Anyone else get spooked on Topwater bite?

[loudcherokee]

So it's been awhile since I've fished topwater other than a frog through some grass, and I've been throwing a buzz bait and popper around the past two days.

Twice yesterday, a bass smashed my buzz bait very close to the bank and it scared the bejezus outta me haha. I immediately went for the hook set instead of waiting to feel the pull and missed the fish, partly because my hookset was more of a startled jump than a swing of the rod lol.

Today throwing a popper, my retrieve was over and I was reeling up to recast and a 1.5 pound bass came crashing out of the water about 2 feet from my feet, again causing my stomach to flop up and smack my heart lol. He hooked himself this time and I got the fish in, but man I gotta practice topwater more often.

LC

[Mumbly]

What you described is exactly why I love topwater so much. There is nothing like it when it's on!!

[MassYak85]

I think this is why many people love top water fishing more than any other type. It's simply so exciting when the bite is on. My personal favorite is when you see the telltale swirl 10 feet away from your lure of a bass taking off to annihilate your bait and you have that 1-2 second wait before they crush it. 

[Jar11591]

This is why I love top water fishing! You never know when the strike is coming. Speaking of being startled, try having a big bass blow up on a jitterbug about 1 foot from you in the pitch black while night fishing! It's happened to me a couple times and it's the greatest combination of terrifying and exhilarating! 

[frogflogger]

My favorite for bigger than average bass - I try not to look directly at the bait and not do anything about a hookset until I feel the "pull".

[scaleface]

All the time .

[smalljaw67]

You have found the reason why people love topwaters, no other excitement like that exists. You cast out and work the bait over and over, no strikes for the last 30 minutes or so and you get into a very relaxed state inside your head thinking about what you have to do tomorrow and then BAM!!!!!!! A strike that sends you heart racing and your mind goes blank and whether you get the fish or not, that feeling makes you want to do it again.

[N Florida Mike]

I don't fish a lot of traditional topwater baits, but I fish senkos a lot on top at dusk.Usually black.Nearly any T- rigged plastic across matted cover also.I used to miss more because I'd react too fast, but I've gotten better at it through the years.Had one the other night that came completely through a weed mat and flipped over so his tail was up.Not completely sure if he hit it coming up or going down but he just blew up on it.

[Oklahoma Mike]

9 hours ago, Mumbly said:

What you described is exactly why I love topwater so much. There is nothing like it when it's on!!

Came to say this. 

That suspense and anticipation of knowing a big 'un could explode on the surface at any moment - and that heat-thumping moment when it actually happens - is what makes topwater fishing my favorite.

[Jaderose]

Yep.....dragging a frog through the muck.....just KNOWING there's a biggun by that stump and then.........nothing.  So you cast again...but this time you light a smoke when you frog hits water with your rod tucked under your arm.  The process of lighting the smoke makes the frog twitch juuuust a little....KA-BOOOOOM!!!  The fight is on.  Sure, you may have befouled your pants a little but who cares?!  Most fun that can be had with your clothes on.

 

(The above exact scenario may or may not have happened to me on a hot July day last year).  

[Bluebasser86]

My brother in law had a 36" muskie smash a buzzbait a foot from the boat as it was getting dark and we were back in some thick trees at a lake in the middle of nowhere. It was close enough it threw water all over both of us. That one got me pretty good.

[loudcherokee]

Lol all great stories.

I'm sure the results may be different from the Florida and Louisiana guys that have to deal with the gators. I might have to change my pants after one of those.

LC

[Wprich]

4 hours ago, frogflogger said:

My favorite for bigger than average bass - I try not to look directly at the bait and not do anything about a hookset until I feel the "pull".

Same here first few times it scares the crap out of me, but usually after a miss or 2 I get my mind together and try to not look directly at the bait.  That way I won't set the hook to early and will actually feel the weight then ******.  Once I hear one going for it, it usually gets my attention to look towards it but most times they've inhaled it by then.  Top water fishing is so much fun and exciting, hate I just really got into it in recent years I've really been missing out.

[Jaderose]

Gators are game changers.  We ain't got those in Missouri

[Senko lover]

I caught my first too water bass of the year last night, and asked myself why the heck I hadn't tried sooner ?

[Fish the Mitt]

1 hour ago, Senko lover said:

I caught my first too water bass of the year last night, and asked myself why the heck I hadn't tried sooner ?

I've caught a few but I'll be honest, my jitterbug, frog, R2S poppers, and buzzbaits don't get out a whole lot. This thread just made me want to go right now and give em' some fresh air!!

[GTHenson]

I have to make myself hold when I am frog fishing, and thats why I enjoy it so much. I watched a video of me during a tournament and every time you heard the water splash you could se me twitch a little and see the expression in my face. Its crazy. 

[avidone1]

13 hours ago, frogflogger said:

My favorite for bigger than average bass - I try not to look directly at the bait and not do anything about a hookset until I feel the "pull".

And miss out on all the fun?   Seeing a  bass crush the lure on the surface is what makes topwaters so unique and exciting

[ethan-333]

usually only the first one of the morning scares. thats the one that really wakes me up

the most ive been spooked is last year  back of a lake where a little creek comes in by some lily pads was a tossin a frog and had bowfin blowing up on it like crazy. sounded like bowling balls getting dropped in the water.

 

[frogflogger]

Back in my Florida days I could count on losing a dozen or so frogs a year to gators.

[IndianaFinesse]

15 hours ago, frogflogger said:

Back in my Florida days I could count on losing a dozen or so frogs a year to gators.

A ten foot gator erupting on poor little hermit sure would be surprising to say in the least.