| Bass fishing with topwater baits is without a doubt | | | | and let the bait sit a few seconds before you make |
| the most fun you can have fishing for large or | | | | you retrieve. |
| smallmouth bass. People watch these bass | | | | When the bass strikes a topwater bait, wait till you |
| tournaments on the tube and see all these pros using | | | | feel the fish before you set the hook. If you try to |
| plastic and spinner baits jigs and crankbaits, forget | | | | set that hook when you first see the strike you'll |
| about the fun and excitement you get with | | | | miss more than you will catch. I can't count the times |
| topwater baits. Topwater baits create great action | | | | that lure has been nocked back towards me by the |
| and stories to pass on to family and fishing friends. | | | | bass striking that topwater bait. |
| The best time I find for topwater bass fishing is in | | | | Now for some of the most popular baits, Poppers |
| summer, the colder the water the slower the | | | | are among the oldest of topwater bass fishing lures. |
| response, and the more you have to work that bait. | | | | They have the dished out face with the line tie in the |
| Early morning and evening are best for topwater | | | | middle. When retrieved they make a slash noise or |
| bass fishing. | | | | "bloop" when popped. Poppers work best in warm, |
| Of course weather effects your choice of lures also, | | | | calm, shallow, clear water. You get your action from |
| on a bright sunny day it is better to have a light wind | | | | the rod tip not reeling. The harder you snap the bait |
| to go with it, a bit of a chop makes the bass less | | | | the more noise and commotion created. |
| spooky. On a calm sunny day use a heavier lure and | | | | Stickbaits are rounded, hot-dog shaped lures usually |
| lighter line for longer casts. Bass tend to become real | | | | plastic or wood. weighted to float nose up. The only |
| spooky in calm and clear water, so the further the | | | | action they have is what the angler ads to make |
| cast from you the better off you'll be. | | | | them work. These baits have appeal for big bass, |
| Wind can also change the type of topwater bait you | | | | just using the jerk, then real up slack and jerking |
| can use I believe that when the wind comes up you | | | | again produces a good eratic side to side motion that |
| should use a smaller bait that makes a lot of noise. | | | | gets lots of attention from bass. |
| The larger baits just plow through the chop, while | | | | Propbaits are cigar shaped and fitted with propellers |
| the smaller baits ride the chop and still make that | | | | on one or both ends. Propbaits can be worked fast |
| enticing noise to get the strike you want. Also try to | | | | or slow, quiet or loud, but stop and go retrieves are |
| fish through the troughs created by the wind. | | | | best. The bass will let you know what is best so |
| Bass fishing topwater baits has some of it's own | | | | vary your retrieve. Be sure to experiment, propbaits |
| quirks you want to be able to make pinpoint casts to | | | | are dynamite around sunken logs, lily pads, and |
| cover areas and make a clear retrieve. Most of your | | | | shallow cover. Be sure the blades on the lure run |
| topwater bass fishing will be done in shallow water | | | | freely, |
| over weed beds, flats and around objects and | | | | Wobblers and Crawlers, these baits are particularly |
| shoreline cover. The majority of bass population | | | | best at night or early morning, Examples of these are |
| remains in shallow water all summer. | | | | the Jitterbug or the Crazy Crawler. They make a loud |
| To fish bass with topwater baits cast about a foot | | | | plopping sound when retrieved steadily. Use a steady |
| or two past your target and bring it as close to the | | | | slow retrieve for the best results with this bass bait. |
| cover as possible. If you do not get a strike after | | | | Buzzbaits are a little like spinnerbaits desingned to be |
| the first few feet reel in and try again and make | | | | fished on the surface. There are two types, the |
| another cast. Fishing cover like this there is no need | | | | opposite wire types, with the blade above the hook, |
| to reel the bait all the way to the boat. Work the | | | | and the inline type with everything on one shaft. |
| bait slowly to get that strike from the bass that is | | | | Excellent for clear water, and pick up less weeds. |
| hiding in the shadows and under cover. Have patience | | | | Again experiment with your working of this bait, |
| when fishing topwater baits, let the ripples disapear, | | | | twitching and vary speeds to create different noises. |