Topwater Bass Fishing

Bass fishing with topwater baits is undoubtedly the most fun you can have fishing for large or smallmouth bass. People watch these bass tournaments on the tube and see all these pros using plastic and spinner baits, jigs and crankbaits, forget about the fun and excitement you get with topwater lures. Topwater tricks create incredible action and stories for family and fishing friends.

The best time I find for topwater bass fishing is in summer; the colder the water, the slower the response, and the more you have to work that bait. Early morning and evening are best for topwater bass fishing.

Of course, weather affectsfects your choice of lures; on a bright sunny day, it is better to have a light wind to go with it; a bit of a chop makes the bass less spooky. Use a heavier lure and a more delicate line for longer casts on a calm sunny day. Bass tend to become spooky in calm and clear water, so the further the form from you, the better off you'll be.

Wind can also change the type of topwater bait you can use. I believe that when the wind comes up, you should use a minor trick that makes a lot of noise. The larger baits plow through the chop, while the smaller baits ride the chop and still make that enticing noise to get the strike you want. Also, try to fish through the troughs created by the wind.

Bass fishing topwater baits have some quirks. You want to be able to make pinpoint casts to cover areas and make a clear retrieve. Most of your topwater bass fishing will be done in shallow water over weed beds, flats, around objects, and shoreline cover. The majority of the bass population remains in shallow water all summer.

To fish bass with topwater baits, cast about a foot past your target and bring it as close to the cover as possible. Suppose you do not get a strike after the first few feet reel in and try again and make another cast. Fishing cover like this, there is no need to reel the bait to the boat. Work the bait slowly to get that strike from the bass hiding in the shadows and under cover. Have patience when fishing topwater baits; let the ripples disappear, and let the bait sit a few seconds before you make you retrieve.

When the bass strikes a topwater bait, wait till you feel the fish before you set the hook. You'll miss more than you catch if you try to put that hook when you first see the strike. I can't count the times that lure has been knocked back towards me by the bass striking that topwater bait.

Now for some of the most popular baits, Poppers are among the oldest topwater bass fishing lures. They have the dished-out face with the line tie in the middle. When retrieved, they make a slash noise or "bloop" when popped. Poppers work best in warm, calm, shallow, clear water. You get your action from the rod tip, not reeling. The harder you snap the bait, the more noise and commotion are created.

Stickbaits are rounded, hot-dog-shaped lures, usually plastic or wood. They are Weighted to float nose up. The only action they have is what the angler ads to make them work. These baits have appeal for big bass, just using the jerk, then real up slack and jerking again produces a good erratic side-to-side motion that gets the bass's attention.

Prop baits are cigar-shaped and fitted with propellers on one or both ends. Prop baits can be worked fast or slow, quiet or loud, but stop and go retrieves are best. The bass will let you know what is best so vary your retrieve. Be sure to experiment; prop baits are dynamite around sunken logs, lily pads, and shallow cover. Be sure the blades on the lure run freely,

Wobblers and Crawlers, these baits are best at night or early morning; examples are the Jitterbug or the Crazy Crawler. They make a loud plopping sound when retrieved steadily. Use a steady slow retrieve for the best results with this bass bait.

Buzzbaits are a little like spinnerbaits designed to be fished on the surface. There are two types, the opposite wire types, with the blade above the hook, and the inline type with everything on one shaft. Excellent for clear water and picking up fewer weeds. Again experiment with your working of this bait, twitching and varying speeds to create different noises.

Weedless Spoons are also in this category, designed to be fished in dense cover, either through the thickest weeds, lily pads, or grass. They go through the most challenging surface you can find. You will want to use heavy fishing tackle, rods, and reels to fish with weedless spoons for bass. I like to point my rod tip at the lure on my retrieve, and again here, be patient and allow the bass to take the bait.