Early season topwater bite

[the reel ess]

I know it's early, but it's my favorite way to catch bass. How early do you start fishing topwaters? I usually start trying as bass are moving shallower in prespawn. Here it usually doesn't produce until I start to see some bass cruising the shallows before they make beds. But I keep trying just in case. Every year I start a little earlier because when it does work, usually the size is good.

[Jigfishn10]

Oh man, I used to be a topwater nut. Used to take the dog for a walk whenever I could. Usually tho, I never started walking the dog until I saw baitfish in the shallows or a snapping turtle on a rock laying in the sun.

[Sphynx]

The day you start either seeing baitfish busting on the surface, or the day you start noticing vegetation growing you can fish over top of are the two indicators I use, the second one is less useful in the south and other places with year round vegetation. 

[the reel ess]

21 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Oh man, I used to be a topwater nut. Used to take the dog for a walk whenever I could. Usually tho, I never started walking the dog until I saw baitfish in the shallows or a snapping turtle on a rock laying in the sun.

I've heard Jimmy Houston say that when you see turtles sunning, the water's warm enough for bass to chase a spinnerbait. 

[Jigfishn10]

1 minute ago, the reel ess said:

I've heard Jimmy Houston say that when you see turtles sunning, the water's warm enough for bass to chase a spinnerbait. 

And a buzzbait...?

For whatever reason, some of my best days were when I saw snapping turtles sunning.

But I was like you, could not wait to get on a topwater bite.

I had a chance to talk to Larry Dahlberg and I asked him why he liked to fish a topwater so much. A lot of his shows he would be fishing topwaters. 

There were 2 reasons: 1 - There no better way than watching a fish going after your lure. You can learn so much just by witnessing that behavior. 2 - It's just a visual for the television audience.

At least he didn't lie about the second reason...?

[Sphynx]

I honestly do find that the excitement level of topwater is far greater than any other form of fishing, that tap you get from jigs, or worms, or the loading up and cessation of vibration on a crankbait or bladed jig simply cannot compare to the visual effects added by topwater, I seriously wonder sometimes if I stick with it even when something else would be even more effective just for that rush

[the reel ess]

1 minute ago, Sphynx said:

I honestly do find that the excitement level of topwater is far greater than any other form of fishing, that tap you get from jigs, or worms, or the loading up and cessation of vibration on a crankbait or bladed jig simply cannot compare to the visual effects added by topwater, I seriously wonder sometimes if I stick with it even when something else would be even more effective just for that rush

Yes, it takes a lot of practice to not yank a topwater away from the fish when you see an explosion. I've said before that I'd rather catch 5 bass on top than 10 on bottom. I even prefer a mid depth lure like lipless crank or spinnerbait to bumping bottom. I do flip the jig but that's because it catches so many big bass. And when you're pitching to specific targets, it keeps your hands busy. It's much faster of a technique than dragging a worm.

[Jigfishn10]

4 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

I honestly do find that the excitement level of topwater is far greater than any other form of fishing

No doubt about it. 

I had times when I was fishing a lake I've never been to and couldn't find a fish to save my life on a bottom contact lure. I threw out a dog walkers, caught a respectable fish and ended up having a great day just in that one area. Basically that 1 topwater fish told me where his buddies were.

[the reel ess]

12 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

And a buzzbait...?

For whatever reason, some of my best days were when I saw snapping turtles sunning.

But I was like you, could not wait to get on a topwater bite.

I had a chance to talk to Larry Dahlberg and I asked him why he liked to fish a topwater so much. A lot of his shows he would be fishing topwaters. 

There were 2 reasons: 1 - There no better way than watching a fish going after your lure. You can learn so much just by witnessing that behavior. 2 - It's just a visual for the television audience.

At least he didn't lie about the second reason...?

I could watch these all day

 

[Jigfishn10]

3 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I could watch these all day

That guy need to gain weight, that 3 lb fish make him look puny...?

[scaleface]

I dont have a particular time . Its usually close to spawning season . I will occasionally let a Bomber Long A sit motionless early in the spring but its not my first choice .

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I dont have a particular time . Its usually close to spawning season . I will occasionally let a Bomber Long A sit motionless early in the spring but its not my first choice .

2 springs ago I got a head start on them with a big WP before spawn. It seems it angered the bigger females. But last season my first topwater fish was off a bed on the frog.

[Bankbeater]

I usually start fishing topwater baits around the end of April, beginning of May timeframe.  If we are having a warm spring I will start fishing them earlier, maybe at the start of April.

[soflabasser]

I fish topwaters whenever I want since it is my favorite way to catch a bass.

[the reel ess]

3 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

I usually start fishing topwater baits around the end of April, beginning of May timeframe.  If we are having a warm spring I will start fishing them earlier, maybe at the start of April.

I think we're about a month ahead of you. Our spawn is usually almost completely over before May.

Just now, soflabasser said:

I fish topwaters whenever I want since it is my favorite way to catch a bass.

I would too if I was in So FL. ? In fact I walked the dog almost all day for two 6 hour days last winter. 

[soflabasser]

11 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I would too if I was in So FL.

South Florida is a fisherman's paradise and my favorite place that I fished in my travels. I can catch a bass on a topwater every single month which is great since it is the most exciting way to fish for bass. With that said I have fished topwaters in Northern waters so I will fish topwaters whenever I get a chance.

[Born 2 fish]

Some of my biggest bass last season were on a buzzbait in 50 degree water in spring.

[Bluebasser86]

I caught some in February on a popper a few years ago in mid 40 degree water just to see if I could. You get a good warm stretch, they'll flood the shallows and be hungry after the winter. If you get the same conditions and find the last of winter killed vegetation (lily pad stalks are great), you can really tear them up with a frog or buzzbait, especially big fish.

[Smells like fish]

What is your fav popper @Bluebasser86

[Bluebasser86]

3 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

What is your fav popper @Bluebasser86

Kind of hard to pick only one. If I had to be stuck with just 1 though, it'd be a River2Sea Bubble Walker 80.

 

I fish the Booyah Boss Pop, Berkley Bullet Popper, Yo-Zuri 3BD Popper, and the discontinued Norman's Top Dollar all quite a bit.

[bowhunter63]

Once the shiners start bustin the top

 I start out with a baby Pop R. Smallies tear it up 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Once the water is close to 50 bass will hit topwater.  I dont think its the best way to catch them at that time of year, but the majority of the fish are caught are good quality.  During the shad die off Ive done really well with wake baits and I would bet some of those fish would hit topwater. 

[Catt]

@Bluebasser86 Down here we call it the Valentine's Day buzzbait bite. May not be exactly on Valentine's day but we usually have a mid February warming trend.

 

Buzzbait bite gets crazy for 4-5 days!

[ChrisD46]

On 1/11/2021 at 5:38 PM, scaleface said:

I dont have a particular time . Its usually close to spawning season . I will occasionally let a Bomber Long A sit motionless early in the spring but its not my first choice .

*Great lure old school top water lure ! Twitch it slightly and let it sit .

[Ski]

On 1/12/2021 at 12:19 AM, Smells like fish said:

What is your fav popper @Bluebasser86

Pop-R