Thoughts on Topwater and "Big" bass 2024

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Thinking back ...... I can't recall catching a bass over 4 lbs (what I consider a big bass in my area) on a top water bait, excluding scum frog type baits. Yet every morning when I go out in the summer and especially this time of year, it's the first thing I grab ..... rather it be a Sammy, Spook, buzzbait, Pop-R, etc.

I guess the point I am trying to make is, that for throwing topwaters as regularly as I do, I sure haven't caught many (if any) big bass on them. All other baits I throw on a consistent basis have caught numerous "big" bass for me. That is why they are in my normal arsenal. You also don't see too many people posting pics of "big" bass they caught on topwaters. There have been the exceptions though. Is seeing a two pounder slam a topwater just that exciting??

I am not trying to make an argument one way or another. It's just something that came to me last night whan I was trying to go to sleep. So what are your thoughts??

BTW - I am heading out for an hour or two before class right now. First up ......... The Sammy. : ;D ;D ;D

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Same here KU.

I've gotten some big 3's and a few 4's from our lake on topwaters over the years but never that "next size class".

I throw topwaters when I need to get back into the game and just want to be glued to the bait. Some baits blow my mind when they don't get hit,..."How could they resist that?"

You'll see lots of big fish posted, caught on topwaters but I think most of these are from southern water where these fish still aren't the biggest in that lake.

My partner is the primarily "big fish" hunter. He doesn't throw them at all,lol.

I remember one year in the learning days where I threw the Super spook relentlessly. Wind, snow, rain, cloudy, bright, didn't matter, I was hooked on spookin'.

Had a blast, don't get me wrong, lots of nice fish but not the hogs we all dream about.

One big thing I like about the topwaters I throw is that they go a mile and sometimes, in a lake as clear as ours, that's what it takes to get the bite.

With that being said, it's a great tool for getting a little closer to the goal of 5 in the boat sometimes.

roadwarrior reply :

Agreed.

I have never caught big bass on topwater, but I still like to fish them. My biggest bass was actually a smallmouth several years ago on a spook. We were fishing east to west and just as the sun was beginning to rise a big girl smashed my lure. When she came up and out of the water the light of dawn made her sparkle like a gold nugget. I guess she didn't like that spook, she tossed it back to me from about twenty yards out!

So, my "biggest bass" doesn't really qualify, she was not even close to being boated.

p.s. KU_Bassmaster, I thought the same thing about crankbaits until you caught your PB at Fork. I fish crankbaits quite a bit these days, but have only caught one big bass on these lures. Oddly, it was my PB, too!

flechero reply :

I guess I'm the odd man out, my first 2 bass over 10 came on buzzbaits. And although there were bigger fish in the lake, I think it's safe to call 10+ a "big" fish. Used to fish private water with a lake record of 12 and change... caught several 7-8 lb fish on topwater there. Those were big for that lake.

Quote
You'll see lots of big fish posted, caught on topwaters but I think most of these are from southern water where these fish still aren't the biggest in that lake.

For the most part I'll agree with that... but rarely are people throwing topwater in the trophy bass haunts.

Lightninrod reply :

Hmmmmmmmmmm? I believe an ol' Georgia boy caught a pretty BIG BASS on a topwater plug a few years ago.........................

Dan

Valascus reply :

I like to throw topwaters in the wee hours and will continue through out the day as long as the conditions are prime for it. I have yet to break that five pounder barrier though (I think that has more to do with the waters I fish than baits thrown), and I doubt it'll come on a topwater.

But that being said...topwaters are pretty dang fun. Just minding yer business...*jerk jerk...pause...jerk jerk...pauSMASH!!* Ah...can't beat that adrenaline rush.

Keithscatch reply :

I have never caught a bass over 5lbs on a top water lure of any kind myself.

jiangtao reply :

I thought about this last week after I caught a Bass that I couldn't believe actually even tried to hit my buzzbait!! After some more thinking, I came to the conclusion that I have caught ALOT of Bass on topwaters, but very few would be considered "keepers". I mainly fish them now because the waters I am fishing in have ALOT of timber and I am tired of breaking off lures everytime I fish. I hate to re-tie lures as I am usually on a time limit with my fishing.

bassholebuster14 reply :

i got my PB(5lbs) on a buzzbait

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

As is often said about a lake being deep, size of bass in a lake is a relative term. In PA, if you catch a 6lb largemouth you are doing pretty darn good. So, if you are catching three pound fish on topwater, I would also say you are not doing too bad for yourself. I have not caught anything I would hang on a wall, but as I posted before, the last local tournament I was in this year, we won on ALL topwater.

There is a time and place for everything. If I was seriously looking to break any records, I would agree that topwater would not be where it is LIKELY to be broken. Since most of the fisherman on here are "for fun" guys, topwater will remain one of the most used techniques due to the fun factor of it.

Wayne

Matt Fly reply :

I have caught lots of bass in the 7-8 lb range on 1/2 oz buzz baits and the larger version of the Zara Spook. I have always thought the poppers and smaller profile topwaters are good for numbers and some nice kickers.

I view the larger topwaters as to throwing swims and large jigs, you may not catch as many as a guy throwing the pop R's and smaller plastics, but the fish that do hit are usually quality.

My largest ever came on a shad rap, so go figure, barely 2" in length.

Hookem

Matt

George Welcome reply :

Think big and think topwater: Chug Bug - May 2006 - Frank Fasano

Gotta love topwater when it comes to big fish: Chug Bug - May 2006 - Jim Tso

And again Jim did it.

Always have a topwater available: Chug Bug - Don Willis - May 2006

Mike Moore is a believer: Chug Bug - May 2006

Russ Comeau, from Yamamoto baits came with Senkos but quickly became a Chug Bug officianado.

There is an excellent read on my site about topwater, lots of bass, and big bass.

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/Articles.htm

Click on "Florida Sticks, Stumps, Marshes, Chugs, Bugs & Senkos"

Yep, big bass love topwater!

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Proof positive right there.

8-)

Just doesn't get it done in my lake. I've even used "too big",lol. Saltwater stuff.

sirmo reply :

Though I have never caught a fish over 3lbs on a slow moving topwater.

I did catch this pig on a horny toad moving full steam ahead. And in winter time too.

George Welcome reply :

Zoom white split tail shad jerked across a hole in hydrilla caught this puppy.

BASS fisherman reply :

Quote
As is often said about a lake being deep, size of bass in a lake is a relative term. In PA, if you catch a 6lb largemouth you are doing pretty darn good. So, if you are catching three pound fish on topwater, I would also say you are not doing too bad for yourself.
Wayne

I was with the majority untill I saw those pics, WOW! I also am in Pa, and usually catch smaller bass with topwaters, but occasionally you will get a pig. The very blurry, super out of focus fish in my avatar was caught on a Rebel Pop-R, at 10:32 am, on a rainy day, and weighed 5lbs 4oz.

It was a memory I will never forget. I cast about 1 foot away from a point of a milfoil bed, and started a small pop, fast retrieve. Right when I paused it, she slashed at it, but missed. She came almost all the way out of the water, and I gave the pop-r the slightest twitch, and she took it, and ran. One of the best fights too.

roadwarrior reply :

Well, on my original response I was just talking about myself. I haven't caught big bass. From the get-go I thought about some of George Welcome's posts where his clients have had full days of topwater only. I'm glad he picked up this thread and had the time to post some pics. No doubt, those are some fine bass!

Keithscatch reply :

And you can bet I will be tossing them at the Stick Marsh also.

fourbizz reply :

These are all topwater fish!

6lb9oz

6lb

6lb8oz

5lb

5lbs8oz

4lb7oz

5.1lb

Siebert Outdoors reply :

My 2nd biggest bass came off a spro frog. It was around 7lbs. Like said above besides the frogs I have yet to break over 5.5lbs on other top water lures. I've caught some low 5's but thats it. No hawgs.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

This has been a good thread. Lot's of people with the same experiences as me ....... and then you lucky ones : ;D.

So I'll keep chuckn' and one of these days .........

FIN-S-R reply :

6lb smallie- rico

5lb smallie- yellow magic

8lb largemouth- horny toad

8.5lb largemouth- twin engine buzz

4.5lb spot- horny toad

4.8lb spot- Kinami Hard Baits Stick Bait

Big fish on Top...it happens....but gimme a 2lb smallie on a drop shot anyday!!!

what reply :

i believe its not the toppwater thats the problem its gotta be the size of the bait your throwing

BASS fisherman reply :

IMO it matters if the bass in the lake your fishing have seen what your throwing, how active they are, and the presentation you use. In my experience, I caught a 16oz bass on the largest Rebel Pop-r they make, as well as the 5lb 4oz bass on the same lure, a couple minutes later.

CJ reply :

Funny that George Welcome's clients have done well with a chug bug.My biggest bass on topwaters came on a chug bug(5 1/2 lbs.)not a monster but a good fish on my lake.

tennsopher reply :

Apparently,you have never heard of the late Lj Brasher.I read of his exploits years ago about night fishing with musky jitterbugs.I have a twelve lber on my wall with the one that caught him in his mouth.Before you panic about catch and release,I caught this fish twenty years ago.Anyhoo,google the name and read the second article.I did after seeing this thread.The man caught hundreds of ten plus in his day.Enjoy the article.

scott000 reply :

is 18in and 4lb big? i got one on my rebel popper this summer. amazing hit. you cant ask for a better hit than topwater

Raul reply :

Without the usual ammount of 5, 6, 7, 8 pounders, yes I 've caught big bass on topwaters not a big bunch of them, Jitterbugs and Zara Spooks but I think it has more to do with a dumb bigun striking the bait than the actual hunt for the bigun with a topwater, topwaters are just not the kind of bait I tie for the hunt.

Let 's say that I cast the bait and a bigun hits it ----> luck.

George Welcome reply :

Raul,

I will have to see if I can dig out my pictures from Huites - all of our big fish came on chug bugs and soft jerk baits out of the brush and tree tops. On a three day trip we managed to catch 9 between 9.5 and 12.5. Don't let me forget to mention that our slowest day was over 100 bass with the majority coming on top water. No luck in it: quite intentional as a matter of fact.

kfx400rob reply :

4 lbs is the bigest iv caught on topwater, but then again the bigest i have caught is only 5 lbs. i dont see a huge difference with size on topwater

jomatty reply :

i havent caught many big bass on topwaters with the exception of frogs (soft and hollow) and larger buzz baits. these are baits that i think of as fairly big fish baits.

many of my largest fish this summer have come on a bronzeye.

Fish Chris reply :

Hmmmm. I have caught a couple big ones while dead sticking a floating swimbait on the surface.... Does this count as top-water fishing ?

Here's a 13.4 that sucked my Castaic right from the surface.... Cool sound too ..... Slurp ! :-)

Peace,

Fish

senko_77 reply :

I've seen big bass on topwaters, but usually when I'm fishing a topwater in a tourny, its being worked real fast and aggresively so the size tends to stay in the upper 3lb range for biggest fish. But I have caught a few 7 and 8's on a sammy

guest reply :

I consider top waters to be a big bass bait. Many of my 5lb or bettr fish have come off topwaters.

As far as luck, well there is always an element of that, but in my experience big bass will inhabit the best spots. There are certain locations where the big ones hang out, if I can get them to bite it's a good fish.

I would urge anyone seeking a new PB to make topwaters a key part of the arsenal.

senile1 reply :

I've caught a couple of 6 lb'ers on Rapala original floaters, and quite a few over 5 on the large Zara Spook. I think that you will catch more smaller fish if you're fishing topwaters fast because they are more likely to strike quickly due to their aggressive instincts.

5bass reply :

I have caught fish up to about 6# on topwater......mainly a buzzbait.Anything over 6# has been caught on plastics and the occasional deep crank.

A question for those of you that have caught 8+ pounders on a topwater bait.Did they come up and bust the lure and make a big commotion or did they just kinda suck it under?Every bass over about 5# that I've caught on topwater has just sucked it down with hardly any splash.

Brian_Reeves reply :

I've caught pretty good fish...nothing like Fish Chris, but a reasonable share of 6-8+# bass, which is good in just about any tournament. "The one that got away" was estimated between 10-12#. I hooked into him during a tournament and he got off right at the boat. The bait was a Spit'n Image.

what reply :

Quote
Hmmmm. I have caught a couple big ones while dead sticking a floating swimbait on the surface.... Does this count as top-water fishing ?
Here's a 13.4 that sucked my Castaic right from the surface.... Cool sound too ..... Slurp ! :-)

Peace,

Fish

what r u talking about thats a lol

RoLo reply :

Topwater lures peg the needle on my "Fun Meter", but that doesn't answer Dustin's question.

I've always believed that the fatter and older the bass, the less energy he's likely to expend.

For this reason, I personally will never choose a topwater lure in the quest for a trophy fish,

be it a bass, pike, striper, bluefish, you name it.

Paradoxically, I've caught several lunker fish of various species on topwater lures.

It may well be that the angler himself and not trophy fish determines the best lure to use.

Quite naturally, the lure that we fish the most has the best chance of catching our largest bass.

In answer to the question posed by FiveBassLimit:

The largest bass I caught on top fell for a Rapala Original Floater while sitting completely motionless.

The bass sucked it in silently with remarkable gentleness. If my eyes were not fixed on the lure

I would never have known I had a strike.

Roger

Rattlinrogue reply :

I guess it depends on where you fish,when you fish,and under what conditions.I've caught my 4 heaviest bass on floatinf Rogues used as topwaters.

Bassassasin12 reply :

I like topwaters and defenitly think they will catch big bass. It's kind of like a senko, it will catch a bunch of little bass and every now and then a big one as well. All the bigger bass in the pond by my house are mostly caught on topwaters and every now and then the occasional senko or fat ika. I prefer a popping type bait over a walk the dog bait for topwater as far was getting the bigger fish. I think the big fish like the splash and it attracts them.

Captain Cali reply :

A friend of mine caught a 10.25 on a pop-r at night. I wouldn't rule 'em out as big bass baits.

MuchyMan reply :

Ive never had good luck with a pop-r or a sammy but a topwater that works for me is a LPT Zellamander from YUM fished with an unweighted rig

Ive caught about 5 3lb bass using that technique

jiangtao reply :

Well, I have to take what I said about buzzbaits and small Bass back earlier on this thread. This past weekend started off with 2-3 pounders and then a 6 pounder!! After that I pulled in 5 more small ones for a total of 8 Bass in one morning! The next day I managed to pull in 13 Bass!!! All were small, but were on a buzzbait. [my specially designed one!]

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Everytime I see the thread makes me think. And after this weekend I have realized these hollow frogs, spro, bobbies, etc are big fish catchers. From my experience nothing around here produces bigger fish. Even fishing the things in open water produce fish. The frogs just rule.

orey10m reply :

with all these posts i might as well not even say my opinion. haha, but what the heck. Personally i think i would have to agree with the original idea stated about not a lot of big fish being caught on topwaters. I throw them all the time, but rarely am I expecting a monster. However, Randall might have a different opinion...

fishingJ reply :

That's why I only fish worms.

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