Top Water Lures for Bass

[B-Gee]

 

I would appreciate any recommendations for top water floating lures to use for catching Largemouth Bass. I live in Florida and have been mostly using Trick Worms and similar soft plastics but would like to try something different. Whopper Ploppers were recommended to me and I have a couple of these, but I would like to learn of other lures that folks recommend. Thanks for any help.

[frogflogger]

Devils horse, spook types, frogs frogs frogs - original rapala lge size - poppers

[Bubba 460]

Florida ~ 6 or 8" floating or wake Bull Shad.  

[galyonj]

I 

4 minutes ago, frogflogger said:

Devils horse, spook types, frogs frogs frogs - original rapala lge size - poppers

 

That pretty much covers it. Since OP's in Florida and may likely have access to a lot of floating cover, I bet he'll have a ball fishing soft-body frogs.

 

My favorite treble-hook topwaters are walking baits, wakebaits, and ploppers (it looks like @Robert C. Gates already has those covered). I'm having a hard time remembering the last fish I caught on a popper, but that probably says more about me than it does that type of lure. I don't have a Devil's Horse, but I feel like I'm missing out.

 

The only colors I'll throw on a hard plastic topwater are bone/white or black.

 

*The links above are just examples that I like. There are gobs of good options aside from those.

 

 

[Jaderose]

I like a good ol' Hula Popper.  

[BassNJake]

I'm partial to the evergreen shower blows topwater

Seems like everyone from florida mentions fishing a devils horse so I'd try that too.

[Mike L]

Frogs 

Big walking baits (Spook, Sexy Dog)

Floating jerk baits

Prop baits (Smithwick, Cordell)

Small poppers (Pop R)

Jitterbug 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

[Bankc]

Give me a Rebel Pop-R, a Zara Spook, and a buzzbait, and I'm good.  The Pop-R can be worked slow.  The Zara Spook is a good middle speed lure with a larger profile.  And the buzzbait is great for when they're wanting something fast. 

 

A frog would be nice too for heavy cover, if that's a thing for you.  If you fish at night and there's no wind, a Jitterbug is really good as well.  If you don't, I'd skip them.

 

There are lots of other ways to go, but getting one of each of those would be what I'd start out with.  Color doesn't really matter too much for topwaters.  It's more about size, action, and sound.  

[scaleface]

They all work but in my opinion , there is no lure funner to throw than a buzzbait . Frogs are fun but frustrating ,  I have less than 50 percent hook up ratio with them . I have a good ratio with buzzers .

[Mobasser]

Robert, there are so many good topwaters for bass fishing. You might type in " topwater" in the search bar here on BR. Loads of good info on topwater fishing. Good Luck!

[Smells like fish]

Have a look at AC Shiners balsa prop models for something different. Other than that if you throw a pop max, Rico, shower blow and a whopper plopper you’re gonna get bit 

[MIbassyaker]

I have heard that the Devil's Horse and other long thin propbaits are especially deadly in Florida because they mimick needlefish.

[WRB]

Buzz bait and Spooks (Zaragoza Spook) are Florida lures.

Spooks cover all dog walking type top waters today take your pick with a size compatible to your tackle.

Tom

[Mike L]

Well I don’t anything about a needlefish, never even heard of one let alone in Florida. 
Prop baits are like any top water except frogs. 
They’re intended to mimic a wounded, dying and/or fleeing bait, that’s all. 
 

Different types gives off different actions. 
The purpose is all the same. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[papajoe222]

4 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I like a good ol' Hula Popper.  

How do you retrieve yours?

[Jaderose]

pop, pop, POP!  pop, pop POP!

 

[Brett's_daddy]

Spooks (Zara's work nice), poppers, FROGS (hollow body), buzz baits, rat wake baits (Spro are good), Whopper Plopper's of different sizes (they make a 60 up to a 190...all depends on what your rod/reel setup can handle). That should have you headed in the right direction!!!

[river-rat]

 

If you're in Florida, I would highly recommend a Smithwick Devil's Horse in chrome/blue back/orange belly. I have caught some really nice stringers on trips to Florida using that lure.

[Bankbeater]

Zara spooks, poppers, and jitterbugs.  I like to work them between weed mats on the surface.

[WRB]

What happened to all the Whopper Plopper fans?

Tom

[gunsinger]

I don't know how they'd play in FL, but here in MS, i've had good luck with the Tiny Torpedo. 

[soflabasser]

One of my favorite lures for bass fishing in Florida is a Live Target hollow belly frog. It works great around heavy aquatic vegetation were big bass like be in.

[Deleted account]

17 hours ago, WRB said:

What happened to all the Whopper Plopper fans?

Tom

I've warmed up to the 110 and 75, but only under certain niche situations. Never got the hype, I'd rather throw a buzzbait day in and day out, and a popper is my favorite topwater, that and a spook, (plus a frog in the slop) and I'm set.

[king fisher]

Although there are many more effective modern surface baits. I would not want to miss out on the thrill of watching a big bass blow up on a Jitterbug.  Blurp, blurp, blurp, smash is as good as life gets.   First time it happened to me was summer of 1977 and it seems like yesterday.

[Captain Phil]

The Devil's Horse has been deadly in Florida for as long as I can remember.  One local angler made a great living for years fishing Florida tournaments using nothing else.  His nickname was "Top Water Charlie" and he was a living legend.   He's gone now.  I fished against him many times and it was a humbling experience.

 

There is something about that lure that attracts big bass.  They seem to want to kill it.  Big blows ups are common.   I use two colors, chrome with a black back and an orange belly and a green one with black spots.  I change the hooks to number six Gamakatsus.  Best d**n top water lure ever made.  We miss you Charlie....