Water Temps To Bring Out Those Topwater Baits.

[Dypsis]

I haven't been a big topwater guy but am looking to improve on that this year (as well as cranks).  I've had pretty good success with Buzzbaits and LC wake baits.  My question is what water temps do you look for to start throwing topwaters?

 

Matt

[Crankinstein]

Believe it not I caught several bass over the weekend on topwater and the water temp was only 61. Generally I would say it should be warmer than that but I think you need to think about the spot your fishing as well. For me I was in a cove where the water was only 2.5ft deep so it made it hard for the fish to ignore. If its over 60 and the spot looks right I say make a few casts and see what happens.

[BrownBear]

Believe it not I caught several bass over the weekend on topwater and the water temp was only 61. Generally I would say it should be warmer than that but I think you need to think about the spot your fishing as well. For me I was in a cove where the water was only 2.5ft deep so it made it hard for the fish to ignore. If its over 60 and the spot looks right I say make a few casts and see what happens.

^^^I agree with this. I won't spend much time on top water if they aren't jumping, couple of casts with fluke, popper, etc., then I am going under the water and/or another spot.

[Catch and Grease]

When the waters over 55°, I've caught bass on top water lower than that though.

Anytime the fish are shallow and active I'll try a top water for the heck of it....

[Felix77]

As soon as the ice is out I tend to at least dabble in topwater.  At the very least to knock out the rust from a winter of no fishing.  Some of my biggest bass have come early after ice out on a Sexy Dawg.

[PAGreg]

If the water isn't frozen, its topwater time

[scaleface]

Ive always been a buzz bait junkie .One year I decided to make myself a better top water fisherman and dedicated a part of each day to throwing nothing but  top water baits.   The 2  lures that really caught fish for me  were the Pico Pop and the Dalton  Special . The Dalton Special put a lot of fish in the boat. Its been awhile but I need to break it out again this year.

 

As far as water temps , I have caught bass in the 40's with a floating Long A Minnow. Just cast it out and let it sit. When I move it I do it   gently .

[buzzed bait]

Just read an article on this very topic....

http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/hackney-lets-talk-topwater

[Dypsis]

I guess I just need to start throwing and see who's biting! 

[buzzed bait]

I guess I just need to start throwing and see who's biting! 

 

i thought the most interesting part of his article was saying he starts with bigger topwaters like frogs and buzzbaits, then switches to poppers later in the spawn period.  i usually have done the reverse (with not so stellar results really) and will now be trying the hackney route....

[primetime]

I always have one tied on all year long, I take a few casts even in winter if in an area that is getting sun or Is shallow....I know people catch fish on buzzbaits in the winter but I have never caught them on a buzzbait or aggressive topwater in the cold...I like to try a small walker or a glide bait/sinking twitch bait worked on the surface. A floating minnow bait works all year long, sometimes the key is just finding healthy weeds, and casting to targets and simply shaking the bait and barely moving it, or the opposite, rip it fast and kill it so it looks like a baitfish taking its final kick, I have used floating rattle traps and suspending lipless cranks in winter as topwaters and have done well on days, if you put a trap in the path of a fish facing the lure, a big bass is rarely going to move out of the way, instead will just grab it or swipe it away, but either way job done...

 

I consider any bait that floats a topwater since you can walk a rapala minnow on the surface if you choose, plus swimming or pulling certain style poppers under water to create a loud commotion like the Lucky 13 often works, I use the Sebile Splasher all year and will get hits when I steady pull it and kill it....Hope that helps but you never know what they will want unless you try, I would think a buzzbait would be good because you can slowly work it as well......I do not use buzzbaits often so I just don't have the confidence to throw them on cold days.

[scaleface]

  I have used floating rattle traps and suspending lipless cranks in winter as topwaters and have done well on days, if you put a trap in the path of a fish facing the lure, a big bass is rarely going to move out of the way, instead will just grab it or swipe it away, but either way job done...

 

 

I have a Floating Trap. Never have used it. Just  f forgot about it.

[iceintheveins]

I've caught them as low as mid 50s on topwater. However once it hits 60 - 63 the topwater bite really turns on IMO.

[sprint61]

One of the great things about this sport we all love is nothing is set in stone. Just because it don't work for someone else dont mean it won't you. I've had that proven to me many of times.

[fisherrw]

the water a lake lopez ca was 60 to 62 this weekend. i tossed topwaters and had good luck. you can see my report on the fishing reports

[bassinyea]

Buzzbaits usually work better during the spawn than poppers or walking baits because they aggravate the fish more.  I think lots of fish hit buzzbaits not to eat them but just trying to kill them and get it out of their area.  Once the bass finish spawning and start getting more active again you cant beat a popper or walking bait.  The shallower you can fish a buzzbait this time of year the better because like someone just said it is hard for a fish to ignore the lure  buzzing 6 inches over top of its head, they will just react to it.  Another great semi topwater bait if bass are spawning is a bang-o-lure with a prop.  Jerk this thing and dance it around over a spawning basses head and they will crush it sometimes.  But yea any time can really be topwater time.

[coak]

I live in Central Ohio and have already caught fish on topwater.  Today I landed a good 4-5lb on a R2S Whopper Plopper 90!