Top water recommendations for clear water 2025
Sharkicane reply :
Hey all,
The other day I tried my new 110 silent whopper plopper in silver/black. Didn’t get any luck. Yet fish were hitting the top of the water around me. I tried a spro frog also to no avail. Is the water just to clear? Am I fishing them wrong? Do I need to try some different top water baits, if so what are some suggestions?
Ive tried walking the frog and I just can’t seem to get it to do it. Maybe it requires braid or something. The WP I tried straight retrieve and stop and go. Maybe the bass just weren’t in the mood lol.
MIbassyaker reply :
Spook, or other walking bait. Also torpedo-style propbaits.
Yakalong reply :
pop r 
Muddy wolf reply :
Original rapala twitched on surface.
Happybeerbuzz reply :
The River2Sea Bubble Popper has been my popper of choice lately. It is easy to walk and pop at the same time.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Are you sure they were bass? Lots of fish will hit the surface that won't strike a topwater bait. I've caught a ton of bass on a Whopper Plopper in very clear water and don't believe there is such a thing as too clear for a topwater.
If you really feel the need to go finesse, a clear walking bait would be my choice. I use a clear Zara Puppy if it's clear and calm.
I had really good luck Tuesday in very clear water with a Yo-Zuri 3DB Prop, catching a fish or getting bit almost every cast for most of the day. No big fish, but it was a lot of fun.
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/13/2018 at 1:40 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Are you sure they were bass? Lots of fish will hit the surface that won't strike a topwater bait. I've caught a ton of bass on a Whopper Plopper in very clear water and don't believe there is such a thing as too clear for a topwater.
If you really feel the need to go finesse, a clear walking bait would be my choice. I use a clear Zara Puppy if it's clear and calm.
I had really good luck Tuesday in very clear water with a Yo-Zuri 3DB Prop, catching a fish or getting bit almost every cast for most of the day. No big fish, but it was a lot of fun.
It’s possible they weren’t Bass. Maybe I gave up to easy on the plopper I threw it about an hour though early in the morning and nothing.
frosty reply :
They’ll still hit the plopper in clear water. We give bass to much credit for being smart. Many many bass have been caught on spinnerbaits and I’ve yet to see a fish that looks like a spinnerbait.
yosef reply :
I have great luck with spooks and whopper ploppers in my lake which is crystal clear
Angry John reply :
I like to downsize in that case and throw the Duo bug. Caught everything from bass to bluegills.
RHuff reply :
I have better success in clear water and/or sunny conditions with a topwater in a translucent color. My go to is the Boyd Duckett BDT Topwater in size 90 in Aurora Ghost color
sdsc357 reply :
Try a spook jr in clear.
crypt reply :
On 5/14/2018 at 1:49 PM, sdsc357 said:Try a spook jr in clear.
this.....
haggard reply :
Spro Rat-30 (1/2 oz). Swimming, articulating rat lure. Haven't caught anything on it yet but in 2018 I will 
J.Vincent reply :
Zara Spook Puppy or Zara Spook Jr (Translucent Clear)
papajoe222 reply :
Most any topwater will catch fish in clear water UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. The worst conditions are the same as for most any lure, but calm water and clear skies are a killer for topwater. Have I caught fish on a Spook under those very conditions? Yes, but they were likely of the brain damaged variety which fits right in with the angler throwing said Spook.
If you try different styles with different retrieves without any takers, it's time to try something else. Keep a close eye on conditions, because if they change the fish's mood my also change and that topwater you set down earlier may be just what they'll be looking for.,,,,,,,,,,,,or not.
ClackerBuzz reply :
be careful not to get caught trying to force feed bass a lure just b/c you want to cast it.
drscholl14 reply :
Spook! Easily my favorite topwater. So underrated these days. I've caught bass in 15-20 ft of water on the Spook. The noise, the action, it's just awesome! I usually seem to have better topwater days when it's cloudy now that I think about it.
ChrisD46 reply :
So , in clear calm water a downsized spook in clear / translucent is what to go to first ? If a little surface chop then probably a full size spook in clear/translucent would be what to move to ?
J Francho reply :
I throw the same two top waters most of the time: a one-eyed Sammy 115 and a Popmax with more hook rash than paint. I probably have over a hundred other topwaters, but these two specific baits always produce, irrespective of water clarity.
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 2:51 PM, ClackerBuzz said:be careful not to get caught trying to force feed bass a lure just b/c you want to cast it.
I am guilty of this on occasion .
SJex reply :
I like KVD Splash/Splash Jr. poppers, Megabass PopX/Popmax, and Heddon Baby or Tiny Torpedo.
Gundog reply :
My go-tos in clear water are a Pop-R, Heddon torpedo and Spit-N Image. The Spit-N Image walks the dog like a Spook. Overall I'd say downsize your lure and try lures that make a more subtle presentation. Clear water bass can be really cautious when it comes to big baits. Also for something different, try a senko or worm weightless reeled quickly with your rod tip up high to keep the bait on top of the water. You never know when something like that works.
burr56 reply :
I have found that a rapala "skitter pop" works when a plopper or popper seem to be a little more than the bass want action wise. Color didnt make much difference as black/silver -blue-white and frog pattern all got hit this last week- may 20-27. Good luck and gotta love that topwater bite!????
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Any brand of pop-r's with a white bottom and a feathered rear treble.
Start big and loud then downsize and slow down until you figure their pattern
FCPhil reply :
Walking baits and poppers...try to find ones without rattles.
greentrout reply :
Floating worm...
papajoe222 reply :
Are you target fishing, or fan casting an area? The plopper, Jitterbug, buzzbait and spook are good choices for doing both. You can cover water, or target specific cover. With all but the buzzer, you can pause them. Even when fan casting, I recommend pausing and/or changing speeds. Once you get a blow up, you can adjust as you see fit.
Koz reply :
Next time you throw your Whopper Plopper try and land it soft, wait one or two seconds, then twitch it once or twice so it looks like a crippled bait fish. Pause a second or two, then twitch it again one or two times and then pause a few seconds. If nothing blows up on it start your retrieve (straight or stop and go).
I get a ton of blow ups on my WP's when twitching them after the initial landing.
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