Whats the best top water lure for bass when its cold out ?

[rosshilk]

Ive heard in the low 50's that a buzzbait still works. Although in all the examples of this working were in the early spring. 

[TxHawgs]

U can absolutely catch them on Topwater in 52° water. I've talked to plenty of pros about the same thing. Now with that being said they will most likely bite it if it's 52° but during a warming trend, if the water is dropping daily most likely not. But the only way to know is to know your on fish and throw it for 20min. As far as what's the best that's determined by the conditions like everything else. Water clarity and flat water vs ripple. But u can catch them on flat water w a noisy buzzbait, but I wouldnt throw the small yellow magic in a good ripple as an example.

[papajoe222]

Given your location and the time of year, I wouldn’t rule out top water. A couple of warm days can bring the surface temp up a few degrees and get the fish to move up in the water column. 

An original floating Rapala can be worked on top using subtle twitches, but will likely draw more attention worked just under the surface on a slow, steady retrieve occasionally pausing or twitching the rod tip. 

[Comfortably Numb]

On 1/16/2018 at 11:46 AM, Dtrombly said:

I wouldn't bother throwing topwater at that temp. But if your set on it I'd probably go with a small popper

Totally agree. And barely move it painfully slow.

 

As others said a suspending jerkbait is a much better choice

[crypt]

On ‎1‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 11:07 AM, ratherbfishin1 said:

I’m with the other guys I’d probably not throw below like 57 to 60 but if you really want to then probably like a silent spook or even a weightless fluke fished top water. Good luck and tight lines!

this....................or a slow rolled buzzbait.

[J._Bricker]

Hello James67, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums! I got motivated to go out the other day and to my surprise I could hear FROGS barking along the bank. The water temperature was 50.6 on my graph, and it was foggy with some light rain. Granted, they weren’t bullfrogs, but they were frogs nonetheless.  I didn’t have a frog rod on the boat and kept throwing reaction baits trying to get bit that way.

 

So James, if you want to throw something up on top IMO a frog, a big wake bait, buzz bait, or a whopper plopper. I’m guessing down in your neck of the woods the pre-spawn isn’t too far off and the aforementioned baits could get you that big bite you’re (we’re all) looking for.

 

 

[Hot Rod Johnson]

My top three choices are "Prop Baits" like a Devils Horse, Wood Choppers, and Torpedoes, all are ideal for water with a chop with "Stained to Muddy Water"...