Different Types Of Topwater Baits

[MIbassin]

hi guys i was wondering what kind of topwater baits you'd throw(sara spook, buzz bait, pop r ) and when? like what tells you which one to use over the other?

thanks

p.s the lures for SUMMER fishing

[Bluebasser86]

Walking baits-covering lots of water, schooling fish, clear water

Poppers-fishing cover and specific targets

Buzzbaits-covering water, stained to muddy water, heavy cover

That's just a ultra simplified breakdown of why I choose one over the other.

[chriswesnofske]

What about frogs? When and where should you throw those.

[Bluebasser86]

What about frogs? When and where should you throw those.

Vegetation, heavy cover, when you need to be able to skip the bait under limbs or docks, target fishing. Frogs also work well in open water as a lot of the newer designs walk very well.

[tbone1993]

What about frogs? When and where should you throw those.

You can throw them in open water and it can be effective. I like throwing them on top of surface muck or even in lilly pads. It is a versatile topwater because it is essentially weedles.

[roadwarrior]

Walking baits-covering lots of water, schooling fish, clear water

Poppers-fishing cover and specific targets

Buzzbaits-covering water, stained to muddy water, heavy cover

That's just a ultra simplified breakdown of why I choose one over the other.

For heavy vegetation on top, give the Rage Tail Shad, Toad and new Menace a try.

[5fishlimit]

Another good one that works in most any condition is a jitter bug.

I start my mornings with a jitter bug or buzz bait.

[BassAssassin726]

I agree with BlueBasser. I throw poppers if im fishing a specific piece of cover or over rocks too. Zara Spooks if im trying to cover water. Ive never had much luck with buzzbaits. I fish them but just never get any bites.

[retiredbosn]

Heavy cover lilly pads, etc. Frog, Rage Shad

Duck Weed, cover, timber, buzzbaits, Rage Shad

cover, timber, over submerged grass, buzzbaits, rage shad, popper

covering water, schools, etc Sammy types, popper, rage shads.

The buzzbait is alot more versatile than many think, the weirdest thing I ever caught on a buzzbait was a 1.5 lb bluegill. My personal favorite buzzbait is a double gold blade with a chartruese white skirt. If you have never fished a Rage Shad, that thing is just awesome. And oh BTW it doesn't have to be summer for these things to work. I've had insane luck with smallies with water temp as low as 50 degrees on a pop r, points and over rocky flats mid day early spring when the water temp was rising. Good luck

[flipin4bass]

I use the baits previously mentioned. I was also turned on to these Lucky Craft wake baits almost two years back and have caught quite a few bass on them.

[MIbassin]

ok the waters i usually fish are mostly submerged grass beds. i am trying to locate fish but it is not in completely open water with no cover. what would i use?

I've had some luck with poppers in the past but never really tried a spook or buzz bait

[MCS]

Another good one that works in most any condition is a jitter bug.

I start my mornings with a jitter bug or buzz bait.

X2

I like the jitter bug cuz u can vary the retrieve more so than a buzz bait, plus like RW said plastics near heavier grass, I go with a toad or vibe worm.

[shootermcbob]

a black 5/8 ounce jitterbug is fantastic in low light to dark conditions. I also use several other types like the buzzbait, lucky craft kelly J, wake baits from strike king and lucky craft, walking baits, poppers, and frogs.

I tend to throw more than one kind at most every area, at all times of the day. I have caught fish morning, noon, and night with everything but the popper.

I have also had some success with swimbaits like the strike king sexy swimmer or sebile magic swimmer retrieved fast enough to keep it right on surface of the water.

[MIbassin]

ok the waters i usually fish are mostly submerged grass beds. i am trying to locate fish but it is not in completely open water with no cover. what would i use?

I've had some luck with poppers in the past but never really tried a spook or buzz bait

[retiredbosn]

By submerged how deep is the water and how close to the surface does the vegetation grow? Any open pockets?

[MIbassin]

the water is 4 to 8 feet deep depending on the spot, no open pockets really and the weeds are 1-2 feet below the surface

[Primus]

A lot of good choices already mentioned. There are also swimbaits that come in floating topwater versions. A good one to get that is readily available is a 9" MS Slammer, try a twitch and pause or a slow wake. Also. try an 8" or 9" Lunker Punker, think over sized spook bait.

[WRB]

When you look at a bass notice where and how the eyes are located.....near the top of their head. Bass are sight feeders and see upward very well, they are always aware what is on or near the surface, especially in shallow water. Your decision of what lure to try is up to you, like everything else in bass fishing only the bass know what they may react to at any given time.

When there isn't any wind starting out with quieter lures that make less surface disturbance is a good choice. Slight breeze with rippled water, then the poppers and chuggers work well. As the surface gets more agitated your lures should make more noise like propellers or buzzers. To fish heavy weed cover or mats the lure must be weedless. Frogs are made for weeds and so are some weedless spoons, both also work in open water at times.

In the spring bass often target baby or small birds like baby ducks and blackbirds, there are some great bird lures available.

For open water areas wake baits that run just under the surface work well.

Tom

[Bass Junkie]

I'd check out the Lucky Craft Wake Action as mentioned previously. Built like a tank and catches fish.

[retiredbosn]

IMO the situation u described is tailor made for a buzzbait. Here is why, if the lake has much pressure most ppl will work it with a frog, spook, pop r, or wake bait. To throw a buzzer in there you will have to be quick on getting it up on plane. The way I accomplish this is watching the bait, after I cast I drop my rod to be horizontal to the water. Right before the buzz his the water I stop the spool and raise my rod tip, many times you can instantly have the buzz on top even before you start reeling. Be quick or it will foul. A double blade buzz, no clacker, and burn it. Work it from every angle, several repetitions. I believe buzzbaits work because it just aggregates the crap out of them. My pb large mouth came from doing just what I recommended. If not a buzzbait then a ragetail shad. The shad would be easier to work and produces a unique sound, that may bring a strike when nothing else will.

[MIbassin]

ok i will try a buzz bait, however the lake is not heavily pressured at all

[thehooligan]

Im a topwater nut and not crazy about buzzbaits. I stick with walk the dog lures mostly, poppers, and frogs/horny toads. I like throwing the zoom horny toads, you can cover alot of water very fast, there weedless, and you can cast them a mile...

[Maico1]

the water is 4 to 8 feet deep depending on the spot, no open pockets really and the weeds are 1-2 feet below the surface

I would be all over this with one of these and the rod tip up.......

[tylerwyp]

I use the baits previously mentioned. I was also turned on to these Lucky Craft wake baits almost two years back and have caught quite a few bass on them.

I use these for early summer. Mix it up mid summer and love poppers late summer.

[Bankbeater]

Black Jitterbug at night or early morning before the sun comes up.

I fish several lakes that have a canopy of trees hanging out over shallow water that make some dark shadows. Frogs seem to work better here than the jitterbugs do. I usually use green frogs while fishing these areas.