fishing spot logo
fishing spot font logo



"go To" Topwater Lure 2024


fishing user avatarnrowles reply : 

Assuming fishing conditions so all are equal, which is your "Go To"?

 

Jitterbug seems to work pretty well for me.


fishing user avatarABW reply : 

Spook or a frog!


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 

PopMax


fishing user avatarHardcoreBassin reply : 

I absolutely LOVE fishing a Zara Spook.  There is nothing like seeing a fish explode on a spook. 


fishing user avatarSlipknot_Fan666 reply : 

I like listening to buzzbaits, but I never catch anything on them. The popper normally gets the job done for me.


fishing user avataraavery2 reply : 

LC Gunfish in American Shad, or Aurora Black


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 
  On 8/7/2014 at 4:38 AM, aavery2 said:

LC Gunfish in American Shad, or Aurora Black

 

Dang...I purchased this lure two years ago and have never had a strike...I guess it's time to pop the cherry and fish the lure!


fishing user avataraavery2 reply : 
  On 8/7/2014 at 5:16 AM, roadwarrior said:

Dang...I purchased this lure two years ago and have never had a strike...I guess it's time to pop the cherry and fish the lure!

Fantastic bait when there is a top water bite, I prefer them to the spook.


fishing user avatarJar11591 reply : 

2.5" Storm ChugBug!


fishing user avatarDriftb reply : 

Lake fishing, I usually have a buzzbait tied on one rod and it stays there pretty much all season.  If the weeds are too heavy or emergent for that, I  like a Spro Popping frog. BPS Slim Dog in open water.  In the river, I carry and will try (if the fish are looking up) Heddon Spittin Image, Baby Torpedo, Sebile Bonga Minnow, BPS Slim Dog, Storm Chug Bug.  I probably carry about 50 other topwater lures that have been favorites at one time or another. 

 

Fish have been feeding on whitefly lately, and when that is happening, the fly rod is the way to go.  I like to fish a Yellow Gartside gurgler this time of year, and there are many days I can school a spin fisherman with a fly rod.


fishing user avatarpapajoe222 reply : 

I could state that I've caught more quality smallie a on a SuperSpook than any other top water, but that would be misleading. A Spook is the ONLY top water I catch them on. BTW, it's also the only one they catch me on. My last outing netted four SM over 3lb. and two hooks in my hand


fishing user avatarDriftb reply : 

Maybe I should spend more time throwing a big lure.  There have been years I only threw a long topwaterand although numbers are slightly lower, the top end usually goes up.  I usually try what is going to get the most attention from the most fish.  When topwater gets bit, I hand it to one  of my guests.  Funny thing about lure size, though, is that some of my best days for average size have been with a 3" long fly.  Last year I had 3 19" fish on one trip, with the fly, among lots of other good fish, during the course of a day that I also rowed 8 miles.


fishing user avatarDelaware Valley Tackle reply : 

A  Pop-R type bait is my go to more out of habit than anything else. I have to remember to throw a spook for smallies. 

 

  On 8/7/2014 at 8:48 PM, Driftb said:

Lake fishing, I usually have a buzzbait tied on one rod and it stays there pretty much all season.  If the weeds are too heavy or emergent for that, I  like a Spro Popping frog. BPS Slim Dog in open water.  In the river, I carry and will try (if the fish are looking up) Heddon Spittin Image, Baby Torpedo, Sebile Bonga Minnow, BPS Slim Dog, Storm Chug Bug.  I probably carry about 50 other topwater lures that have been favorites at one time or another. 

 

Fish have been feeding on whitefly lately, and when that is happening, the fly rod is the way to go.  I like to fish a Yellow Gartside gurgler this time of year, and there are many days I can school a spin fisherman with a fly rod.

We have a whitefly hatch here on the West Canada Creek. Drives the trout crazy for sure and draws fishermen from all over. I fished the Delaware up near you a lot when I lived in Milford. Nice water. 


fishing user avatarfishballer06 reply : 

Impossible for me to pick just one. I love fishing spooks and skitter pops. I've been killing the smallmouth on torpedo's. And I love using a jitterbug after dark.


fishing user avatarboogie reply : 

Hey papajoe222, what is your rod, reel n line set up for fishing smallies n the spooks ?

 

 thx


fishing user avatariabass8 reply : 

I catch more smallmouth in popper baits but catch bigger smallies on a buzzbait


fishing user avatarfishguy613 reply : 

River2Sea Rover, Sammys, Bonnies, Gunfish, Duo Pencil, spooks


fishing user avatarOntarioFishingGuy reply : 

Tie between an old frog coloured skitter pop with all the paint torn off and a black jitterbug.


fishing user avatariceintheveins reply : 

Popper in a lake, buzzbait in a river.


fishing user avatarA-Jay reply : 

 Last season it was a Duo Realis Pencil -

 

This years it's been the Yellow Magic Japanese Popper 

 

I think it might actually be a little magic too .. . . .

 

:eyebrows:

 

A-Jay


fishing user avatarOkobojiEagle reply : 

"Assuming that all weather conditions are equal" doesn't help me answer... I choose different baits based on different weather conditions.

 

 

 

BTW... LC Gunfish 95 and Frenzy poppers are great lake baits!

 

 

oe


fishing user avatarbowhunter63 reply : 

If i had to pick one a Pop r


fishing user avatarLund Explorer reply : 

Poppers, Prop Baits, or Spooks - Size and action is dependent on what they're feeding on and how much action they'll respond to.

 

Any serious topwater angler is going to have quick access to all three.  They're also going to have a spinnerbait and soft plastic follow-up lure handy as well.


fishing user avatarJosh Smith reply : 

Spook or Hula Popper if I want to fish slowly. Buzzbait or Jitterbug for faster retrieves and/or after dark.


fishing user avatarol'crickety reply : 

F13 orange Rapala.


fishing user avatarBigSkyBasser reply : 

I love frogging and poppers, but you can't beat walking a spook in the north west.


fishing user avatarColdSVT reply : 

Good god...i dont know. I love em all!

I do tend to throw a sammy or vixen more than the other


fishing user avatarMichBassMan reply : 
  On 9/6/2014 at 2:05 PM, bowhunter63 said:

If i had to pick one a Pop r

x2


fishing user avatarSam reply : 

It depends.

 

Spring a Cavitron works.

Summer a popper type like a Pop-R or a RICO along with a Zara Spook and the Cavitron, frog and toad.

Fall when the bait fish are their largest a larger topwater like a Chug-Bug, Sammy's along with the Cavitron, frog and toad plus fishing the popper baits slow.

Winter when the water is cold a slow moving Cavitron, frog or a toad.

 

Of course, the type of topwaters selected will be based on the cover, structure, depth of the water, water temperature, wind, weather conditions, water clarity, amount of pads and grass, wood, a lake, river or pond and most of all - the forage the bass are eating and their size and color.

 

So my list may be great for eastern Virginia waters while another guy's list will be super for their geographical location.

 

The bass will tell you what they want and how it is to be presented. This is the fun of bass fishing. Outsmarting those little green monsters.


fishing user avatarTurkey sandwich reply : 

Spooks and skitter pops have given me a lot of numbers and quality over the years. On top, I've found it's not worth worrying about size as much as find what type of presentation they're chasing and even color. I've oddly enough caught plenty of 8-12 in bass on spooks half their size. The thing is, once you get the hits from the topwater, you've found the fish and you can throw plastics, spinnerbaits, etc behind it and get hits from whatever is schooling or hanging to the cover.


fishing user avatarBasshunterJGH reply : 

Definitely spooks! Buzzbaits and frogs are some of my favorites as well.


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 

Bone colored Super Spook jr hands down.


fishing user avatarBassun reply : 

For smallies, it's hard for me to go away from them Tiny Torpedos if the top water bite is really on.  But, I'll also use a broken back rapala and leave it on top for about 30 seconds and get great topwater action too.  Sometimes cranking it a few turns then letting it floatback up gets it hammered when it surfaces. (Redeyes seem to really love this action too)


fishing user avatarBrock Grigsby67 reply : 

I always have luck with spook jrs, then pop-rs, and last ribbits


fishing user avatarWeld's Largemouth reply : 

scum frog bigfoot


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 11/13/2014 at 9:14 AM, Weld said:

scum frog bigfoot

For smallmouth? I know some guys that have caught smallies on toads and a few on frogs, never heard anybody targeting them with frogs though. I bet that's a hoot. 


fishing user avatarWeld's Largemouth reply : 
  On 11/13/2014 at 4:19 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

For smallmouth? I know some guys that have caught smallies on toads and a few on frogs, never heard anybody targeting them with frogs though. I bet that's a hoot.

Opps didnt see this was smallmouth.. my mistake.. I meant for largemouth... Silly me


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 11/13/2014 at 7:36 PM, Weld said:

Opps didnt see this was smallmouth.. my mistake.. I meant for largemouth... Silly me

Dang, I was hoping you had some technique to share with the class to catch smallies on frogs  :Idontknow:


fishing user avatarWeld's Largemouth reply : 
  On 11/13/2014 at 8:47 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Dang, I was hoping you had some technique to share with the class to catch smallies on frogs  :Idontknow:

i've never caught a smallie, but i see no reason why they wouldn't take a frog.


fishing user avatarMIbassin reply : 

In my favorite lake it is VERY common to catch smallmouth on frogs, my grandpa right before he passed away caught a 5 pound pig on one last year. I have also caught many on frogs!


fishing user avatarjitterbug127 reply : 

Username might give it away. Really like a spook or frog too. Just switched my frog set up. It is great


fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 

The stick bait is the bait of choice for me due to it's versatility. I can make long cast, but I can also cast it accurately on a shorter rod. Just by changing the cadence of my retrieve I am also able to give the fish a different look. You can pull schoolers up from deep water, or fish it around shallow grass. It also represents many different things smallmouth eat, from shad and other baitfish to snakes.


fishing user avatarfisherrw reply : 

Definently a spook


fishing user avatarscaleface reply : 

Lunker Lure . Catching smallies on a Buzz bait is as fun as it gets. Try using five inch grubs with a large hook for weight , buzz it and watch out.


fishing user avatarTyTheAngler reply : 

BUZZBAIT I just recently got into using buzzbaits but now I always have it rigged up. My favorite is the Buzz Plug made by Arbogast.in Frog White belly or Perch. It represents a frog or bait fish perfectly while still displacing water.


fishing user avataradam32 reply : 

Buzzbait for sure.


fishing user avatarCrestliner2008 reply : 

Have had great success over the last 1/2 dozen years, with this inexpensive popper/walk-the-dog plug: It's called a "Pop-R" and is the easiest walk-the-dog top water I've ever used. Versatile too....you just slow down and pop it. Do not know how many LM & SM have fell victim to this bad boy!

 

PopNImageJr_zpsb5982451.jpg


fishing user avatarfishinMichigan52 reply : 

Just reel a jitter bug pause than small twitch than reel but popers work


fishing user avatarEvanT123 reply : 
  On 1/10/2015 at 1:11 AM, Crestliner2008 said:

PopNImageJr_zpsb5982451.jpg

Is that a Jr. model?


fishing user avatarcyclops2 reply : 

Not a true top water. Reb & Rap  floaters.  Close enough.


fishing user avatarscaleface reply : 
  On 1/12/2015 at 11:25 PM, cyclops2 said:

Not a true top water. Reb & Rap  floaters.  Close enough.

I consider them topwaters .


fishing user avatarCrestliner2008 reply : 
  On 1/12/2015 at 10:06 AM, EvanT123 said:

Is that a Jr. model?

I believe it is, but I couldn't swear to it. It's not the largest size, I know that much. I fish it on a light action 7' spinning rod with 6# Fireline and a 3' section of mono. Great fun! Especially when you tie into a 3 or 4 lb. largemouth. :)


fishing user avatarCoreyRK1969 reply : 

Depends on the conditions, but usually nothing beats a firetiger rapala skitter pop. Second choice is a buzz bait, but you have to find one with a flexible hook. The bass can't get leverage to throw it.


fishing user avatarEvanT123 reply : 
  On 1/13/2015 at 12:35 AM, Crestliner2008 said:

I believe it is, but I couldn't swear to it. It's not the largest size, I know that much. I fish it on a light action 7' spinning rod with 6# Fireline and a 3' section of mono. Great fun! Especially when you tie into a 3 or 4 lb. largemouth. :)

Thanks I will look into them. The juniors go for about 3x more on the auction site.


fishing user avatarChris186 reply : 

My #1 go to top water is a Devils Horse. I have caught more fish on that d**n lure than I have all of my other lures put together, baby brush hog being the exception. I remember one time I was fishing in Maine, it was pouring rain and the wind was blowing like 15-20mph. I must have caught at least 30 smallies on that Devils Horse that day, it was incredible.


fishing user avatarWeld's Largemouth reply : 
  On 1/14/2015 at 12:56 AM, EvanT123 said:

Thanks I will look into them. The juniors go for about 3x more on the auction site.

$6 on BPS

http://www.basspro.com/Heddon-Popn-Image-Jr-/product/42536/


fishing user avatarEvan_Musky reply : 
  On 8/7/2014 at 5:44 AM, Jar11591 said:

2.5" Storm ChugBug!


fishing user avatarEvan_Musky reply : 

I like the storm chug bug it is a good mix of a popper and a spook best colors are shad imitators find rocky shores and you'll have a big sow in the boat.




13327

related Smallmouth Bass Fishing topic

what rod do you use for smallmouth fishing?
Crankbaits for shallow rocky river /creeks
Bottom bumping Silver Buddys
Ha ! I did catch the lake record Smallie !!!
Hatin' on smallmouth
Tubes
If You Only Had One Bait!!
Only 1 Artificial Lure
Smallie's can FIGHT!!! no exxageration
Come & get them!
Ever Caught A Meanmouth?
Lake Erie, St. Clair or Somewhere Else?
Quest for the 7 pound Smallmouth
Best TopWater Baits for SMB
Smallie Tip
Whats Your Prefered Length Of Rod For Smallmouth
Smallmouth, Ugly??
Line Size for Smallmouth
Favorite smallie bait ?
Jerkbait For Smallies



previous topic
smallmouth or largemouth -- Smallmouth Bass Fishing
next topic
what rod do you use for smallmouth fishing? -- Smallmouth Bass Fishing