This saturday morning, I plan on waking up before sunrise and hitting the water. Im gonna set up 2 or 3 rods with nothing but topwater, as that has been the phase Im in lately.

My question to everyone is; what time have you found to be the best time for topwater? Before the sun comes up, while its rising, or for a period of time afterwords?

All three.  I probably get most of my topwater strikes from about 30-45 minutes before sunrise to about 30-45 minutes after.  Once the sun gets up, the topwater bite seems to slow.  At least it does around here.  Maybe if you can find a nice shady spot you can stretch it out a little longer.

Best time I found is at night , lol  instead of getting up early before sun rise that would be about the time I would be getting home

if all I planned to do was top water fish. Maybe it varies from area and lakes you are fishing but I have always found the best top water action

on darkest nights .

Yea here in FL night is the best for top water

Obviously the early mornings and evenings are the most consistent. But my favorite time to topwater fish is right after summer afternoon thunderstorms, just as every thing around is coming back out to feed and such... Louder baits at night are fun too! (here in the South that is)

I have my best luck on them right before the sun comes up.  Where I fish, once the sunlight hits the water the  bass usually shut off and won't come up.

I like using topwaters about half hour before sunset and through the night to about an hour after sunrise.  Also any time of the day on  cloudy, rainy days.

 

Sometimes in late spring through mid summer I'll hit shady spots with topwaters during the day.  And I agree with Tmpr, topwaters can be hot just after a passing thunderstorm.

 

But I think the most productive time I've had with topwaters is early morning darkness just until the sun peaks over the horizon.

My evening bites have always been better than early morning for me.

Since I cannot, fish in the a.m. or p.m. evenings I do all my top water fishing during the day. I have had very good success fishing at the brightest part of the day. The key for me at least, is to find the right cover to fish. My main topwater bait is the frog, following that would be a swim bait. During the day I look for cover that bass would most likely flock to given the time day. If my hunch is correct and the bass are there, and "willing" to accept my offering, hold on because the strike is awesome.

Imma just go out before light in the morning and throw a buzzbait, popper, and probably a spook. I have a frog that Iv had forever, but cant get the "walk" down on it.

Imma just go out before light in the morning and throw a buzzbait, popper, and probably a spook. I have a frog that Iv had forever, but cant get the "walk" down on it.

 

Don't be afraid to throw that frog anyways.  I have the best luck throwing the frog on the bank and then jump it in the water.  I'd say at least half the strikes I get on a frog come when it jumps from the bank to the surface.  But you can't go wrong with the other 3 baits you've listed.  As far as the times, right before the sun comes up and the hour or so before it goes down are the hottest times.  As you know, it doesn't start cooling down in NC until about 7 at night anyways.  I'd say anytime just before and just after the sun comes up and about anytime after 7pm.  And as mentioned, topwater night fishing is pretty good too.

About an hour b4 sunrise to about 1 hr after sunrise.. that's my best time then when that bite slows down I like burning a spinner bait out a little deeper.. I'm going early am froging in a few hours can't wait!

All the above.

The twilite time in the morning just as the sky starts to light up. I try to fish from the darkness till 9am. That's about from 3:30am till 9am.

What causes the feeding to happen in the early light in the morning and early evening is the basses eyes adjust to the light conditions faster than the baitfish eyes do. This makes them an easy target. The midday 12 noon turn on is caused by plankton (sorry bad spelling) that the plants give off that the baitfish eat. When the baitfish are active the bass eat.

As far as topwater and the time to use it I try it all the time. Bb