Part One: Suggest A Topwater Lure

[Balshy Fishing]

I did this a year or two ago in a little "series" to get opinions from all of ya'll! Every few days I will be making a new post with a different type of lure for ya'll to suggest. 

Today, we're focusing on topwater lures. An essential part of a bass fisherman's arsenal, topwaters shine in shallow water and can be retrieved a few ways to maximize their appeal to the bass. Whether you're walking the dog(quick/spaced out rod pops cause the lure to 'walk' side to side. Quick pops keep it one place longer and the back and forth is tighter and vice versa.) or burning a Cavitron Buzzbait back to the boat/shore, we all have our go-to's and favorites. Consider the following questions when revealing your favorite topwater lure that you feel every angler should have in their box! Also, as a way to try and gauge lures that are not preferred, answer a few of those questions if you could! 

I RECOMMEND....
Name of Lure: Boyd Duckett's BDT105

Color: Bloody Ghost Minnow

Conditions To Use(weather, water clarity, temperature, time of day, etc): I've used this lure in bright sunlight with clear water and done well. 

Notes(does the lure require certain test or type of line?): None in specific. I've been using #10 Suffix Mono on my 6'6 MF. 

Why Do You Recommend: It's very easily walked fast or slow with little to no effort and features a feathered back treble which increases it's appeal. Very light but you can cast it a mile. 

Any Specific Techniques w/ the Lure?: As mentioned, I walk it. Sometimes, depending how hard you pop the rod, it'll act as a popper. 

I DO NOT RECOMMEND....
Name of Lure: Jackall Pompadour Jr.

Why Don't You Recommend It?: It's a shame because the lure looks awesome. It looks pretty good in the water but hasn't produced for me at all. Next to the Cavitron, it's the only topwater that hasn't caught a single bass. 
 

If you want to add anything else, feel free! The more information you post, the better! 

[roadwarrior]

Megabass Pop-R, Tonosama Frog pattern. 

Maximum casting distance and simple to use. 

http://megabassusa.com/products/popmax

 

[deaknh03]

I have killed them on the pompadour..one of my favorite topwaters.

[soflabasser]

live target frog

[Catt]

Heddon Zara Spook

The Zara Spook invented the walk-the-dog retrieve almost 75 years ago all others are just posers.

I like the Super Spook XT 5"; replace stock hooks with Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip Treble Hooks

Even your Grandma can make Super Spook walk the dog!

[Damn Yankee]

Jitterbug, black,5/8oz.

Historically, has caught lots o'fish

Technique: reel towards you, not away.

I do not recommend:getting a treble hook stuck in your hand.

[Mike L]

Agree with Catt, The Heddon Zara Spook first and foremost for walking and Scum Frog for frogging. 

 

Mike 

[soflabasser]

Lots of good topwaters mentioned here, I will add the Rebel Pop-R to the list. In the hands of a highly skilled fisherman the Rebel Pop-R is among one of best topwaters.

[MIbassyaker]

8 hours ago, LTB: Bryan Balshy Fishing said:

... or burning a Cavitron Buzzbait back to the boat/shore,

...Next to the Cavitron, it's the only topwater that hasn't caught a single bass.

 Instead of burning it, try reeling as slow as you can while still keeping it on top. Part of the appeal of the cavitron is that it can be fished slower than many other buzzbaits. I also don't have problems hooking up without a trailer hook that I have with other buzzbaits, because of the extra crook in the hook arm, the hook rides deeper and there's a bigger gap between it and the blade. 

I had never caught a fish on a buzzbait at all despite trying to use them off and on for years, until I tried a cavitron last year. I just left one tied on and made sure I gave it a solid chance everywhere I went, and all of a sudden it started producing. Edges of lily pads and reeds, over submerged beds of coontail, eelgrass and milfoil (I'm fishing around vegetation 95% of the time). Last year a Cavitron with black skirt and black blade accounted for my biggest bass of the year, my second biggest pike, and, a week and a half ago, one of the biggest bowfins I have ever seen and definitely the biggest I have ever hooked. 

What would I not recommend? I've never seen a topwater that won't draw strikes. The question for me is, can it hook up and can it it hold up? My biggest pet peeves are hollow bodied frogs with bodies that wont collapse properly to expose the hook, or start falling apart after a couple of fish. I gave up on strike king KVD sexy frog because the rattle would fall back by the hooks and kept it from collapsing.  Then when I tried bending the hooks out slightly, one of them broke off in my hand. 

[Dan_the_fisher]

My number 1 topwater is without a doubt a lucky craft gunfish in aurora black, it never fails to produce for me. I like it a million times better than the boyd ducket copy, plus I don't by anything he pushes anymore because I think he just copy's baits.

[fishinfiend]

lucky craft sammy

[Oklahoma Mike]

11 hours ago, LTB: Bryan Balshy Fishing said:

I DO NOT RECOMMEND....
Name of Lure: Jackall Pompadour Jr.

Why Don't You Recommend It?: It's a shame because the lure looks awesome. It looks pretty good in the water but hasn't produced for me at all. Next to the Cavitron, it's the only topwater that hasn't caught a single bass. 
 

Holy smokes! The Pompadour and the Cavitron would be my top two recommendations hands down. I catch so many fish on these two lures that I barely use any other topwaters anymore, aside from the PopMax and Whopper Plopper. 

[Fisher-O-men]

Gunfish, Rover, Whopper Plopper are mine right now.

[jhc1]

I still have never been successful on a topwater. I've got Ricos, Pop-X, Hula, Gunfish, Heddon spooks, yellow magic, jitterbug, 3DB, frogs, rats, etc., but I still haven't even experienced a fish attempt to strike my lure. I thought you could throw them at all times of day? I got out this morning around 615 (after the sun had risen) and managed to catch a couple via drop shot, but nothing on topwater. Any thoughts? 

[WestBranch]

I recently bought the bbz-1 rat 30 in brown and chartreuse. The chartreuse one has been getting a lot of SMB for me. The brown doesn't seem to interest them as much.

slow retrieve, just fast enough to wiggle the tail 

[lakeannaangler]

Sexy dawg, walking boss part 2 and the original lunker lure buzzbait are my producers right now.

[Catt]

#2

Rattlin’ Chug Bug®

Again I like the bigger saltwater versions!

Features: The do-everything topwater lure, spits, darts and chugs like fleeing baitfish

Weighted tail for longer casts

Loud rattles

[riverbasser]

I only own 4 topwater lures. 

Zara spook

Pop R

Jitterbug 

Buzzbait

My favorite is the spook. It cast great and catches fish

[Onvacation]

I RECOMMEND....
Name of Lure: Whopper Plopper

Color: Loon

Conditions To Use(weather, water clarity, temperature, time of day, etc): I've used this lure in bright sunlight with clear water and done well.  I've used it on cloudy days and done well. 

Notes(does the lure require certain test or type of line?): I use the 90 if the bite is finicky. Otherwise, anything from a half pound up will hit the 130. The 130 however is a heavy lure.  You won't be tossing it with your ML.  

Why Do You Recommend: Incredibly easy to fish.  I always catch fish with it even when the local "experts" tell me the top water bite is dead because of the conditions. Very versatile.  

Any Specific Techniques w/ the Lure?: You can burn it.  I like to cast it, let the area settle and then start working the lure.  Many times, I treat it like a popper which it excels at.  Couple of pops, wait, pop it again and watch it disappear.  

 

[Balshy Fishing]

Guys, thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it and I'm sure others do as well.

A lot of great lures mentioned! Keep it going.

[Bluebasser86]

A buzzbait, black Cavitron specifically, is my favorite topwater. 

One I would suggest that I never hear talked about is the River2Sea Bubble Walker 80. Similar to the Megabass Popmax but much cheaper and is very easy to get to walk.

What I don't suggest; putting topwater away just because the sun is getting higher in the sky. 

["hamma"]

   Favorite is definatly a bone colored 1/2 0z  rebel pop-r. I use this when waters surface has a slight ripple, on a med action, 5' 9" berkley air rod and 10 pd test mono, working it with the normal popper cadence. The shorter rod allows me to keep the tip of the rod close to the waters surface, as well as close to me. Creating the "ease" of proper cadence and response speed for hook set.  This lure works really well up here on these clear water lakes, and on some, will work all day if the surface stays slightly rippled.

Lures I dont recommend? the older styled  hollow bodied frogs, they fill with water quickly

[primetime]

Rebel Pop'R baby bass color on 8-10lb mono.....Or Rebel T10 Jumpin Minnow...That bait walks like a champ, has a profile that drives fish nuts, I use it over the IMA Skimmer which I had thing for due to its thin body and action, but the T10 seems to just be a better version and shorter....Bone and bone chart....Best $5 money can buy for a topwater walking lure...

[Balshy Fishing]

I'm going to keep this up for another, 2 hours. Then the next topic will go up! 

[A-Jay]

I'm going with a FROG ~

I RECOMMEND....

Name of Lure: Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin' Frog 60

Color: Midnight Walker

Conditions To Use:  Just about anywhere but really excels in and around cover, specifically aquatic vegetation.  The heavier the better.
Notes ~ Use of Braided line highly recommended 30 - 65lb.

Why Do You Recommend:  it's designed to attract bass out of the thickest cover with its loud popping sound. It casts like a rocket and is weighted to land upright every time. The live rubber legs can also be cut down to further manipulate the frog's action. The Bronzeye Popper also comes equipped with specially designed 3/0 Gamakatsu Hooks that fit the bait perfectly for solid hook ups.

Any Specific Techniques  walk-the-dog, pop it or chug it - dead stick the heck out of it.  It all works well.

A-Jay