your "go-to" topwater baits: what are they?

[team doyle]

hey folks,

i'm fortifying my collection of topwater baits for
this upcoming season. in your opinion, what should
i not leave the ramp without? give specifics if you can.
and... best to use mono when throwing topwaters? or is
braided line preferred for its lack of stretch?

glad to be part of ifish,
joe :cool:

[bobberdown9321]

my favorite top water im not sure of the brand but i love it i also like the headon zarra spooks

[Bad Wood 75]

My favorite topwaters would have to be a little white buzz bait and my other go to top waters would be a small jitter bug or a hula popper

[MacFish]

I like a Rebel Pop R (I think that's the name) or a super fluke, weightless, fished on the surface. For weedy stuff I like any of a number of different frogs.

[Knot in leader]

Walking baits- Spooks, Sammys, ect.. :wave:
Poppers- spash'it, Pop'R :yay:
Buzzbaits- White :bowdown:
Frogs :dance:

[sbasser]

#1 Standard, old fashioned Rapala minnow...Rainbow Trout pattern, size #9.

#2 "Dalton Special", Perch pattern.

That said, I haven't bothered with topwaters for at least 5 years. I have not found them to produce the numbers or size of fish that I would prefer to catch. The thrill of catching one on topwater isn't equal to catching six by skipping a tube under a dock or Russian Olive tree, plus your chances of actually hooking up is much lower. But those topwater lures sure do hook the fisherman.:smash: C&R, Steve :passout:

[iangler]

Megabass POP-X or POP-MAX

[BuKuBass]

Heddon's Baby Torpedo.
Lucky Craft's Sammy altho Excalibur's Spittin' Image works almost as well.
Anybody's paddle-tail worm retrieved fast enuf so that the tail spanks the surface. If you get a hit'n'miss, stop the retrieve and they'll hit it on the drop.

[boblag]

The only topwater lure I own is a Tiny Torpedo in black. Whenever I see smallies going for the bugs I pull that thing out and it almost always works. And usually it's the bigger fish that hit it. For me, under the right conditions (summer, almost dark out, fish feeding on the top) that thing consistently outfishes plastics.

[IslandBass]

I will add the Rapala Skitter pop. It has accounted for most of my bass this season.

The floating minnow is great and so are the walk the dog lures.

If you plan to use braid, that is okay, but you have to give the fish the time to get on the bait. If you set the hook too soon, braid's great trait of zero stretch will work against you and you risk pulling the lure away.

My best trick for working treble hook baits is to keep them so sharp that the fish impale themselves. The only thing left for me to do it apply some tension to the line and the fight is on.

[Lunkerlander]

I'd have to say the floating repala in a perch color twitched in lilly pad pockets.

[Wreckless]

Dog - X (you can leave the other "walking baits" at home IMHO)

Rapala - black/silver

Skitter pop

Mono!

[Wannabe]

Heddon Super Spook (Okie Shad)
14# Excalibur
Tight Lines
<)))><

[shalom]

1-Heddon Spook Jr. (baby Bass Color )
2-Rebel POP R
Last year i started using a buzz Bait and i need to use it more I have to keep reminding myself . It is very easy for me to stick with old habits and forget to try different bait that have been in the boat for years and have never been wet .

[bassbum]

definatly the heddon super spook, the most exciting smallmouth bite there is!!!

[Super Fluke]

It's nice to fish a Spook Jr & also I like fishing the fluke at a fast pace,If I slide it over cover and I find a hole I let it fall Whamo!

[ExBassGuide]

<font color="red"> [b]BUZZ BAIT!!!!</font>
[b/] <font color="white"> </font>

[Jon55]

<font color="red"> [b]BUZZ BAIT!!!!</font>
[b/] <font color="white"> </font>



OK. Let's talk buzz bait.

How big?
What colors?
How fast are you dragging it?
Has anybody trolled a buzz bait in the morning or evening along the shore?

[dan82]

super spook for sure

[ExBassGuide]

I like black or black/blue. The bass can see it much better at low light levels. I reel as slow as I can (and keep it on top)and a very steady speed. Best time for a buzz bait is after the sun goes down. The size I like best is a med "Buzz king jr" by strike king. hang three out the car window for about 50 miles find the one that squeaks the most and give the others to your fishing buddies :laugh:. I ALWAYS use super lines and a trailer hook! SHARP HOOKS HELPS!

also my number two top water lure is a
"MegaBass 589 DOG - X jr.

And my third pick is a Rapala from one inch to about 4 inches. I paint them black so the bass see them better in the low light.

and my last pick is a 3 inch senko reeled on top and making a wake but not too fast <font color="blue"> </font> !

[padisharcreel]

Without a doubt the Cotton Cordell® Crazy Shad™ Topwater Lure in clear. I'm afraid they may not make the clear variety any longer, but it is a killer. Also tie it directly to your line with a mono loop (such as a Lefty Kreh loop knot), never a clinch knot.

Chris :dance:

[padisharcreel]

I just looked up Cordell's catalog they do indeed make the clear one with the blue nose model No. 12. Another modification I do to this bait is to remove the treble hook that comes with it and put on a slighty longer shanked treble or double hook. Solves the short strikers for me anyway.

Chris :dance:

[les987]

CHUG BUG, CHUG BUG, CHUG BUG......no question in my mind. absolutly the best plug I have ever chucked. Bass, Pike whatever. I have even caught a gigantic seed on one.

[bucketmouth]

I thought about this for a long time. I can't figure out the answer. So I guess I'll just continue to use them all!

[BassMan]

I love fishing topwater in summer and fall, with just a bit of wind chop and overcast days. Nothing like seeing a smallie blow up on a top water bait.

1. Rebel POP-R
2. Rapala skitter pop
3. Home made popper I made on a electric wood lathe when I was about 13 (silver body black tail)
4. Old heddon high tail.

[jsmiley]

pop gear and a real wedding ring...not the lure is my favorite...

:smile: Just kidding around...

1. Sammy
2. Rapala Minnow (7")
3. Buzzbait

Smiley

[Joe Schmo]

Zara spook. Who could resist throwing a 2 lb 8" lure??