolutely a heddon crazy crawler in the bullfrog pattern

Laineisbosshog reply :

LC Sammy

cane toad

yum buzzfrog

Bankbeater reply :

I like the Pop-r, Zara Spook, and Jitterbug. All in black if possible.

Captain Cali reply :

Buzzbaits

Lucky Craft Gunfish 95

bugman reply :

Thanks for all the suggestions, Keep them comming! I'm surprised that none of you guys mentioned any Spro topwaters. They look so much like some of the Lucky Craft lures, i'm just woundering if the fish like them.

skillet reply :

I really like the jitterbug at dark or dark-thirty. Have had a lot of success with Smithwick devil's horse. As far as walking the dog baits Luhr Jensen makes a dalton special that is great. IMO it swings farther to the left and right than other lures of that type. To paraphrase someone "I've never met a top-water bait I didn't like." Even if they don't work especially well ;D...

As Ever,

Skillet

-hydrillagorilla- reply :

Klak R JaK if you can find them. I think they were made by lunker lure. I love those baits. I just re-skirted the few I have left.

Spook - simply catches a bunch of fish and very exiciting strikes sometimes.

BassFishingMachine reply :

Hollowfrogs(chartreuse, or dark greenish), Buzzfrogs(greenpumpkin or watermelon), Buzzbaits(any color just about works with them ;D), Tiny Torpedo (baby bass), Original Floating Rapala(silver/shiner).

Jimzee reply :

Buzzbaits!! I like the Cavitron and the Strike King brands. I also fish with Sammys a bunch.

BassPonder72 reply :

Rebel Pop'r and Heddon Zara Spooks & Torpedos. These won't break the bank as they are priced around $4-$5.

llPa1nll reply :

Zara Spook...

.ghoti. reply :

Skillet hit the nail right on the head.

I never met a topwater bait I didn't like.

Spooks, all sizes, Torpedos, all sizes, jitterbugs and buzzbaits are probably my most used topwaters.

The original floating Rapala, twitched on top, is deadly at times. Ditto for 3X plastics.

I'll stop there. There are so many that are so much fun to fish. Topwater bites are just about as much fun as you can have with your pants on.

Cheers,

Munkin reply :

LC Gunnish 95 and G-Splash 65

Tiny torpedo

Jitterbug

Zoom toad

The LC baits are expensive but think of it this way. How many topwaters do you actually lose? In 20+ years of fishing topwaters I have only lost or broke 5 or 6. Out of them 3 were stolen by tiger muskees, 1 because the ceramic fell out of the rod tip fraying the line, and I did shatter a popper against a bridge piling.

Allen

Bryant. reply :

Reaction Innovation's Vixen. It calls fish up like no other bait I've ever seen. It also has three hooks whick gives you a better shot at hooking a fish that just slap at the bait.

Maico1 reply :

Megabass-POP MAX and POP-X,Daiwa-MouthWasher ,Duo-Hacker Slaver Chug and Megabass Griffon Zero(although listed as a crankbait if you keep your rod tip up the Zero stays on the surface. Two killer colors Karakusa Tiger and SpookKiller)

bugman reply :

Quote
LC Gunnish 95 and G-Splash 65
Tiny torpedo

Jitterbug

Zoom toad

The LC baits are expensive but think of it this way. How many topwaters do you actually lose? In 20+ years of fishing topwaters I have only lost or broke 5 or 6. Out of them 3 were stolen by tiger muskees, 1 because the ceramic fell out of the rod tip fraying the line, and I did shatter a popper against a bridge piling.

Allen

GOOD POINT! Looks like my first LC may be a Topwater. What size Sammy do you like best?

iceintheveins reply :

Rapala skitterpop in bullfrog, followed closely by a 1/4 ounce buzzbait with a black skirt.

cjensen reply :

Another vote for the mighty Zara Spook. But my new favorite is the Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad, landed my PB smallmouth (6.20) on Rainy Lake Ontario last fall using the Crazy Shad.

8398

Favorite Topwater baits 2024

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