Go To Topwater Bait?

[benzmech]

I have always had good results with a spook and usually have one tied on in summer. A couple other that have worked well are the deps Buzzjet and ricos. A new favorite I discovered last year was the evergreen shower blows.  I can't wait til summer to start throwing that thing again.

[BaitMonkey1984]

I don't know why I stopped, but haven't fished topwater in a few years. I have an entire arsenal of combat frogs and buzz baits I bought last year but rarely ever fish them. About 7 years ago I did pretty darn good fishing a rapala spitting top water lure. I am going to try to fish more topwater the year, because it sure was fun and I was pretty good at it. So I am voting for the rapal skitter pop in a silver blue color with a dressed rear treble. 

[FlipSide]

Showerblows

[Bluebasser86]

So many variables. For topwater I'll usually have a Cavitron, Super spook jr, River2Sea bubble walker 90, Popping Pad Crasher, or Zell Pop.

[Paul Roberts]

I'll second the Spit-n-Image. I have only one and it does catch fish. Doesn't appear as though it should -too short a walking bait. But it does catch fish. It's good where I might fish a popper, and will sit in place, juke and spit. Bass do hammer it.

I didn't mention poppers in my previous post - like the SkitterPop, among others.

So little time...

[Fishes in trees]

First I have to be convinced that the fish are feeding upward and that isn't easy.  Back in my co-angler tournament career I had two different guides on different lakes (Bull Shoals & Grand) tell me that if a top water bite was happening, there was probably a better sub-surface bit happening.  They told me that - as a co-angler, that if I should see any surface commotion that looked like fish feeding a pop-R would get bit some, but a Mann's Minus1 pulled through the same area a foot beneath the surface would get bit every time and I found that true for the most part.  I never won a tournament doing that, but I never won a tournament doing anything.    I did weigh some fish throwing the Minus 1 in situations where my boater was throwing a buzz bait or a pop-R.

In my recreational fishing I almost always have a buzz bait and a pop-R  tied on and occasionally I get bit on them.  I think that when you first come up on a point, a few casts across the point with a pop-R isn't a bad idea.

 

[N Florida Mike]

On 1/30/2016 at 10:39 AM, Big C said:

Gambler Cane Toad.  I tried it late last year, and loved it.  Can't wait to use it more this summer.

I have good success with it too in the the summer when the bullfrogs are out.The ones I get aren't topwater ,they sink but when you throw it across weed cover they sometimes nail it.

[fullcoupe]

My favorite is a one-knocker spook in bone color. Just one of those baits that ticks the fish off if you throw it at them enough. Sometimes it is a lot of work for little return, but they're always fun to throw and retrieve and the strikes are usually pretty insane when you get them.

Last summer I used the Megabass Pop Max heavily and had good success with it. I love the action. I'll probably bring it out again this year.

In mats or heavy weeds (late summer) I usually go for a frog. R2S spittin frog 99% of the time. In open water, I sometimes turn to a dark-colored Snag Proof popping frog.

Really hot summer days - large buzzbait of any sort.

 

[Evan K]

I bought a Megabits Pop Max last year too for the first time, and really loved the action. Caught quite a few fish on it as well. Other than that my favorite is definitely a buzzbait.

[punch]

I've been throwing a lot of topwater the last few years. In MN we have a lot of milfoil filled lakes and topwater is a great way to fish the dense shallow milfoil without getting hung up. My go-to's are the chug bug, x-rap prop, spook (and other walking baits like the Arashi), and the ole caviltron. 

Chug bug produces the most for me (with the x-rap pop a close 2nd). Bass haaaate that thing. 

[Tmmytomato]

Might want to try the relatively new Livingston Walking Boss. I had pretty good success with it this last summer. Looks like a jointed Spook with a Jitterbug paddle lip and feathered rear treble. Worked very well for me - and it needs no special tricks to fish it - just do a very slow steady reel with an occasional stop if you want.

[J._Bricker]

Gotta throw a frog, spook, or splash-it for the green fish. And a lunker punker for stripers....

[Pondboss16]

Hula poppers never let me down

[TyF]

Live target frog for largemouth. one of the only lures I am really passionate about. I had one for 2 years and It never sank on me. caught hundreds of bass and many snakehead on it as will with no problem. finally had to retire it. for smallmouth lucky craft Sammy by far.

[wisconsin heat]

If its not a frog, I like the Xcalibur Zell Pop, now Booyah something. Really good popper, definitely has an "it factor." If i need to cast further, or work the bait faster, I'll use a longer walking bait. I have a selection of em, Academy, Spro, Rapala, Spooks, etc. I don't have a go-to walking lure.

[Scarborough817]

Green gizzard shad sexy dawg has produced for me has some decent hook rash now too

[junyer357]

Home built buzzbait with a squeeeeeeky 4 blade prop. 

Popr

Frog

At the end of the day id throw a cow patty on a hook if i thought it would work topwater. Its just the most exciting way to bass fish to me. Especially when you watch one explode on it at the surface kinda like a mini "airjaws". Love that show on sharkweek. Lol 

[Mumbly]

Super spook jr in bone, clear or bone pop'r and a Heddon torpedo.

[everythingthatswims]

On 1/31/2016 at 2:46 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

So many variables. For topwater I'll usually have a Cavitron, Super spook jr, River2Sea bubble walker 90, Popping Pad Crasher, or Zell Pop.

Great minds think alike

[bassinyea]

LC Gunfish.

[PsuFish]

Spro popping frog, Gunfish, Shower Blow

[Ads7633]

On 1/30/2016 at 9:46 AM, lecisnith said:

Spro glide65 in pumpkinseed, black on black cavitron buzzbait.

 

On 1/30/2016 at 9:51 AM, MIbassyaker said:

x2 on the Black/Black Cavitron...my new favorite after using it a lot this summer.
But my long-standing traditional favorite is a chrome heddon torpedo (actually prefer the 1/4oz tiny torpedo)

x3 for the Black Cavitron Buzzbait. Totally changed my appreciation for buzzbaits.

[RHuff]

Rapala BX Waking Minnow or a solid black buzzbait. I've caught more fish, any time of the day on black more than anything. Always use a trailer hook in case it is a short strike. 

[SwampLife]

-Ribbit frog 

-Black spro popping frog 

-Black cavitron/ black blade 

 

[Molay1292]

Spook Jr. - Bone, LC Gunfish - about any color will work,  Jackall Iobee Frog - Bluegill, or Brown.