Fall topwater

[Drew03cmc]

Hey all, the question is simple, what's your favorite topwater for fall and what rod and reel do you toss it on?

[MBB Nate]

So far it's been a Rebel Pop R Magnum in bass color on a lews LFS soooled with 15 lb yo zuri hybrid, on a 6'6 veritas 2.0 med hvy/moderate fast.

[riverbasser]

Pop r for me too but in black silver

[Drew03cmc]

I have no confidence in poppers, but might have to try it this week as I have one of the 3" Pop R in bass, and several walkers that I love fishing, but don't have the experience.

[Jon G]

Some sort of spook such as a gunfish but I gave in and have been trying a Whopper Plopper and it's been extremely effective.

[Drew03cmc]

I didn't catch anything on a WP, but I have on the Gunfish. Also a Sexy Dawg Jr is a killer bait!

[Bluebasser86]

My favorite topwater really doesn't change all year. I like to fish a 3/8oz black on black Cavitron when the fish will eat it, which is most of the time they're eating topwater. The last few weeks though, they've been biting the WP 90 and ignoring a buzzbait. I also have done pretty well with a discontinued Excaliber Zell Pop (the smaller size). It's one of those magic baits that just has something about it that really catches fish when they ignore everything else. I'm almost afraid to fish it because I don't want to lose it but it's too good to leave in the box.

[Bankbeater]

The topwater bite has been very slow for me this fall.  September was a bust, and so far in October the only bait that seems to be working is a black jitterbug. 

[Jar11591]

  My favorite fall top water is also my favorite year-round topwater. 

Its a Rapala Skitter Walk thrown on a 6'6" medium fast rod and 6:1 reel.

[scaleface]

Buzzbait .6.5  foot med  rod and baitcaster . 

[Megastink]

Strike King Sexy Dawg in Clearwater Minnow, Ardent Apex Elite 6.5:1 w/ 15lb Hi-Seas Mono, Duckett Terex 6'6" M. 

I also like Natural Shad, Bluegill, and Bone colors. I caught two bass on the same cast on this bait a few weeks ago. All those teeth marks were from one trip. Love this bait in clear water!

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["hamma"]

Defiantely a rebel pop-r,. I think It may be a zell rowland model from back in the 90's Its got the hackled rear treble. Its a 1/4 model bass patterned. I toss it from a 5'9" berkley air med action rod spinning rod, with a 2500 series shimano saros reel and 10 lb stren green mono.

 Much like bluebasser, I dont want to loose it as it's produced for me for many years, but it's hard not to use what works so well. I do have a few backups, but they have yet to prove themselves as worthy, as I always go right for my favorite every time...lol

[Drew03cmc]

I'm glad other people use a spinning rod with topwaters. I'm looking at going out for an hour or so a couple days this week after work with a Damiki Dolphin, Pop R and a Gunfish. 

[Onvacation]

I haven't caught a fish on topwater since the end of September. Fish a frog in some dying pads today and got four good blowups, but none of them grab it. Very slow topwater month for me.  

[BradGinKC]

My favorite topwater is probably a good old-fashioned Zara Spook. Right now I have it on a curado 200i and st croix mojo 7ft MF, with 13lb Sunline Shooter Defier mono.

I also have good luck in the Fall with a black buzzbait. I actually tend to catch bigger fish with a buzzbait, but the spook is still my favorite. It's just fun taking that bait for a walk.

[Oklahoma Mike]

Jackall Pompadour in either bone white or black bone, depending on conditions. Close second is a black Cavitron.

[jonnyblazex]

Rapala skitter pop.  The bigger sized one in frog color.  I caught a nice one yesterday, and the water temp was 50 degrees.  That's 3 weeks in a row now that that popper has been catching fish!

[Dogmatic]

MS Slammer, either mini, 7", or 9", depending time of day. Usually tied to Reaction Strike Mattlures 7'11" H, Curado 301e, 20# P-line CXX.

[Drew03cmc]

Is the MS Slammer Mini small enough for a MH rod?

[primetime]

Bagleys bang O Lure rear Prop and the regular Bang O lure floating Minnow, Rapala F-9,F-11 worked on top or waked, but I use a Torpedo alot in the fall as a topwater, I seem to do better with prop baits in the fall then others but some days walkers are good,same with poppers.

I love the bagley's with the rear prop since you can work it as a jerkbait on top, wake it, or buzz it...Good lure all year round.

I throw most topwater lures in fall on 8-12lb test,15 if in big fish water. Med Spinning to med casting depending on what is tied to what. I like balsa or minnow baits, most topwater lures on lighter line since I feel heavy line laying on the water is a good way to spook fish. (I try to use lightest line, clear mono, since water is usually clear and less weeds, lure has much better action. I am convinced I catch fish 2/1 on 8lb test with a smaller/regular topwater/prop bait then if I am using heavy mono over 12lb diameter. I go 6lb if possible.

All topwater lures can work so I would have a few walkers, poppers, prop baits and minnow baits in your arsenal. I like the jerkbait since you can work it fast or slow and cover water to find active fish feeding on top.

[Brett's_daddy]

1 hour ago, Drew03cmc said:

Is the MS Slammer Mini small enough for a MH rod?

Yes it is. I fish it with a Fenwick HMG 7ft. MH spinning rod. I also use this rod for Whopper Plopper 130's which at 1.38 oz. weigh a little bit more than the Mini Slammer at 1.25 oz. That being said, not all rods are created equal, mine has a lure rating up to 1 oz. so it's not as bad throwing those two baits but some other MH rods are only rated up to 5/8 oz. or 3/4 oz. and I probably wouldn't throw those heavier baits using one of those rods.

[Dogmatic]

1 hour ago, Drew03cmc said:

Is the MS Slammer Mini small enough for a MH rod?

Like Brett's daddy said it should be, any rod rated to 2oz. I throw it on a heavy because that's my topwater swimbait set up.

[papajoe222]

#9 Original Rapala floater, either blk/gold or blk/silver. Custom rod (Rainshadow blank) and Pfluger President (6925) 

[weso]

Just fyi I purchased some jawbone frogs at Dicks sporting goods and they were garbage. They were sinking like crazy  and i had to constantly squeeze water out of them. The legs which were rubber strings were falling off. Any tips on some good frogs.I'm  new to this type of fishing but loving it. 

[IndianaFinesse]

10 hours ago, weso said:

Just fyi I purchased some jawbone frogs at Dicks sporting goods and they were garbage. They were sinking like crazy  and i had to constantly squeeze water out of them. The legs which were rubber strings were falling off. Any tips on some good frogs.I'm  new to this type of fishing but loving it. 

Get some Booyah pad crashers, in both sizes.  Only two colors you need are something dark and something light, my favorites are cricket frog and black.