Bass Busting on Insects on Topwater at Night

[2marshall8]

There's a local pond I night fish all the time and I can never got em on top water although I hear them busting on fly's all over the lake. any advice on what I should throw? I've mainly thrown frogs.

[Fallser]

Are you sure they're chasing insects?  I'm a fly fisherman, and I can only think of a couple of mayflies that are large enough and hatch on lakes in great enough numbers to attract bass.  Those hatches usually start at dusk and continue a couple of hours after dark..  I would try the smallest poppers or top waters or small floating or shallow diving minnow lures that you can cast with your rig.  Sometimes the bass aren't actually eating the flies or other insects but the smaller fish feeding on them. 

[Bluebasser86]

Carp become very active at night and often surface and jump. Catfish will cruise the top looking for insects and whatever else they can fine floating along the surface to eat. Big bluegills can make a pretty good disturbance when aggressively feeding on insects. Really hard to say it's for sure bass without catching them.

[BrianMDTX]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Big bluegills can make a pretty good disturbance when aggressively feeding on insects.

Oh yes they can! They really pop the surface when sucking down bugs on the water. 

[smalljaw67]

Go with a small popper, the smaller profile might make a difference. You might be hearing bass hitting bluegill that are coming up after the insects. 

[2marshall8]

Good replies guys. thanks I'll try these suggestions

[Bankc]

Try a jitterbug.  For topwater, night fishing, they're tough to beat.  Just do a steady retrieve with them.  Maybe a few pauses.  Their subtle wiggle mimics bugs pretty well.  Black ones are especially good at night.  

[J Francho]

My experience has been it's usually bluegills and sunnies creating all the night time disturbance.  They swim fast in a circle to create a whirlpool that sucks the bug under, and then eat it.  It happens in a blink of an eye, and is pretty noisy.  That doesn't stop me from throwing a topwater at night though.

[Luke Barnes]

Ive had alot of success lately fishing topwater at night. I agree with everyone else that it's not bass unless its one smacking a bluegill feeding on insects. Ive had luck with a matte black Choppo and a Sexy Bluegill Pad Perch in the thicker stuff. Imitates fish or dying fish at the surface. When the bass smack them you can 100% tell the difference in the sound. 

[Jig Man]

X2 on the jitterbug.  If there are any bass there you will find out with a black jitterbug.

[Luke Barnes]

5 hours ago, Bankc said:

Try a jitterbug.  For topwater, night fishing, they're tough to beat.  Just do a steady retrieve with them.  Maybe a few pauses.  Their subtle wiggle mimics bugs pretty well.  Black ones are especially good at night.  

On this topic, I have one of those Lunkerhunt Yappa Bugs that have the cupped Bill like a jitterbug but is hollow and has frog hooks. Didn't have any sucess with it and it doesn't walk anywhere near as good as an actual jitterbug, but it's weedless. 

[BassNJake]

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

On this topic, I have one of those Lunkerhunt Yappa Bugs that have the cupped Bill like a jitterbug but is hollow and has frog hooks. Didn't have any sucess with it and it doesn't walk anywhere near as good as an actual jitterbug, but it's weedless. 

I have one as well and its a nada, nope, nothing lure for me.

Not many people that I have spoken with have had much luck with it either.

 

With all the successful topwater options that do work, not sure I'll give it any more chances

[Luke Barnes]

17 hours ago, BassNJake said:

I have one as well and its a nada, nope, nothing lure for me.

Not many people that I have spoken with have had much luck with it either.

 

With all the successful topwater options that do work, not sure I'll give it any more chances

I agree. It takes on water, walks like crap, and has never caught a fish for me. I'll stick to frogs and the Pad Perch. Honestly about the only Lunkerhunt lure I like is the Lunkerfrog.