Topwaters And Water Clarity...

[Jay Ell Gee]

Hey guys. I just wanted to see what opinion folks had about throwing topwaters in different water clarity situations.

I got on an odd topwater bite in muddy (less that 6 inch visibility, of all things) water last weekend and was honestly a bit surprised. The water in the places I fish is never perfectly clear to begin with, but I have never had a lot of problems with the typical poppers, walking baits, frogs, buzzbaits, etc. now, I understand that topwaters this early in the spring are a hit or miss affair, but there was no denying that when I found the right bait, the topwater bite was ON.

However, I got to thinking about how certain topwaters may be better for certain clarity. Has anyone found success throwing louder buzz style toads or buzzbaits when a popper or spook wouldn't cut it in the dirty water? Maybe the other way around?

An interesting note... The lure that got bit for me was a Livingston Lures Pro Sizzle Jr. Maybe the electronic sounds made the difference in the dirty water?

Just thought I would ask and maybe get a good learning topic going to commemorate topwater season!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and time!

[papajoe222]

I don't know about fishing topwater baits in murky water as I've never done it.  I have, however, done extensive night fishing with topwater and I can tell you that rarely does a PopR or Spook produce well at night.  I would imagine that the same would hold true for fishing muddy water.

I take two things into consideration when choosing which style of topwater to throw. One is water clarity and the other is the water's surface conditions.  The clearer the water or calmer the surface, I want less disturbance from the bait. The more stained the water or the more surface chop, I opt for more disturbance. 

I throw Spooks alot. I use smaller ones when it's dead calm, and larger ones with rattles when it gets breezy and there is some chop on the water and if I do throw one at night.

[Catt]

I tend to throw larger louder top water lure in off colored water.

Rattlin' Chug Bug

Rattlin' Spook

Magnum Torpedo

Devils Horse

Steady retreive!

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I don't know about fishing topwater baits in murky water as I've never done it.  I have, however, done extensive night fishing with topwater and I can tell you that rarely does a PopR or Spook produce well at night.  I would imagine that the same would hold true for fishing muddy water.

I take two things into consideration when choosing which style of topwater to throw. One is water clarity and the other is the water's surface conditions.  The clearer the water or calmer the surface, I want less disturbance from the bait. The more stained the water or the more surface chop, I opt for more disturbance. 

I throw Spooks alot. I use smaller ones when it's dead calm, and larger ones with rattles when it gets breezy and there is some chop on the water and if I do throw one at night.

Man i got a good size 40ish acre pond with a big creak that flows into a cove. muddies up the water when its clam muddy and the sun is on it i get a lot of action on top. but your advice is solid i fish the same way 

[J Francho]

I like the Chug'n spook for that. It's big, splashy, and has loud, obnoxious rattles. I don't get too fancy with colors - all mine are bone.

[hookset on 3]

I don't know about fishing topwater baits in murky water as I've never done it.  I have, however, done extensive night fishing with topwater and I can tell you that rarely does a PopR or Spook produce well at night.  I would imagine that the same would hold true for fishing muddy water.

I take two things into consideration when choosing which style of topwater to throw. One is water clarity and the other is the water's surface conditions.  The clearer the water or calmer the surface, I want less disturbance from the bait. The more stained the water or the more surface chop, I opt for more disturbance. 

I throw Spooks alot. I use smaller ones when it's dead calm, and larger ones with rattles when it gets breezy and there is some chop on the water and if I do throw one at night.

 

 

Papajoe's got the deal right here.  That's just how I choose my bait type and retrieve style, too.

[WIGuide]

I usually pick the style of topwater I'm going to throw based primarily on surface conditions. If it's windy, I want something that's going to create a little commotion to let the bass know it's there. Calmer, and I want something that is more subtle.  If I am in a situation where the water is particularly muddy or low visibility I want something that will create a racket  even when it's calm. Also, with low visibility it's going to change my retrieve. I don't want to leave it on a pause too long because I feel bass have a harder time tracking something intermittently moving. I base this on the fact that in muddy water bass have to rely much more on their lateral line and that picks up vibrations, so if the bait isn't moving they seem to have a harder time finding it and really homing in on it.

[Jay Ell Gee]

I tend to throw larger louder top water lure in off colored water.

Rattlin' Chug Bug

Rattlin' Spook

Magnum Torpedo

Devils Horse

Steady retreive!

You know, I have a couple of small prop baits that are the size of a crankbait but I have never fished a Devil's Horse or Chug Bug. I keep hearing about these baits from Louisiana boys, maybe I should pick up a few!

Mr. Catt, when you say steady retrieve, you mean like fishing a buzzbait or ribbit? Toss it out and start reeling back slowly, letting those props just cause a racket?

I appreciate all the input this far everyone. I agree completely on surface conditions, and clarity probably had the same effects. I had many fish chase the Pro Sizzle Jr almost like a shallow water redfish, boiling and making a wake behind it, but they definitely missed a good bit when I was walking it. Maybe the muddy water was messing with their target acquisition.

Walking it steadily was what produced the bites, though!

[Zach P]

I can tell you that I throw Strike King Rage Toads and buzzbaits when the water is at it's muddiest and they are phenomenal. When the water is clearer or extremely clear that is when your Spro frogs, spooks, and pop-r's really come into play because the fish will rely more on site.

[Jar11591]

Try black-bottomed topwaters. In the murky water, black is what contrasts the best. Try a black jointed jitterbug...it displaces a lot of water upon retrieve and they make them in all black.

[EvanT123]

I've had some surprising success when the river is flooded and chocolate milk throwing a pop r parraell to the bank.

[Catt]

Rhythm!

With prop bait I'll pop it, jerk it, walk it or what ever y'all call it, then pause, & repeat.

The speed between the movements & pauses change until rhythm is established.

[Jay Ell Gee]

Rhythm!

With prop bait I'll pop it, jerk it, walk it or what ever y'all call it, then pause, & repeat.

The speed between the movements & pauses change until rhythm is established.

That sounds more like what I was thinking. For some reason, steady retrieve made me think buzzbait, haha.

[mjseverson24]

I choose two things based on water clarity, first is the action, as in dirty water fish rely more on their vibration and sound sensory organs to find prey, so I typically have a more aggressive action or more violent movements, the second is color, I feel that black and other dark colors produce better in muddy water as the bait will create a more defined silhouette making it easier for the fish to locate. in clear water I look for something more natural(ish) like a pop-r, or a spook, or a frog. the action is often more subtle, the baits are usually smaller. as for color I go mostly with pearl or transparent, with small flashes of color. If it is calm I most often throw baits that are move and pause, and when it is choppy I go with a more steady retrieve... Calm and dirty water is a recipe for success on top water for me...

 

Mitch

[frogflogger]

black furbit in dingy water works for me

[iceintheveins]

I use buzzbaits, rage shads, prop baits, and poppers in murky or stained water and do well. Louder is usually better, especially in low light conditions. A big black spinnerbait waked just under the surface is good too.

[bigbill]

I use my bps xps topnocker in chartreuse in every water condition. With its very loud knock it seems to work all the time.

I still believe that color matters. Since Dr Loren Hill proved that bass can see certain colors at times and other times seeing colors there not limited. Due to different water conditions with sunlite and the hues in the water there vision can be limited. Understanding this tells me they can smell my scent, hear the rattle but they can't see or find the lure due to the water and light conditions.

When in doubt chartreuse is the color. My point is when it's a tough day put on a chartreuse colored lure.