Top water fishing times?

[NavyVet1204]

So I have been reading a lot that the best times for top water lure fishing is early morning and dusk time frames. Is it plausible that top water fishing can be successful at anytime? I ask because I caught my first “top water” bass with a hula popper this season and it was a clear sunny day around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. It wasn’t until I found this forum that I learned that that timeframe isn’t the norm for top water lures and I figured that my experience was maybe an exception. 
 

I do understand that fish eating habits aren’t certain for sure, but was curious to see what other types of top water lures could catch fish at non typical times? 
 

So far I have a few poppers and a whopper plopper as well as some frogs. What are your favorite types of top water lures for fishing a lake with mostly clear water?

[JediAmoeba]

Amy lure can work at any time but if you are looking for the higher percentages those times mentioned are better.  A lot of the reason being, that is when real frogs are out and about.  

 

But yeah, poppers, walkers and other top waters can be effective any time a bass is hungry.  

[soflabasser]

I have caught bass on topwaters on all year long, day or night, rain or shine. 

[NavyVet1204]

6 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Amy lure can work at any time but if you are looking for the higher percentages those times mentioned are better.  A lot of the reason being, that is when real frogs are out and about.  

 

But yeah, poppers, walkers and other top waters can be effective any time a bass is hungry.  

That’s what I was going for. Normally life happens and my only available times to fish are mostly during the midday.

Just now, soflabasser said:

I have caught bass on topwaters on all year long, day or night, rain or shine. 

I know that super windy days are pointless for top water as per my experience, but I do like to try them often because that top water bite is so addicting.

[soflabasser]

3 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said:

I know that super windy days are pointless for top water as per my experience, but I do like to try them often because that top water bite is so addicting.

I have caught many bass on windy days on topwaters. A good choice would be a buzzbait. Do not fight the wind and use it to your advantage. Spinnerbaits are another good lure for windy days.

[NavyVet1204]

16 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I have caught many bass on windy days on topwaters. A good choice would be a buzzbait. Do not fight the wind and use it to your advantage. Spinnerbaits are another good lure for windy days.

I can’t get a buzzbait to work for me to save my life. I have used so many different types of trailers it’s ridiculous. Haven’t even had a bite so far. I’ve tried just swimming them as well as adding a jerk of the rod to the retrieve.

[Smells like fish]

A day or 2 ago I read in a thread on here where Paul Roberts discussing the fishing of a body of water for 12 hours he said "that each hour was a whole new world". Each hour of the day light penetrates differently, water temps fluctuate, forage species change their occupancy of areas. So trial and error, of throwing the topwater and other presentations into those "new worlds" around the clock will allow us to "let" the bass tell us what they want as is commonly said by fishers. 

[WRB]

For me top water lures work well when the bass "looking up". If the majority of the bass population is within 10' of the surface a surface bite is possible. When the bass are deeper then 25' the surface bite is a very low %. Between 10' to 25' anything is possible.

Tom

[RoLo]

Topwater baits work year-round, but the ‘post-spawn’ is probably my favorite season.

Current conditions are usually more important than time-of-day.

A moderate breeze is a welcome condition, which causes surface diffraction.

One of my favorite topwaters is a Booyah 'Popping' Pad Crasher.

 

Roger

[scaleface]

Some days fish will hit top waters with a high bright sun , other days not . I have a hard time fishing on the brutally hot summer days but when I was younger,  a chugger fished in main lake standing timber on those days , was a steady pattern .

[Koz]

1 hour ago, NavyVet1204 said:

That’s what I was going for. Normally life happens and my only available times to fish are mostly during the midday.

I know that super windy days are pointless for top water as per my experience, but I do like to try them often because that top water bite is so addicting.

STRONGLY disagree with that one. When the water is choppy in the spring a 1/2 ounce Sexy Shad colored buzzzbait is killer. I'm on my second one this season already because the bass hit the first one so much it broke apart. Almost all of my catchers were good sized - 3 pounds and up. The biggest was just under 7.

 

Most of the bass I caught were along the shoreline where the baitfish were hanging out, but the 6+ pounder was out in open water. If you see a bait ball or boil out in open water toss the buzzbait!

 

Oh yeah - NO TRAILER on the buzzbait. Just let it do it's thing. Personally, I sometimes think we all get too cute with "trailer fever". Buzzbaits are one of those baits that perform better without them. Plus, without the added weight you can crank them in slower if needed,

[scaleface]

Buzzbaits are my favorite bait to throw . Stanley Ribbets have taken over for buzzbaits on some waters I fish that are infested with algae .Minnow baits like the Bomber Long A are really good post spawn .

[Ogandrews]

4 hours ago, Koz said:

STRONGLY disagree with that one. When the water is choppy in the spring a 1/2 ounce Sexy Shad colored buzzzbait is killer. I'm on my second one this season already because the bass hit the first one so much it broke apart. Almost all of my catchers were good sized - 3 pounds and up. The biggest was just under 7.

 

Most of the bass I caught were along the shoreline where the baitfish were hanging out, but the 6+ pounder was out in open water. If you see a bait ball or boil out in open water toss the buzzbait!

 

Oh yeah - NO TRAILER on the buzzbait. Just let it do it's thing. Personally, I sometimes think we all get too cute with "trailer fever". Buzzbaits are one of those baits that perform better without them. Plus, without the added weight you can crank them in slower if needed,

Definitely disagree with the trailer part. I have pretty much completely switched to skirtless buzzbaits with usually a 4.8 keitech as the trailer. The bigger swimbait gives the bait lift in the water and also gives the bait some extra weight allowing you to cast farther with a lighter weight head on the buzz bait. Especially on pressured fisheries I have a lot more success with this setup than a regular skirted one. I also think that it helps the bass actually eat the hook because there is a swimbait to hit when they get close, better than a regular skirted one where they will regularly miss the hook. I know there’s a time and place for both, but I definitely have more confidence in a skirt less with a swimbait.

[Bluebasser86]

Topwaters are an all day thing for me. They may not be as effective during the middle of the day, but some of my biggest topwater fish have been in the middle of the day. Find some shaded spots or good ambush spots and fish them there, they'll get bit.

[Koz]

8 hours ago, Ogandrews said:

Definitely disagree with the trailer part.

No worries. I use trailers on jigs and chatterbaits and when timing calls for it put a Keitech on spinnerbaits. But where I fish it is counterproductive to put them on buzzbaits. The fact that bass destroy 2 or 3 buzzbaits each year for me tells me all I need to know.

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

No worries. I use trailers on jigs and chatterbaits and when timing calls for it put a Keitech on spinnerbaits. But where I fish it is counterproductive to put them on buzzbaits. The fact that bass destroy 2 or 3 buzzbaits each year for me tells me all I need to know.

I started using a swimbait instead of a skirt on buzzbaits two years ago . There are two advantages . They cast easier with the added  weight and it retrieves slower because of the increased drag . It seems to  get better hookups too but that just may be wishful thinking . The disadvantage is I pour my own and they are designed for skirts . I have to super glue the baits on .

[Mobasser]

I wouldn't  hesitate to throw a buzzbait on windy days. The choppy water caused by wind, can cause bass to leave cover and depth and cruise around looking for a meal. I've caught a few good fish under these conditions, on bright sunny days.