When is the earliest you throw topwaters? Specifically frogs. I live in N.Illinois and wanted to hear your thoughts or strategies. I always associate topwater with warm water, but what do you think?

^{After Ice out. One of my best topwater days came when I'd drag a buzz bait off the ice, and the break was where they would crush it.  They will hit top, year round, but May has been the usual start of the topwater season, here...}

There is a 2+ page thread on this literally three pages into the tackle forum. It's usually easier to search for topics first.

I generally start fishing top waters starting during pre-spawn.

Jay Ell,

 

Nice  looking YAK, buddy!  Congrats on the sweet set up!! 

 

I'll be throwing frogs soon....Ribbits in Watermelon Red Pearl!

Jay Ell,

 

Nice  looking YAK, buddy!  Congrats on the sweet set up!! 

 

I'll be throwing frogs soon....Ribbits in Watermelon Red Pearl!

 

Well hello there sir!

 

Don't you mean Watermelon Red FLAKE?!?!? Just kidding. The pearl belly is killer as well. I have a few packs of each on standby.  Frog strikes never get old.

Got my first topwater fish of the year saturday evening on a poppin' image jr. Usually mid to late april is when they start hitting topwaters really well here, but the water temps have been cooler this year.