Topwater in General 2025

silverbullet32 reply :

hey everyone,

i really, really, really, really, really want to catch my first topwater bass. i know a guy that fishes jitterbugs at night, but my boat isn't set up for night fishing. i have a couple topwater plugs i made, i also have some buzzbaits and a topwater frog. soon i will be getting a couple spro frogs (a black one and a green one) and i'm also gonna get the cabela's frog kit. i dont really have too much confidence in topwater (same with jigs and for the same reason) because i haven't even got a hit from topwater yet. just wondering how many of you felt the same way and ended up catching topwater bass.any advice would be great too. thanks!

soccplayer07 reply :

Get ready for a great ride! I think frogs are great way to get a feel for top water. To build your confidence I would start throwing them during early morning or late afternoon (they can be thrown all day too!). Stick with it and get ready. Do not set the hook when you see the initial blow up. I like to weight until I feel the weight of the fish (others wait 2-3 seconds). I prefer using braid and MH/H and fast/extra fast action rod. Good luck!

cjl 32994 reply :

Topwater and jigs are my best methods of fishing.

For topwater, i like to use the zara spook or a chug bug i think its called, the best times for me are dawn and dusk. the color is black or a green.

For the frogs, find some pads or scum i like to cast it, wait for it to get to a hole in the cover then twitch it for a sec, and let it sit. and good luck

islandbass reply :

Topwater is one of the most exciting ways to catch a bass. The time will come for you, no doubt. However, that collection is not going to be complete without a few poppers. Rapala's skitter pop is a practical shoe in when the conditions are right.

silverbullet32 reply :

thanks for the advice guys! my rod/reel setup is a daiwa megaforce with 7.1:1 gears (i love the high speed), 303 tuf-line casting braid, and a 6'6" mh rod, soon to be replaced with a 7' rod. thanks again!

Marty reply :

Quote
i dont really have too much confidence in topwater (same with jigs and for the same reason) because i haven't even got a hit from topwater yet.

This can be a vicious circle. No confidence because you don't get hit, so you don't use it enough, which increases the chances of not getting hit. Just force yourself to use them if you are determined enough to have success on them.

Quote
i know a guy that fishes jitterbugs at night,

Jitterbugs are my favorite lure by far and I never fish at night. They catch fish for me at various times, including more than a few on sunny afternoons. Except for cold water temps in the spring and fall, there is never a time when I'm not comfortable with topwaters. That doesn't mean that they always work, but they always get tried.

roadwarrior reply :

#1 Lots of little fish: Hendon Pupppy

Cavitron Buzzbait

Spook

Sammy

Pop-R

Jitterbug

8-)

bassfisherjk reply :

Topwater is alot of fun,add a popper to your collection.I am not going to go on,already some great info.Good Luck!

JKarbo214 reply :

I have had a lot of success over the past few summers using a Bill Dance Spit'n Image. These are great for both largemouth and smallmouth and is a really really fun way to fish. Good Luck!

spencerd reply :

my favorite lure is the snagproof frog

Crestliner2008 reply :

Well, if you buy just one Pop-R, you're luck will change. I don't care if you fish for LM or SM bass. Cast it out. Let it set for a bit. Twitch it a time or two and let it set again. All of a sudden, your world is going to explode!

grizzly1654 reply :

The excalibur super pop r in babybass color is my goto top water bait.

spencerd reply :

specifically the bronze eye straight green

silverbullet32 reply :

thanks to all of you who have gave me advice along with great topwater lures. can i catch bass in cold water/ spring weather?

PondHunter reply :

My favorites are the Jitterbug and Storm rattlin' chug bug in frog patterns. The Zara Spook in a frog pattern, and a black buzzbait.

J Francho reply :

In a general sense, if your top water bait dangerously close to getting fouled by some weeds, then you're in the right place.

Pez reply :

Can someone give me some tips on how to correctly walk the dog with a spook/Frog?

Thanks!

J Francho reply :

iceintheveins reply :

Topwater is one of my best presentations and often a go to for me. Here is what I have found about topwaters.

1. Use them near dawn, dusk, and during cloudy weather when the water is warmer than 60 degrees. That doesn't mean they don't work at other times, but 85% of my topwater bass come during these conditions. But use them during these conditions and you will catch fish most of the time, often better than on any other presentation. Usually once the sun is up and shining on the water, look to other presentations.

2. Rapala skitterpops and cavitron buzzbaits are my two top producers. Weedless frogs are also great in weed choked areas, the thicker the better.

3. Fishing near weedbeds and other cover in the shallows are the best areas.

Fishes in trees reply :

Different areas of the country have different top water patterns that work from time to time. An earlier post mentioned cloudy days. I'd agree with that. The vast majority of top water bites I've had happened during cloudy days/ diffused light situations.

To the topic of different patterns, some times on your clearer Ozark lakes, guys will throw poppers on points. Boat is sitting in 40 to 60 feet of water and you're throwing to 10 or so and bringing it out. Fish suspended on points will come up to hit the popper, sometimes 20 feet or so.

Truman, and some other lakes have large areas of flooded forest. Getting in amongst the trees and working a popper occasionally produces. Focus on being next to the trunk of the tree, the moments just after you've crossed over something large and horizontal and any shade pockets that might exist.

Both of these pattern are more of a post spawn than pre spawn thing, but they both speak to the notion that weeds and shallow water are not a 100% requirement for top water success.

On the Corps of Engineers lakes, that are primarily managed for flood control, weeds and grass can be extremely variable. High water = lots of grass Low water = no grass

I'm pretty certain that in other parts of the country there are top water patterns I don't know about, so anyway, good luck with your top water fishing this season.

islandbass reply :

Quote
thanks to all of you who have gave me advice along with great topwater lures. can i catch bass in cold water/ spring weather?

My best chances for top water action in our state for LMB have been later spring in the evenings as the sun is setting and late fall.

It can happen at any time, but it seems for me that the greater % happened in those time frames.

Topwater might not be the best choice now, given the current weather pattern.

Make sure you hold on tight. There is no other bass strike like a topwater. Trust me... It's a blast.

NBR reply :

Twitching an original Rapala on the surface is very effective. Just pop it a time or 2 then let it rest before repeating. I usually work it back a foot or teo this way then crank it in and recast.

Bean Counter reply :

I always have a rod rigged with a topwater bait in the boat. Usually either a buzzbait or a frog. I don't always catch something on topwater, but I try one on each trip.

My favorite way to catch Bass!

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
hey everyone,
i really, really, really, really, really want to catch my first topwater bass. i know a guy that fishes jitterbugs at night, but my boat isn't set up for night fishing. i have a couple topwater plugs i made, i also have some buzzbaits and a topwater frog. soon i will be getting a couple spro frogs (a black one and a green one) and i'm also gonna get the cabela's frog kit. i dont really have too much confidence in topwater (same with jigs and for the same reason) because i haven't even got a hit from topwater yet. just wondering how many of you felt the same way and ended up catching topwater bass.any advice would be great too. thanks!

LJ

Buy a Zara Puppy, black on silver:

http://www.bass.co.za/images/zara_puppy_black_shiner.jpg

Cast on or near structure or cover. Let the

lure sit for at least 30 seconds, then twitch

and sit until you feel you are "out of the zone".

In terms of numbers, this is the most productive

hard bait I have ever fished.

8-)

brushhoggin reply :

poppers and spooks for solid open water fishing but i would start throwing a plain ole stanley ribbit or zoom horny toad for both open water and over vegetation to boost your confidence in topwaters

Shakes reply :

I don't think that any other style of fishing is more exciting then seeing the fish you're about to hook into smash your bait on the top of the water... get ready.

Buzzbaits, buzzbaits, buzzbaits. Black buzzbaits have produced probably 3 times the hits on top water then any other bait I've used. Can't go wrong.

As for frogs, the spro frogs are great... but I've come to like the Snag Proof Perfect Frogs a lot more. Something about the body shape/size just seems to get more bites overall. Not to the mention the double hook is painted red... I'm all for red hooks!

Also try throwing a weighless Zoom Super Fluke. It's not topwater, but fished just under the surface gets hits like no other and you still get a taste of those awesome topwater strikes.

Good luck.

WdyCrankbait reply :

I love the Zara Spooks, 1/2 oz. in 3-1/4" size I think. Try giving the lure, good hard, short pops with the rod tip. Let it sit for a 3 seconds, repeat. Also, try small hard jerks with the rod tip. If done correctly, the spook with stay in about the same place with ripples coming out from it. But, the key to working Spooks is use the rod tip for the action, and reel for retrieving acess line. Good Luck, and HOLD ON!!

WdyCrankbait reply :

The bass you see me hanging in my profile pic was caught on a 1/2oz. Spook using technique I mentioned above. Herdon Bill Dance Zara Spook, she was almost 5 lb.

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