Best TopWater Baits for SMB

[Ziggy Bones]

I wanted to start a discussion for topwater baits everyone has had success with hunting the bronzebacks. Last weekend I hooked up on a few in East TN using a 3in topwater popper, and a few with a size 90 whopper plopper, but I'm curious as to what else might be a good topwater presentations? I've had some people recommend a jerkbait and one buddy even recommended wacky rigging a senko and dragging it on the top/a few inches down, but I haven't had time to try it out. I've also seen this "double plopper" A-rig looking buzz bait deal, and am very intrigued to hear if anyone has had success with it (at $18 a piece I didn't want to dive in if it's just a bunk bait). Lend me your knowledge, fellow smallie smackers!

[Krux5506]

I think it varies from water to water substantially. I love the classic Heddon lures that I feel like nobody I know even fishes. My old favorite was the Dying Flutter which isn't even made anymore but not that hard to find on ebay sometimes for a decent price. Also the Torpedos are a favorite of mine and have taken many smallies. 

 

On certain waters I've had a great smallie bite with buzz baits in choppy conditions. On my home port where I keep my boat, and in Lake Ontario, these methods have never worked for me. 

[A-Jay]

 Repoman walking bait has been a solid producer for smallies.

 

The Megabass PopMax gets it done as well.

 

If there's going to be a topwater bite, I'm usually throwing one or the other.

btw the Megabass Dog-X Diamante gets honorable mention for me as well.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[mattkenzer]

The three i am using this time of year ......

1. Strike King - KVD Sexy Splash Jr. .... Clear Water Minnow
2. Heddon - Super Spook Jr. .... Bone
3. Yo-Zuri - 3DB Prop Prism .... Ghost Shad

After this ... I wave the White Flag!

 

[NYWayfarer]

This year I have had a lot of luck with the Heddon Baby Torpedo on calm days and the Whopper Plopper 90 on windy days/choppy waters.

 

Smallmouth in my area love the Bluegill color WP. It far outperforms my bone colored WP

[J_Pearson]

A list of a few of my smallie go-to's when it comes to topwater:

 

- Bone Super Spook

- Jr. "sammy-style" keeled topwaters

- Any slightly "smaller" popper (Ricos, Megabass pop-x, Daiwa td zeros...)

- Smaller/ Jr. Sized Wakebaits

- Whopper plopper 90

 

- Jonathan

[flyfisher]

Megabass PopX and PopMax for me as they both allow for popping or walking the dog if needed.

[FryDog62]

Whopper Plopper 110

Jitterbug

Heddon Crazy Crawler

[Further North]

I love doing this, every time the topic comes up:

 

...but for me, any popper, slider or diver I can toss with a 6, 7 or 8 wt. fly rod.

[RyneB]

When I spend a week in traverse city every spring, a Evergreen Shower Blows is by far my best producing topwater. Runner up would be a little popper. 

[Bluebasser86]

I could easily get rid of all my topwaters except my 90 ploppers and Super Spook Jr's when it comes to smallies. 

[J.Vincent]

Lucky Craft Sammy

[Birdman2136]

Whopper Plopper 90 in T1000 or Pacman and Super Spook Jr in Bone. 

[scaleface]

A local river use to be full of big smalmouths until a three year flood destroyed the population . Buzzbaits  were my preferred top water followed by poppers.

[Further North]

On 7/22/2018 at 7:59 PM, RyneB said:

When I spend a week in traverse city every spring, a Evergreen Shower Blows is by far my best producing topwater. Runner up would be a little popper. 

...that...sounds...dirty...

 

Maybe that's their goal?

[Turkey sandwich]

In my experience, when smallies are feeding on the surface, they aren't always super picky.  If I need to cover lots of water, a walking bait  or Whopper Plopper (usually 90, sometimes the 130) are my first choice. If I need to target smaller pockets and can get away with treble hooks, I'm throwing some kind of popper.  If there's lots of weeds/grass, I'm reaching for a popping frog.  

 

If I'm chucking flies, I like deer hair poppers, Dahlberg Diver variations, and even Deceivers fished on a floating line stripped fast across the surface.  

[NHBull]

This Summer a black or white popper has been on deck all year and landing rate since going to the Gammy AM trebles has been over 90%

[Way north bass guy]

For me it’s mostly a super spook junior, but I’ve also caught some monster smallies on a hollow frog when they’re in shallow water. Also, when it’s real calm and low light, this guy “just barely twitched” on the surface with a spinning rod and light line will call up some real dandies. 

[Further North]

On 8/6/2018 at 6:07 AM, NHBull said:

This Summer a black or white popper has been on deck all year and landing rate since going to the Gammy AM trebles has been over 90%

Question:  What do guys who don't use fly rods throw poppers on?  And what kind of poppers?

 

I've got a few, but am just curious.

[Turkey sandwich]

1 hour ago, Further North said:

Question:  What to guys who don't use fly rods throw poppers on?  And what kind of poppers?

 

I've got a few, but am just curious.

Most of my gear poppers cast well on either a Mojo 7' Med Fast or 6'8 Avid X ML F spinning rods. 

[Vilas15]

On 7/19/2018 at 9:02 AM, Ziggy Bones said:

I've also seen this "double plopper" A-rig looking buzz bait deal, and am very intrigued to hear if anyone has had success with it (at $18 a piece I didn't want to dive in if it's just a bunk bait). 

I wouldn't buy it. Lots of reviews saying wires bend on the first fish. Stick to the regular plopper which gets plenty of action based on this thread alone.

[NHBull]

On 8/6/2018 at 9:08 PM, Further North said:

Question:  What to guys who don't use fly rods throw poppers on?  And what kind of poppers?

 

I've got a few, but am just curious.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Impulse_Energy_Series_Casting_Rods/descpage-IMPUL.html

Best topwaters rod I have used.   Look it up

[burrows]

I don’t fish a lot of small mouth but I do fish for spots and I hear they act very similar probably not exactly the same at all, but some what similar best poprs would be for me, duo realis popr 64 and the yozuri 3DR both are great also just a regular rebel popr is also a great choice and easy on your wallet.

[B-Dozer]

try this. reel it fast enough to wiggle, slow enough to stay on top.

[bagofdonuts]

On 7/19/2018 at 9:47 PM, Further North said:

I love doing this, every time the topic comes up:

 

...but for me, any popper, slider or diver I can toss with a 6, 7 or 8 wt. fly rod.

i'm more of a walmart popping bug fan.