I've noticed that not all topwater lures are equal when creating a big splash when hit by bass. I use Ragetail Toads a lot but think because they sit so low in the water when they are hit they make more of a "sploop" then a huge splash. Even KVD Sexy Dawgs/Zara Spooks make considerable splashes but not huges ones. Buzzbaits makes some big splashes when hit. Topwater hollow body frogs probably make one of the biggest splashes.

 

It doesn't get any better then when the fish's entire body comes out of the water on the hit.

 

 

What topwater lure do you think creates the biggest splash when hit by a bass?

I think it's a function of how big the Bass is.

Probably a totally random occurrence but honestly, Bass absolutely murder a Pop-Max.  It may be due to the size and the way it moves like it's trying to escape if your working it hard.  I don't know but they blow up on it.

Id have to say a hollow body lure. Sometimes the bass completely murder those things.

The bigger the splash, the smaller the fish. Big girls just slurp the bait.

The bigger the splash, the smaller the fish. Big girls just slurp the bait.

Yeah come to think of it, the toilet flush of a 5 pounder is pretty cool.

The bigger the splash, the smaller the fish. Big girls just slurp the bait.

9x out of 10 this is true. Cant tell you how many times it has just "disappeared" and turned out to be a big girl. The ones that jump like marlin are usually not even keepers

The bigger the splash, the smaller the fish. Big girls just slurp the bait.

 

I think this is true more often than not. I was waking a chatterbait over and through a weed bed the other day when one about 12" long hit and missed. What was cool was that he came completely out of the water about 6" and knocked the chatterbait a couple of inches higher yet. He must have hit at full velocity!

It isn't the lure but the fish that is hitting the bait. I found that when the fish are eating a topwater it is more like a toilet flush, big fish tend to do this a lot. The bigget splashes are the ones you normally don't hook up because the fish are hitting it with mouth closed just to get rid of it. Have you ever witnessed bass tail slapping topwaters? Those make for cool hits but it gets frustrating after it happens too many times. I was fishing a Devils Horse on the edge of a pad field when the water erupted and my lure went flying about 6' in the air, so we made the same cast and my buddy was watching to see what was going to happen and the same thing but that time we got a good look, the fish would come up full speed and then turn, so the water would get a swirl and then slash and my bait was in the air, complete tail slap. I did get the fish, 4lbs 9oz when I threw a Senko in after the 4th tail slap.

One thing, smallies are a different story. They will often take bats that are way bigger than their mouth, but they will ram or slap at the bait. The important thing is to keep doing what you were doing with bait, maybe adding a pause. It can be pretty violent, and they get competitive. So, I guess if looking for the biggest splash, target smallmouth.

One thing, smallies are a different story. They will often take bats that are way bigger than their mouth, but they will ram or slap at the bait. The important thing is to keep doing what you were doing with bait, maybe adding a pause. It can be pretty violent, and they get competitive. So, I guess if looking for the biggest splash, target smallmouth.

I was just going to say something along these lines. Smallies big or tiny will usually clobber any topwater with a huge splash or boil, and might strike a bait 4 or 5 times. But any decent sized LM I've caught on topwater, the lure just disappears and my line starts running. But I've had 18" smallmouth cartwheel out of the water to grab a popper.

It isn't the lure but the fish that is hitting the bait. I found that when the fish are eating a topwater it is more like a toilet flush, big fish tend to do this a lot. The bigget splashes are the ones you normally don't hook up because the fish are hitting it with mouth closed just to get rid of it. Have you ever witnessed bass tail slapping topwaters? Those make for cool hits but it gets frustrating after it happens too many times. I was fishing a Devils Horse on the edge of a pad field when the water erupted and my lure went flying about 6' in the air, so we made the same cast and my buddy was watching to see what was going to happen and the same thing but that time we got a good look, the fish would come up full speed and then turn, so the water would get a swirl and then slash and my bait was in the air, complete tail slap. I did get the fish, 4lbs 9oz when I threw a Senko in after the 4th tail slap.

Wonder why they do the tail slap?

Most aggressive strikes for me usually come on walkers, because the fish see it as something they need to hurry up and grab and come up from the deep to take it. By the time they get to it they have built up some speed. I've seen quite a few do the tarpon dance when hitting a walker in open water. 

I think smaller LMB ... Tend to hit a really fast moving topwater bait to Kill/ stun the prey, then they are again looking to eat it after that hard initial closed mouth strike/ swipe or whatever one may call it... No doubt my biggest topwater bass in Florida was a extremely quite slurp! I couldn't believe it but its true ... Or so it seems based on plenty of other folks experience too...

I have top water Megabass prop bait, not sure what the thing is called, but fish kill it.  I was scared to throw the it at first.  I got it on ebay at the right price. The thing is so pretty I did not want to use and see it lost or torn up.  One day it just seemed like the right lure to use.  The strikes I get with are not of hunger but from pure meanness and those are the best.

 

Two others for me that gets big hits sometimes, are the Pop Max and a good old fashioned buzz bait.

My biggest topwater strikes have been on buzzbaits. The biggest was by one that was in the 8-10 pound range, unfortunately she had whiskers . Buzzbaits do get my most aggressive bass strikes too though. 

My biggest topwater hits are from buzz baits too. The biggest splashes have come from some smallish spotted bass, they tore up my Buzzbait pretty good, but it was fun!

Its a function of the size of the fish and how aggressive it is.

Ive had small guys 12" smash a topwater like Mike Tyson and Ive had 5 pounders absolutely launch into space on a topwater like clear out of the water.

The one I remember the most was a 2 lb LM who hit my 20yr old Pop R about 3 ft from the boat.

He hit it so hard I got wet!

Mike

The one I remember the most was a 2 lb LM who hit my 20yr old Pop R about 3 ft from the boat.

He hit it so hard I got wet!

Mike

You peed yourself?

lol.

You peed yourself?

lol.

You were there!!

Mike

You were there!!

Mike

 

 

 

lol.

 

 

 

When I was a kid we drove over a swimming beaver. He was in no danger of being hurt by our motor. He was probably a few feet down under the surface. It was actually sorta scary. lol. That would have been a legit time to pee myself. lol. Granted I was a kid.

Do I need to start an official incontinance thread? Lol, let's get back on track.

Big bass kill big rat swimbaits, awesome strikes at dusk!

Tom

Big bass kill big rat swimbaits, awesome strikes at dusk!

Tom

What's a big rat swimbait? A swimbait that looks like a rat?