Top Water Fishing

[Catt]

Fished on top or just under the surface

[ClackerBuzz]

Someone's bass fishing hobby is about to turn into an obsession

[Angry John]

My favorite time to fish topwater is fall.  I like to work active baits so the sammy and the duo pencil work best during that season.  Second best is frog fishing.  I love the huge action you can get and it seems that you never know what size its going to be.  I have had a 5 inch bass hit the same topwater that two casts later i catch a five pounder on.  A short list to pick up would be a spro frog in brown or green pumpkin, a spook, and a popper.  Dont get all hung up on color as the bass mostly sees the bottom and most baits are the same color on the bottom.  If you have the cash the duo pencil walks the easiest and is a wonderful bait with detail on the megabass level for almost half the price.  I love the gill patterns.

[IndianaFinesse]

While it is true that topwater is constantly productive in the morning and evening, it also can be just as good when the sun is higher.  You have to let the bass tell you when to put the topwater down, but you have to give them an opportunity to hit in the first place.  I do not look at surface activity as an indication for whether they are hitting topwater, often the fish you see on top are bluegills sucking bugs off the surface so that is not a reliable indication. The post spawn period is my favorite time to throw topwater, for about three weeks to a month after the spawn the topwater fishing is incredible.  One of my favorite annual bites.  Summer and early fall are good at times also.

 

You can start out with one or two baits in each topwater category and do well, but stick with the tried and true baits for now.  The Pop-r for the popper category, the junior super spook for walking baits, a cavitron buzzbait, a junior and normal sized pad crasher frogs, and if you want something else a whopper plopper is a good addition to.  That's all you really need, and don't bother with getting more than one color for now, but I'm sure that you will want to branch out at some point.

[Attila]

So I'm a bit restricted to the areas that I fish, but there are certain structures which I've found will hold bass more than others and in particular are conducive to a topwater bite.

 

One of my favourite locations are sand/rock/weed transitions, especially ones that involve a change in depth and where there are larger rocks or boulders present. A key piece of structure that only serves to enhance such an area would be a boat dock which extends out into the area and is able to provide bass a primary ambush location.

 

A couple of things to look for in addition to the structure is wave and wind action. If you see the wind blowing into your location, then it makes it that much more attractive.

 

Finally, some food for thought.  While there are classic times to throw topwaters, like early morning or towards the evening, a larger bait fished in the right type of big fish structure will make fish bite.  A big bass doesn't only eat first thing in the morning or before it gets dark; it got big because it's opportunistic and isn't about to pass up a meal when it's available.

 

Have a great season.

[Bluebasser86]

I rarely see surface activity when I'm fishing topwater for bass, but it is a nice bonus if they are actively chasing bait. Don't believe the rumors that bass won't eat topwater in the middle of the day, even when the sun is shining. I'll fish them all day long regardless of conditions. I had some great days last year fishing a buzzbait all day long. My biggest bass of the year was on a buzzbait in the middle of the day.

[UPSmallie]

Great question.  I think you have a great start using the input of what others have said.  Here's my $0.02 for open water topwater fishing.

 

Whenever I pull up to my fishing spot, whether it be from shore or in a boat, I immediately analyze the water and light conditions.  You're looking for a scenario where the sun is not 100% beating down.  Like others have said, it is still doable if this is the case.  The sunlight could be broken up by clouds, the sun rising/setting, etc.  This is what I look for/plan ahead for.  As for water conditions, I'm mostly referring to wave/wind action.  How big are the waves and how much of a factor is the wind going to be?  Waves roughly 4 inches or less make for ideal topwater conditions.  Throw literally any topwater you can think of and you should be set.  I'd give each topwater 20-30 minutes so that you can start to identify which ones work best for the area you are fishing.  When fishing topwaters I hit a spot once or twice and then fan-cast to the left or right of the spot I started with.  After hitting middle, left, right, I move over 10-15 feet to the left or right direction and repeat the process.

As for wave conditions over 4 inches, I would opt for heavier, more durable topwaters such as one knocker spooks, whopper plopper, pompadour, etc. for casting convenience.  Keep in mind that the fish are not always on a topwater bite, but this shouldn't stop you from throwing your go-to's when you first start fishing.  Keep at it and go get em!

[npl_texas]

Wow.  Thank you guys for all of the insight.  

 

Although I've never caught a fish on top water I do have some lures.  I've got a couple of buzz baits, a spook (bought it for when striper are busting), and some type of pop r.  

 

I'm fishing this weekend so I'm going to see what I can do with them.  

[the reel ess]

I love them early and late. But I won't hesitate to throw one during the day into shadows or when some cloud cover comes over. And if fish are busting bait at the surface, a popper can slay them any time of day. I love all topwaters and I have quite a few I have yet to catch anything on. Mostly mice and rats.

47 minutes ago, npl_texas said:

Wow.  Thank you guys for all of the insight.  

 

Although I've never caught a fish on top water I do have some lures.  I've got a couple of buzz baits, a spook (bought it for when striper are busting), and some type of pop r.  

 

I'm fishing this weekend so I'm going to see what I can do with them.  

I like to wind up a trip by casting a topwater wherever I'm taking out right at dusk. That has saved me from a skunk on many trips and often it's a big'un. I had a 50 fish day at my buddy's pond one spring. They bit a Torpedo all day long.