Hey guys! I don't really fish Topwater very often, but I want to start because I heard it is really fun and the strikes are amazing. I was just wondering a few things about it such as what are the best conditions, weather, time of day, season, technique, etc. also what are the best types of baits and line to use? Thanks!

if im fishing a buzzbait ill fish it in any weather or time of day doesnt matter....other top waters i like to fish when its cloudy or in the morning/dusk/night

 

my favorite line is power pro braid i use it on all of my rods 

I will use a topwater all day long when it is cloudy or overcast conditions. If it is sunny out, I like to use them right at first light and last light. For line, I like to use either heavy mono or 50 lb. braid.

The same with what has been said, i also like to fish topwater right before a front is coming through, the fish are crazy and they'll nail anything on top.

Common misconception - topwaters are only good for morning/afternoon, and only work well in cloudy conditions. I catch midday bluebird conditions consistently. I will stipulate - I only use floating stanley ribbits in heavy cover with a slow presentation. I don't have much experience topwatering in more open waters.

a little surface wind will help a lot

They seem to have nailed the "time" to throw topwater so i'll name some of my favorite baits...

 

• Jitterbug (hence profile name)
• Zara Spook (fish in avatar was caught on one)
• Damiki D Pop

Those are my favs...

I and my partners have also caught many topwater bass under bluebird skies. I fish them spring through fall as long as the water is reasonably warm, say about 55°. There's rarely a day when I don't at least give them a try.

 

You can see the sky in my profile picture. That's a topwater fish that was just under 5#.

55 degrees is reasonably warm   good lord lol in 55 degree air temp ive got jackets and shirts and 3 pairs of pants lol cant imagine if it was cold enough to make the water temp 55

55 degrees is reasonably warm   good lord lol in 55 degree air temp ive got jackets and shirts and 3 pairs of pants lol cant imagine if it was cold enough to make the water temp 55

 

HA! 55 is shorts and t-shirt weather. Flip flops, even. It's not cold unless it's sub-zero.

When Spring starts warming up and when Fall starts cooling off

They seem to have nailed the "time" to throw topwater so i'll name some of my favorite baits...

 

• Jitterbug (hence profile name)
• Zara Spook (fish in avatar was caught on one)
• Damiki D Pop

Those are my favs...

Thanks, that's really helpful

Years ago i would fish a white Buzzbait all day long. I'd catch as many fish at high noon as anytime. I have since switched to buzzbaits till 9 then hit the docks. My favorite is flat water right after daylight.

Thanks, that's really helpful

 

All three of those lures should produce, and all are a different type of topwater bait.

 

Jitterbug- reel in... the lure creates a noise that makes bass slam them (not an obnoxious noise), along with a wake...

 

Zara Spook- walk the dog...

 

Damiki D pop- small jerks of the rod tip.... I have success fishing this slow near visual cover (external cover like rocks, timber, and around weeds) giving a little jerk to the rod to creat the "pop"...

 

~ Give those 3 baits a try and once you master them you will fall in love with topwater fishing....