topwaters

[captaininsaneo]

I have tried topwaters with little success in the past, but I think im chosing the wrong times and places.  My best luck has been a hula popper at night, just dragging it real slow with the occassional pop.  

Now, when the sun is up, what is the best time/season to fish topwaters?  How do you know when/how to fish a prop bait, a spook, a Pop-R or even a buzzbait. I know frogs are primarily for heavy cover but i hear they also work in open water.  At what water temperature does the topwater bite really start to pick up?  Share your wisdom!

[Sam]

Topwater colors are critical in clear water.  Throw a chugger style or walking bait in clear water

If the fish swims up to the bait, takes a look at it, and swims away, then your color may be wrong for the conditions.

Try to make the topwater look like the natural baits in the area.

Also, consider the sky and water conditions.  If it is low light, pick a color that is more visible.  A color that silhouetts against the sky is good, such as black.

Sunny days color is less impotrant so use natural colors as a black color would look unnatural.

If there is no wind conside a clear plastic bait.

If there is chop on the water's surface use more color.

When working over weed beds and grass beds try baby bass or shad colors.

If the water is stained, use something with some yellow on it's bottom.  If water is clear, try someithing with a white bottom.  In muddy water, add more color.  Use orange or chartreuse colors on the bait's bottom if the fish are very active and are feeding.

Consider adding some "sparkle" to the bait with glitter.  You can get a little extra flash from a little glitter on the bottom of the bait.

Remember, you never want the fish to get a good look at the topwater.

And you can add some noise in stained or muddy water which will also attract the fish.

The topwater that is the most fun to fish is the buzzbait. Give it a try.  Black in stained water or cloudy conditions; white in clear water and blue bird skies.  Buzzbaits are a lot of fun.  Add a trailer hook, too.

My problem with topwaters is patience.  I have trouble throwing a topwater and just letting it sit there for 60 seconds before I pop or move it.  But that is the method so use it.

Sorry I did not discuss each type of topwater but there are just too many to consider.

Good luck.

[skillet]

 Hello, my name is Skillet and I'm a top-water addict (well maybe just a bit obsessive :-/). Except in the coldest weather I'll at least give one a try. Sam covered things pretty well. Maybe simplify it a bit and say, quieter the surface of the water quieter the type bait maybe a Rapala original floating minnow. The more commotion on the surface the more commotion the bait needs to make maybe walk-the-dog type bait (Spook) up to baits with props (Devil's Horse). If the bass aren't aggresive enough for buzz-bait try pulling a spinner bait just enough below the surface to create a bulge in the water. I'll stop before it's not simple anymore (obsessive compulsive disorder kicking in).                                  

                                                     As Ever,

                                                      Skillet

[RoLo]

Since your question deals with Where, When and How, the answer is quite complex, so I'll try to be brief : :-/

All game fish (especially trophy-class fish) are a bit skittish about breaking the water surface,

because it means entering a strange and new environment (ospreys, alligators, bears, pelicans, man, etc).

Bass are not suicidal, so if anything looks or sounds wrong then all bets are off. Though I constantly stress the importance

of lure visibility, I actually believe just the opposite when it comes to surface lures. I believe that compromising

the bass's view of the lure gives the angler the edge. There are many conditions that compromise the view of the lure, for instance:

> Overcast Skies

> Twilight (dawn & dusk)

> Fog Bank

> Nighttime

> Object Shade (buttoned against cover in midday)

> Murky Water

If one or more of the above conditions are present, the topwater potential is normally improved (due to reduced visibility).

The gray area, and the factor that is conspicuously absent is "Surface Turbulence", which also compromises lure visibility.

Though most anglers hope for a glass-like surface for topwater work, bass are more inclined to make a mistake in a mild ripple.

Of course, a "sharp chop" would be overkill, because the surface commotion produced by the lure would be diluted by wave action.

As to lure-type, well that's a matter of personal preference, because all lures work and all lures don't work.

Broadly speaking, when the current disposition of bass is aggressive, a swimming topwater like a buzzbait or cane toad

will cover the most area. When bass are in a neutral mood and the water is dingy, a noisy twitcher like the "Pop-R"

is a great choice. When bass are in a passive disposition and the water is clear, then a quiet twitcher

like the Rapala Original Floater might be best. In the final analysis, "lure choice" is a confidence thing and is not etched in stone.

One other thing. It might be a good idea to choose topwaters lures having a white &/or translucent underside.

A white underbelly gets lost in the background of a lighted sky, which is the same reason why Mother Nature gives all fish,

reptiles, amphibians and birds a light-colored underside.

In any case, I hope that helps.

Roger

[wickyman]

I use my Pop-R whenever...  I usually use it about 2 hours before sunset, by then, the area I fish is nice and shady.  It doesn't have to be dark to use it, you just need proper shade for the fish to be active!    Usually early morning, just before, and slightly after sunrise are good times also!  The fish are heavily active in their feeding at that time.  Frogs, and poppers are really productive at those times.  

[Marty]

Certainly the highest percentage time for topwaters is warm water and low light, which doesn't mean they won't hit in sunny weather. Choosing which topwater is no easier than choosing subsurface lures. If you're fishing where there are surface weeds, that narrows your choice considerably.

Otherwise, a factor to consider is whether you're "searching", that is, covering a lot of water to locate fish. Some lures that are good for this are buzzbaits, walk-the-dog lures, Jitterbugs and others.

If you're fishing targets in a relatively small area, lures like poppers, prop baits and Floating Rapalas can be moved a small distance and stay in the target area longer.

Which actual lure can be personal preference, history of success, etc.

[Shakes]

This time of year, I'll throw a black 3/8oz. buzzbait with the clacker early in the morning, and late in the afternoon. Haven't tried any other top waters yet.

- Aaron

[bruin171717]

try it on colder water with dark botton and a bright sun

[captaininsaneo]

ok, some conflicting info... so use a Pop-R in a pop-pop- stop with 5-10 seconds between, but also dont give them time to look at it, 5-10 sec is plenty of time to turn up their nose and run.  what gives?

[wickyman]

Texan is right.  Throw that puppy close as you can to the obstruction!  If you are on a boat, the worst that can happen, is you have to go up next to a tree, and retrieve it!  

[RoLo]

ok, some conflicting info... so use a Pop-R in a pop-pop- stop with 5-10 seconds between, but also dont give them time to look at it, 5-10 sec is plenty of time to turn up their nose and run. what gives?

Okay, let me run it by you again.

Case-1

The water is murky and it's sunset. so you select a Pop-R because it's loud and advertises its presence in low-light conditions.

Reduced available light sharply downgrades the image of the lure, so long pauses will not hurt your success.

Case-2

The water is clear and the sky is clear, so you realize that bass will be able to count the scales on baitfish.

You select a super spook jr. because you intend to keep the lure scooting from side-to-side without ever coming to rest.

In good light, a lure that remains in constant motion is difficult for bass to identify as an imposter.

Roger

[GatorBK]

I prefer the Heddon Pop~n~ image JR to a Pop R , The heddon has a head thats shaped so when twitched it has a slight walk the dog action , I catch far more off it than I do the pop r

I fish a clear lake and 1/2 the strikes I get are right after it hits the water or with in 2 or 3 twitches.

I cast mine let it sit for about 5 to 10 seconds and it twitch it twice let it set 5 seconds and continue,

I catch a lot at night off it as well.

[Lightninrod]

a hula popper at night, just dragging it real slow with the occasional pop.

I would encourage you to throw the biggest topwater you have and work it as fast as noisily as you can at night.  Bass are less spooky at night and you want to draw them to the bait with lots of commotion.

During the day, you want a lighter weight bait and more subtle action when the water is calm/flat.

4 lber--dead calm, bluebird, cloudless sky on a balsa bait

Same conditions/bait--6 lber

Dan

[bassman00012]

My personal favorite is a storm chug bug because it makes a lot of noise. Throw the topwaters early in the morning, or from dusk until midnight. I like frog patterns because I fish around lots of vegetation. In calmer conditions, I use a smaller bait with a retrieve that looks natural. If bait is breaking on the surface I will throw a prop bait or a chug bait. If not, then I will use a Spook or a buzzbait.

[booneangler]

I like the pop r's and the spittin image and the dancin image. I will throw a buzz bait ever now and again but most of the time you will see one of the two pop baits on my top water rod. I like to throw them in the morning's early until the soon comes up but i have caught bass in mid day around 1 with clear sky so you got try it. You never no what fish are gonna do. Good luck and just have fun. Learn as you go. You never stop learning when fishing. Good luck.