Whats the best top water lure for bass when its cold out ? 2025
James67 reply :
Whats the best top water lure for bass when its cold out ?
Dtrombly reply :
How cold?
James67 reply :
On 1/16/2018 at 11:36 PM, Dtrombly said:How cold?
Water temp is 52
ratherbfishin1 reply :
I would try something a little bit more silent because the bass are going to be more finicky in cold water.
James67 reply :
On 1/16/2018 at 11:49 PM, ratherbfishin1 said:I would try something a little bit more silent because the bass are going to be more finicky in cold water.
What would you prefer
fishballer06 reply :
52* water? I wouldn't be throwing topwater.
J Francho reply :
If it's around 50, and dropping, then I'd be ignoring any topwater baits, and looking for something in the finesse department.
ratherbfishin1 reply :
I’m with the other guys I’d probably not throw below like 57 to 60 but if you really want to then probably like a silent spook or even a weightless fluke fished top water. Good luck and tight lines!
James67 reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:05 AM, J Francho said:If it's around 50, and dropping, then I'd be ignoring any topwater baits, and looking for something in the finesse department.
Would a pocket frog work
On 1/17/2018 at 12:05 AM, fishballer06 said:52* water? I wouldn't be throwing topwater.
Im new to fresh water would you mind given me advice?
ratherbfishin1 reply :
I wouldn’t throw a pocket frog because I rarely fish frogs off of weeds I prefer to go with something with treble hook because the hook up ratio is better and you probably won’t want to fish top water around shallow weeds in that cold of water. But like I said its not great conditions for any top water. If you really want to try it go for it and the worst thing that could happen is you find out for sure it doesn’t work. ????
J Francho reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:10 AM, James67 said:Would a pocket frog work
Does a pocket frog sink and resemble a small finesse work on wacky jig? If so, that's probably what I'd use.
scaleface reply :
The only top water I have caught fish on in cold late winter/early spring water is a Bomber Long A Minnow . In late fall/early winter I have caught them on many top waters .
J Francho reply :
Fall is a GOOD time for frogs. There's a late fall migration of frogs, before winter hits, and it can be pretty good fishing with them as the temps drop. Spring, not so much.
A-Jay reply :
While I'll agree that in many situations with mid - 50 degree water temps, topwater may not be the deal.
However last fall (mid-Oct) the smallies were still willing to get on a Pop Max early morning.
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:32 AM, A-Jay said:fall
Key word, fall.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:34 AM, J Francho said:Key word, fall.
No Doubt.
A-Jay
BassNJake reply :
On 1/16/2018 at 11:47 PM, James67 said:Water temp is 52
I'd try a jerkbait with longer pauses in the same section of the water column that you are marking fish on the depth finder.
If you are shore bound I'd fish a small finesse worm on lighter line
Dtrombly reply :
I wouldn't bother throwing topwater at that temp. But if your set on it I'd probably go with a small popper
senile1 reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:23 AM, scaleface said:The only top water I have caught fish on in cold late winter/early spring water is a Bomber Long A Minnow . In late fall/early winter I have caught them on many top waters .
I would use a similar type of lure - the Rapala floating minnow. For the most part though, I would be looking at other presentations.
scaleface reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 1:01 AM, senile1 said:I would use a similar type of lure - the Rapala floating minnow. For the most part though, I would be looking at other presentations.
I have caught fish with a floating minnow type lure in that season it but not many .
Bankbeater reply :
I would put the topwater away and use a jig and craw.
bigturtle reply :
During the cold months, you want to throw a big (7"+) slow moving topwater so its worth it for the fish to come up and eat it. Dont bother with the small poppers
Dtrombly reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 5:44 AM, bigturtle said:During the cold months, you want to throw a big (7"+) slow moving topwater so its worth it for the fish to come up and eat it. Dont bother with the small poppers
Good point. Didn't think of that.
Angry John reply :
I was thinking a rat might be the most realistic. Have read a few guys that like to do this but I have ice on my water so I'll be passing on the topwater.
Sam reply :
James, may I suggest subscribing to Bassmaster Magazine, Bass Angler Magazine, BASS Times, Bass Resource.com on Facebook, and start reading about winter fishing?
We can give you only so much information. The magazines give you a lot more from the pros.
I suggest at suspending jerkbait.
rosshilk reply :
Ive heard in the low 50's that a buzzbait still works. Although in all the examples of this working were in the early spring.
TxHawgs reply :
U can absolutely catch them on Topwater in 52° water. I've talked to plenty of pros at bass university classes about the same thing. Now with that being said they will most likely bite it if it's 52° but during a warming trend, if the water is dropping daily most likely not. But the only way to know is to know your on fish and throw it for 20min. As far as what's the best that's determined by the conditions like everything else. Water clarity and flat water vs ripple. But u can catch them on flat water w a noisy buzzbait, but I wouldnt throw the small yellow magic in a good ripple as an example.
papajoe222 reply :
Given your location and the time of year, I wouldn’t rule out top water. A couple of warm days can bring the surface temp up a few degrees and get the fish to move up in the water column.
An original floating Rapala can be worked on top using subtle twitches, but will likely draw more attention worked just under the surface on a slow, steady retrieve occasionally pausing or twitching the rod tip.
Comfortably Numb reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:46 AM, Dtrombly said:I wouldn't bother throwing topwater at that temp. But if your set on it I'd probably go with a small popper
Totally agree. And barely move it painfully slow.
As others said a suspending jerkbait is a much better choice
crypt reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 12:07 AM, ratherbfishin1 said:I’m with the other guys I’d probably not throw below like 57 to 60 but if you really want to then probably like a silent spook or even a weightless fluke fished top water. Good luck and tight lines!
this....................or a slow rolled buzzbait.
J._Bricker reply :
Hello James67, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums! I got motivated to go out the other day and to my surprise I could hear FROGS barking along the bank. The water temperature was 50.6 on my graph, and it was foggy with some light rain. Granted, they weren’t bullfrogs, but they were frogs nonetheless. I didn’t have a frog rod on the boat and kept throwing reaction baits trying to get bit that way.
So James, if you want to throw something up on top IMO a frog, a big wake bait, buzz bait, or a whopper plopper. I’m guessing down in your neck of the woods the pre-spawn isn’t too far off and the aforementioned baits could get you that big bite you’re (we’re all) looking for.
Hot Rod Johnson reply :
My top three choices are "Prop Baits" like a Devils Horse, Wood Choppers, and Torpedoes, all are ideal for water with a chop with "Stained to Muddy Water"...
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