[Spider Crack]

Interesting article on fishing topwater for bass all day:
http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1467031-all-day-topwater-fishing

I've done it with a buzzbait, esp w/a cloud cover, but this is the first year I've done it successfully with, e.g., a popper. Have had at least two days when I caught fish all day on top, and part of the day with bright sun. Think ca. 65F water temps helped, as did seasonal timing (spawning season -- lots of aggressive males in shallow water).

I modified my Heddon Pop-n Image with a #2 Mustad Triple Grip short shank hook and an Owner #4 dressed treble on the rear. Most fish hook up on the front treble -- except, of course, the ones that don't.
But the Triple Grips really seem to increase my hook-up ratio and reduce the number of thrown hooks.

FWIW // Joel

 

[spidey]

I am heading out this afternoon and will be throwing buzz, popper and a spook. Also will have tied up a chatter bait. Gonna see how it goes from 1 - 5 in the afternoon.

 

[Spider Crack]

You got a falling barometer and increasing cloud cover (at least around RDU) -- might be a great afternoon for topwater.

Good luck.

 

[jab0106]

in the last couple years i have had quite a few stellar days of topwater all day long. popper does seem to be the best bet in bright sun, but we caught them on spooks all day long last year at kerr in may. fwiw, i never throw a popper without a dressed treble. and rarely ever a spook without. buzzbait will work all day long in some higher flowing waters in nearby rivers all day most every day from here til fall.

 

[spidey]

You got a falling barometer and increasing cloud cover (at least around RDU) -- might be a great afternoon for topwater.

Good luck.

buzz bait landed 5 nothing on any other topwater and one on a lizard.

 

[quest4reds]

My brother and I won a tournament on Lake Okeechobee in Florida April 11th with 27.44lbs total for the day, and almost all the fish we caught that day were on Super spooks. Maybe one or two on a swim jig, but not sure if any of those made it to the weigh in. Gotta love topwater action. A friend of mine and I went out today to Jordan Lake, and I only had one hit on my spook and he didn't get anything on his zarro pup, guess we should have tried poppers, or buzzbaits.

 

[Mechanic Bob]

We been throwing a frog and having a great time. Last night ended the trip with a 4 1/2 lbs. caught on the Frog. We have been working on the rigging and increased the hook-up from 30% to about 60%. I just love throwing the frog!

 

[Neilslure]

I will throw topwater all day long and catch them. Sun doesnt stop me.

 

[Cbain]

I cant get anything to hit a topwater any more. Had some luck late last spring. I usually toss it pretty far, wait about 12 seconds, then do a stop go random jerk retrieve. Am I doing it wrong?

 

[jab0106]

Do it differently. They will tell you how to work it if you show them how you can.

 

[Neilslure]

Do it differently. They will tell you how to work it if you show them how you can.

What he said. Some days they want it fast other days not so much. Some days they like a walking bait like a spook, other days they perfer a popper.

I had a tournament last year, I started in a reliable spook spot where I can usually get 2 or 3 pretty quick. I fished it to death with a spook and only had one roll on it and miss it. I left it for a few minutes and came back, this time with pop-r in hand. First cast one choked it down, had a few others crush it and blow it out of the water. I ended up leaving that spot with 3 solid fish in the box.

 

[spidey]

Try different topwTers. Make sure ya have a buzz bait, popper and spook. That's a good start. I work my spook fast sometimes and lazily others. I have only caught one on the spook but it took it moving quick. Buzz baits I usually run just fast enough to keep them on top and I prefer ones with noise like Dimiki MTB or Boya clacker

 

[Spider Crack]

Varying retrieve has certainly been the ticket for me lately. First day I fished a popper hard this spring, best retrieve pattern was something like pop-pop-long rest, pop-pop-pop-long rest, then rinse & repeat. Next trip I was getting only half-hearted blow-ups on that pattern retrieve. So started moving the popper much faster -- and the Pop-n Image will almost walk like a Spook when you need it too. Last time out I couldn't really find much of a detectable pattern other than make a whole lot of casts and eventually I'd hit a big 'un on the head.

Another suggestion would be to move and cover water, only stopping to work an area more carefully when you get a bite/blowup.

FWIW // Joel

I cant get anything to hit a topwater any more. Had some luck late last spring. I usually toss it pretty far, wait about 12 seconds, then do a stop go random jerk retrieve. Am I doing it wrong?

 

[mburchard]

I know it's not technically a topwater lure, but the Rapala Floating Silver minnow (F9 or F11) can be worked very shallow seems to draw strike when no other lure can. It's my "desert island" lure for sure.

 

[Nat's Dad]

My favorite topwater last few years is not what people think of as a topwater but a swimbait. I do really good on a Spro BB1z floater worked on top. But I will say one trip me and Jeff got our butts handed to us by 10 year old Nat throwing a monster sized Jitterbug. Kid caught three five pounders and lost another just as big at the canoe. All this in a few hours. Don't overlook Fred Arborgast! Maybe a big old Hula Popper would slay 'em out there

 

[Spider Crack]

Tricked this big 7lbs 3oz gal into hitting a topwater popper this weekend. Driving rain for part of day, and slow bite at first. But for whatever reason, the few hits I got early were good sized fish. It was one of those days where I typically would have switched to another lure because of slow bite, but stubbornly continued to use the popper. This big fish hit late in day, although I prob made hundreds of casts (Advil is helping those aching wrists). Saw some things I don't often see big bass do, e.g., several big fish pursued the lure after initial miss. That happens a lot with smaller fish, but I don't see it so much w/big fish. Saw one big bass almost completely breach the water when she hit. Can't recall seeing that before. Fish were also full of energy and fought like saltwater fish -- water was 64/65F w/drizzle; guess fish were just able/willing to expend a lot of energy in the fight.

Same lure -- Heddon Pop-N Image w/hooks replaced (Mustad Triple Grip #2 front, dressed #4 rear)

 

[quest4reds]

Hey fellas, I love topwater fishing, but my tackle box is lacking in the buzzbait department. I've used them before when fishing with my brother, but haven't used them in a long while. What type, size, and colors are you having success with? I plan on picking up a few to fill the void. Oh yeah, and is there any to avoid due to cheap construction or just not working?

 

[spidey]

Hey fellas, I love topwater fishing, but my tackle box is lacking in the buzzbait department. I've used them before when fishing with my brother, but haven't used them in a long while. What type, size, and colors are you having success with? I plan on picking up a few to fill the void. Oh yeah, and is there any to avoid due to cheap construction or just not working?

Dimiki mtb with noise maker r my best but they bend badly after catching big ones



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cbain]

Interesting article on fishing topwater for bass all day:
http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1467031-all-day-topwater-fishing

I've done it with a buzzbait, esp w/a cloud cover, but this is the first year I've done it successfully with, e.g., a popper. Have had at least two days when I caught fish all day on top, and part of the day with bright sun. Think ca. 65F water temps helped, as did seasonal timing (spawning season -- lots of aggressive males in shallow water).

I modified my Heddon Pop-n Image with a #2 Mustad Triple Grip short shank hook and an Owner #4 dressed treble on the rear. Most fish hook up on the front treble -- except, of course, the ones that don't.
But the Triple Grips really seem to increase my hook-up ratio and reduce the number of thrown hooks.

View attachment 70827

FWIW // Joel

A big thank you to Spider Crack and everyone else sharing advice. My buzzbait is ON FIRE since I learned how to use it properly : )

 

[quest4reds]

Dimiki mtb with noise maker r my best but they bend badly after catching big ones



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll gladly accept the risk of bending a buzz bait or two if it's catching big ones. Thanks, I've heard the Dimiki MTB is a good one, I'll have to pick one of those up. What size/colors do you like? I'm thinking the 3/8oz for starters.