How long after ice out would top water (zara spook, etc.) lures start to become effective? Is there a certain water temperature you like to see before you pull them out of the box?

What works best for you in the early spring???

In Florida, the nucleus of the topwater bite ranges between 70 and 80 deg F. (post-spawn period)

There's a secondary topwater bite in fall, between 80 and 70 deg F (post-summer period)

Roger

I have more confidence in topwaters when the water is at least in the mid-50s. Good spring lures for me have been Chatterbait-style/spinnerbaits/shallow cranks.

Ditto the mid50s where I've fished (NY and CO). That's for consistency. But anglers have reported scenarios that make for topwater fishing in even colder water.

The first topwater I start with in the spring is a #11 floating Rapala. I fish it with twitches with long pauses. Works VERY well. As water warms (mid to upper 50s) I go more to other things like a waked #13 Rapala or a small jumpbait (walker).

Still catching them here on top even with some waters in the 50s!

topwater works anytime the fish are active.

Maybe I misunderstood your question.

I thought you were asking when topwater fishing is typically the most successful.

If you're asking when surface strikes are possible, the answer is any month of the year

(Not much of an answer, huh?).

Roger

I have more confidence in topwaters when the water is at least in the mid-50s. Good spring lures for me have been Chatterbait-style/spinnerbaits/shallow cranks.

This man is a jitterbug master!

Thanks for the help guys.  I only started experimenting with topwaters late last fall on a trip to Canada and had a blast.  The pike and smallmouth loved the Zara Spook i threw and now i am "hooked" 

I tend to feel water temps from 60 on up. Below 60 i like a jerk bait better.

Maybe I misunderstood your question.

I thought you were asking when topwater fishing is typically the most successful.

If you're asking when surface strikes are possible, the answer is any month of the year

(Not much of an answer, huh?).

Roger

I've had some of my best topwater days when you would have thought that there was no way a bass would hit a top water.  Most notably would be killing them on a white buzzbait when it was snowing.  Once in a lifetime I'm sure but never the less it proves a point.

I have more confidence in topwaters when the water is at least in the mid-50s. Good spring lures for me have been Chatterbait-style/spinnerbaits/shallow cranks.

This man is a jitterbug master!

Thanks for the compliment!! The Jitterbug is my favorite lure by far and I've had some luck with it, but I'm afraid I'm not a master of anything, unfortunately.