topwater fishing
is one of the
best ways
to catch bass during late fall, early spring, and late spring when they are in their spawning areas. Topwater baits will often entice a reaction strike from the bass during this time, creating some of the most
memorable fishing moments
.
How do you fish with topwater?
- You can use topwater lures such as poppers, which have a concave face that makes a big splash when you jerk the lure sharply on the surface.
- Cast the lure to your desired location, then reel in using a retrieval motion that mimics a fish’s meal.
What fish bite topwater lures?
Bass aren’t the only fish that can be caught on a surface lure. Pike are notorious for vicious topwater strikes. Trout, walleyes and even catfish will hit a lure on the surface under the right conditions. The biggest mistake anglers make fishing topwater baits is they set the hook too soon, Castiglioni said.
What time of year do bass hit topwater?
Most topwater fishing for bass occurs in the summer, but it can also be very productive in spring and fall Topwater lures are less productive when the water is cold and bass are less aggressive. Here are the prime conditions and circumstances in which you might try fishing with topwater lures: Early Morning.
Do topwater lures work at night?
Topwater of all kinds are great choices for nighttime fishing Spooks, poppers, frogs,
prop baits
and anything that makes a disturbance on the surface can work well. However, buzzbaits take the top prize for night fishing.
What
water temperature
is best for topwater?
“Water temperature is one of the most critical aspects to topwater fishing,” Elite Series pro Dean Rojas explains. “To me, the optimal temperature is when the water starts crossing the 50-degree barrier Topwater fishing stays hot when the water temperature is will into the 90-degree range.”.
What type of rod is best for topwater?
Casting rods are the most popular choice for topwater fishing. Most bass anglers prefer to use a baitcasting rod and reel setup for fishing topwater lures.
What color attracts bass the most?
Most expert night fishermen use black or dark blue lures. The theory is that these colors provide a more distinct profile when silhouetted against the lighter background of the water’s surface. Thus, a dark lure is easier for bass to see and strike accurately at night.
Do top water lures float?
Most do not float , so they require a retrieve speed just fast enough to keep the lure on the surface. The angler rigs a large hook through the lure body, and if rigged with the hook embedded, it is “weedless.”.
Can you fish topwater during the day?
In these situations, a solid topwater bite can be very hard to find. Conversely, before a weather front reaches your area, it is generally led by an area of low barometric pressure. Bass absolutely love low pressure and feed aggressively throughout the day, making topwater fishing a tremendously effective technique.
When should you throw a Buzzbait?
Most people fish buzzbaits for bass in the spring, the summer and the early fall However, I like to fish a buzzbait in the fall and the winter, especially in the Deep South where I live. The water temperature there generally doesn’t get so cold that bass won’t stop taking a topwater lure even in late January.
What time of day are bass most active?
In Conclusion. Most times of the year, bass fishing is best around dawn and dusk Focus on the hours of dawn until around 8 am and 5:30 pm until dusk in the late spring, summer, and fall. During the late fall, winter, and early spring focus fishing efforts around midday for bass.
How can you tell if a lure is topwater?
- Walker. Walking topwaters offer a back-and-forth or zig-zag action on the surface, produced with a walk-the-dog retrieve
- Poppers. Popping topwaters have concave mouths with narrow tails
- Wakebaits
- Minnows / twitch baits
- Prop baits
- Buzzbaits
- Frogs.
What is the best lure for bass right now?
- Stick Bait. The legendary Stick Bait is the most popular and fundamental Bass lure ever
- Curl Tail Grub
- Spinnerbait
- Square Bill Crankbait
- Skirted Bass Jig
- Lipless Crankbait
- Finesse Worm
- Tube Bait.
Are topwater lures good for bass?
There’s simply no spectacle in bass fishing like a topwater hit. Whether it’s a violent eruption of water or a subtle “gulp,” the strike is what keeps anglers coming back. Besides the fact that topwater lures are just fun to fish, they are also known for catching lunker bass.
Will bass bite topwater in winter?
Truth: A topwater approach is a prime way to target aggressive fish, which would seem to prove the myth, as winter bass are often lethargic Still, bass are opportunistic feeders, especially large bass, and a meal on the surface is the easiest meal for a big bass in late winter.
How do you throw a popper?
Cast your popper out to the target area and let it settle briefly. Take in small amounts of line slowly, making small movements as you retrieve it The cupped face “pops” along the surface will imitate the action of prey, such as small insects, small frogs or even a small injured fish.
Are spinner baits top water?
The overall primary difference is that buzzbaits are designed to be used only as a topwater lure during the warmer months while spinnerbaits can be used at varying levels in the water with different forms of retrieval, including topwater throughout the year.
Can you fish topwater in summer?
This is a major key to topwater fishing in the summer The heat of the summer has bass looking for the coolest water they can find. Of course, low-light hours are always primetime for topwater, but it doesn’t have to end when the sun comes up.
Can you fish topwater year round?
As I said before, you can throw a topwater lure any time, anywhere However, there are times and places where these work best such as when there is no wind and very little current creating a glass effect on the water’s surface in low-light conditions.
What water temperature stops bass biting?
Bass can tolerate high and low temperatures pretty well. Cook said he only pays attention to his boat’s thermometer when it’s very hot, above 85 degrees, or very cold, which to him is anything below 50. But if it’s between 55 degrees and 85 degrees , temperature really doesn’t affect bass behavior all that much.
How long does it take a bass to bite again?
We’ve found through our studies that fish do have a memory. “For example, if a bass is caught on a spinnerbait one day, it’s almost impossible to catch that fish on the same lure the next day. And if it is exposed to that bait every couple days for a week or so, it could be 20 days before it will strike the lure again.
Can fish see hooks?
It never seemed to be about the hook sticking out of the leadhead. So I think that bass (and fish in general) can see hooks I just think that most of them have no instinctual knowledge of them, no point of reference for whether they are a danger, or benign like a piece of seaweed. So in effect they don’t “see” them.
Why do fishermen go fishing at night?
Just like if you were to go fishing in a remote location, one of the biggest advantages of fishing at night is the decrease in boat traffic on the water The less people out on the water going for the fish, the better chance you will have of reeling a few of them in.
Do fish chase their lures at night?
Biological design also guides fish to hunt at night, some fish have large eyes or eyes nocturnally suited to search for prey under the cover of darkness These include, but are not limited to, fish such as mulloway, tailor, barramundi, and pearl perch.
Is Top water good in cold water?
“ Topwater is an underutilized tool for cold water conditions, but with the right trends, the winter can be some of the best days to throw it ,” said Wheeler. Wintertime at Wheeler’s mid-western home waters can dip to near freezing, but that doesn’t stop him from fishing the surface.
Are buzzbaits good in cold water?
Buzzbaits like the Custom Lures Unlimited LiveWire BzB8t offer an enticing squeal, bubble trail, and profile that bass just can’t resist – even when it’s cold. Bass will willingly eat buzzbaits at water temperatures down to the low 50’s, and even lower if the conditions are right.
What is a good gear ratio for topwater?
The Best Gear Ratio for Topwater Fishing is a 7:1 or Higher.
What is a 7 medium rod good for?
Original Series 7’0″ Medium Casting Rod This medium crankbait casting rod will give you the edge you need when cranking around docks, rocks and shallow grass lines From the loading power that will increase your casting distance to the great hook penetration.
What colors can fish not see?
The majority of fish have developed eyes that will detect the type of colors typical of their environment. For example, inshore fish have good color vision, whereas offshore pelagic fish have limited color vision and detect only a few if any colors other than black and white.
What colors can bass not see?
Outside of red and green, many dark colors appear quite similar to bass, which are unable to make highly selective decisions based on those dark colors like blue and black. Likewise, bass cannot readily distinguish between very bright colors, like chartreuse and white.
Should I fish in the rain?
Because the surface is broken up by the raindrops, and the clouds are obscuring the sun – rainy days are some of the best times to fish topwater baits … All day long. Fish are more willing to roam and actively pursue bait – which makes them much more likely to demolish a topwater as it skitters across the surface.
What are buzz baits?
Buzzbaits are old-school topwater lures that are simple to fish and deadly effective in the right situations They’re relatively weedless and are great for fishing fast and covering water. Unlike most topwater baits, buzzbaits sink.
Will spawning bass hit topwater?
The spawn wears largemouths down , and if you want to catch them, you’ll have to adjust. During the spawn, or just after the spawn, when bass are still in the shallows and around vegetation or shallow cover, a subtle topwater can be just what you need to get yourself a bite.
What is crankbait fishing lure?
A crankbait is a moving bait made for catching the predatory species of fish under the surface as a moving animal imitating a baitfish in its environment These lures are designed so that the user can control how deep they dive in the water.
References
https://www.tripsavvy.com/using-topwater-lures-for-bass-1311420
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Topwater_Hard_Baits/catpage-HBTOPWATER.html
https://bassonline.com/fishing-with-topwater-lures/