ahh when winter ends

[bassattack1990]

hey guys i need to know or want some info on when i should start top water fishing agian??????? and what do i start out with

[senko_77]

you can find fish topwater all year.  but prime is 50 and above.  when the water is under 50 either go real real slow, or go super fast.  poppers and spooks work best imo

[KU_Bassmaster.]

The topwater bite doesn't pick up for me until mid to late June.  Poppers have always been the most consistent for me.  Buzzbaits will catch you some biggn's though.

[bassattack1990]

yah i really like my white buzz bait i have cauht my biggest fishon it but i have never really fished any thing in the winter or fall times when its really cold exept 1 time and i used a buzz bait all i could caught was small fish that would knock the bait plum out of the water trying to nail but i never got a big strike

[basser89]

From what I've read, 50 is the magic number most of the time. I have read a few articles where Pro's have said they have had luck as low as 46-48. I wanted to test that theory last spring but for some reason I was thrown a few major curve balls and really never got on much during the prespawn. >

I know its not really what you asked, but you may be able to use spinnerbaits as a test. I've got prespawners on spinnerbaits in 48 degree water (according to my fishing log). When they start hitting spinnerbaits, you may be able to catch some on the surface! Hope this helps!

[Raul]

Man the temptation is just too much the bear, I just have to rub it in.

ahh when winter ends

Can 't tell when "winter" ends, down here we call it AFTER SUMMER.  ;D

[Peter E.]

Top water bite is not something that ends in my opinion, at least not in alabama. I have caught bass of surprising numbers and quality with a straight back rapala, in some of the most brutal conditions.

Peter

[Matt Fly]

I concentrate on top waters as soon as fish are spawning, Sounds funny but on long lakes, the spawn starts in the NW side of the lake and progress down towards the dam as water warms.   The post-spawn top water bite only gets better  as spring passes and summer arrives.  I let the water conditions, wind tell me to what type actions is needed, glassed, I like poppers, chuggers, with bait present, a walking the dog action,   slight chop to heavy, I like slush baits and buzz baits.    

Threadfin shad go deep to escape extremely cold temps,  but the gizzard shad, the larger of the two, can stand more frigid waters, thus when water temps drops below 50 degrees and a cold front is in the area driving surface temps down, waking a big spinner with a single colorado blade can pay off.  For those who have been on the water in conditions like that might have noticed gizzard shad darting 6" beneath the surface.  you might only get a handful of bites in a day with this method, but the bites are usually quality bass.   My favorite color in the winter to use is a yellow head/skirt, not bright yellow, dull yellow.

The object is to keep the spinnerbait just under the surface as for the blade to leave a wake behind it.    This is an awesome technique I learned from watching Jim Bitter.

[Peter E.]

I say make your lures bigger and work them slower and they will work in the winter as well as the summer, and raul my winter fishing never deals in ice either.

Peter

[Siebert Outdoors]

Usually here in MO I start trying it in may.  I like fishing topwater because of the excitement just dont usually catch decent fish around here.