Tips For Top Water

[BooBoo89]

I've been fishinf for a few years now but im just now really getting into it, thought id finally go and try top water lures, bought 2 the other day, got any tips on how to work them better...

[Jigfishn10]

I would love to help ya...ahhhh...what did ya get?

EDIT: I just noticed...you just joined...Welcome to BR!

What did you get for lures you want to try?

[Chris at Tech]

Start with a few basics....

1) walk the dog style (Zara Spook, etc)

2) popper (Pop-R)

3) white buzzbait

The popper and buzzbait are relatively straight-forward to work, but getting the cadence on the walk-the-dog bait takes some practice. But I assure you the practice is WELL worth it

[brushhoggin]

get you some of these

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-FROGS.html?from=basres

and rig em on these

http://www.***.com/Zoom_Horny_Toad_Hook_2pk/descpage-ZHTH.html

just chunk and wind

[bradbass]

don't set the hook to soon, you need to wait until you feel the fish on the line then set the hook. You get so excited seeing the splash and you want to just bamm! set the hook but you need to wait an extra second then set it!!

[deaknh03]

  On 4/15/2011 at 3:35 AM, brushhoggin said:

get you some of these

http://www.***.com/Stanley_Ribbit_35_5pk/descpage-SR.html#multiview

and rig em on these

http://www.***.com/Zoom_Horny_Toad_Hook_2pk/descpage-ZHTH.html

just chunk and wind

these are some of the best frogs for the $$

[MonsterSeeker]

  On 4/15/2011 at 6:49 PM, deaknh03 said:

these are some of the best frogs for the $$

Absolutly!

[Mike L]

Welcome Fry

I'm fairly new here myself, you've come to the right place.

The best advise I can give you is to repeat what brad said.

2nd is PAY ATTENTION!! Don't look around at all the pretty bird's

When they grab a frog, buzzbait, swim jig, spook or what ever you're useing, be ready!.

Top water fishin to me is the best reason to buy a rod.

Mike

[OHIO]

  On 4/14/2011 at 11:42 PM, Chris at Tech said:

Start with a few basics....

1) walk the dog style (Zara Spook, etc)

2) popper (Pop-R)

3) white buzzbait

The popper and buzzbait are relatively straight-forward to work, but getting the cadence on the walk-the-dog bait takes some practice. But I assure you the practice is WELL worth it

I agree with this except for the white buzzbait. Get a black one, you'll be glad you did.

[WanderLust]

I also would go with a Black Cavitron buzzbait. Black has been awesome for me.

I would also add a prop bait... Alot of fun and catch some nice fish.

Walking the dog does take some practice, it is much easier with a shorter rod.

[BASSclary]

Ancient Chosen One Secret : Light (6-12#) fluoro for topwater can give your bait just that subtle change in action the bass have never seen before.

But most will say use mono. It's your choice.

And I agree, a Popper, Buzzbait, and Walk-the-dog type baits are good to start with. Frogs are also excellent for around vegetation, and in some rare cases open water.

[WdyCrankbait]

I would add, keep the lure moving kind of quickly ( except the buzzbt, reeling all the way back.) Don't get stuck in a pattern of pop, pop, stop. Be erratic and unpredictible with topwater lures.

[Fat-G]

  On 4/16/2011 at 7:10 PM, BASSclary said:

Ancient Chosen One Secret : Light (6-12#) fluoro for topwater can give your bait just that subtle change in action the bass have never seen before.

But most will say use mono. It's your choice.

And I agree, a Popper, Buzzbait, and Walk-the-dog type baits are good to start with. Frogs are also excellent for around vegetation, and in some rare cases open water.

Don't limit your open-water frogging. It's a really deadly technique.

[7mm-08]

You are speaking my language when you talk of topwater. I don't have much to add to what has already been said but I'll throw in my 2 pennies anyway. A black and a white buzzbait will both work very well. Many people only use them at dusk/dawn and on overcast days but I have caught countless bass during the day when using them in shaded areas. I consider shade "structure" just like vegetation or stumps, etc. when fishing a buzzer.

Spooks and poppers are fun choices but when I think topwater, I think hollow-bodied frog. There are finally getting to be several good frogs on the market and I've used several of them with good luck, but, the one frog I've had the most luck with (by quite a bit) is the lowly Scum Frog, more specifically the popping version. They cost less than $3 which makes them even more attractive to my bank account. I've found them to be quite versatile. They are great at fishing slop and vegetation due to their weedless nature. They skip very easily so it makes getting under docks/overhanging trees a breeze. They are poppers so they are good at drawing strikes in more open water as well. It takes a bit of practice to get the timing down on hooksets but it is so much fun I don't mind a few misses.

Actually, getting into topwater like I have has honestly been a bit detrimental to my fishing because there are plenty of days I know I could throw on a soft plastic bait and do better but I won't. I just have too much fun fishing topwater and since I don't fish tourneys, having fun is what I'm all about.

[kayakfisher]

  On 4/26/2011 at 2:40 AM, 7mm-08 said:

Actually, getting into topwater like I have has honestly been a bit detrimental to my fishing because there are plenty of days I know I could throw on a soft plastic bait and do better but I won't. I just have too much fun fishing topwater and since I don't fish tourneys, having fun is what I'm all about.

Exactly how I feel...

[BrASSmonkey]

Here is a general top water tip: Feel the weight before setting the hook. I am guilty of setting the hook into air on more than one occassion. There is that tenedency to pull the bait out of the fish' mouth when we see the splash.