Here in central NC air temps have been about 85. Water is high 70's to low 80's. When does top water action start!?!?!? I tried a frog the other day. 80 degree air and water temp the same. Calm waters. Found a few nice coves on the lake. Trolling motor on quietly. I did different variations of retrieves and pops. Nothing. Tried all the stumps and downed trees. Nothing. I even casted in places where bass seem like they would kill a frog!!!!! Nothing. :-(. I was so anxious I could literally feel my heart beat in my neck lol

Is it too early in the year still??

Nope its slight bit colder in NJ and I'm getting them on topwater

I was out about lunchtime to midday. Maybe I need to try the morning time and evening time when the water temps cool off some???

Got my first two TW fish this week.  The wind is your friend and make long casts for stealth.

Got my first two TW fish this week. The wind is your friend and make long casts for stealth.

I thought top water was most efficient in calm waters? Wouldn't the wind make the lure harder to detect?

 Wouldn't the wind make the lure harder to detect?

 

Wakebait!

 

To answer the original question, I've been catching them on the top since the water temp hit the mid 50s.

5 $, the top water bite is in full swing here. I live just outside of Chapel Hill and caught quite a few nice fish last night on a black cavitron Buzzbait. Top water fishing will most likely be easiest for you when there are low light conditions. Try using a buzzbait and cast parallel to the bank during dusk.

Thanks Benny!!! Will do. By the way I live in Angier in Harnett County near Lillington. :-)

I have plenty of buzz baits. I'm excited now! lol

I thought top water was most efficient in calm waters? Wouldn't the wind make the lure harder to detect?

A slight breeze puts a texture on the water that hides the true identity of the lure. So, yes, harder to detect that it is not food.  Calm water is generally good in low-light conditions.

The frog bite over here has been on for a couple weeks.

It was on on Norman for the past month but it was slow this past weekend

Early Morning, Late evening, and on cloudy, windy, and rainy days.

First few weeks in May the topwater bite was on fire here. Now it has kind of slowed down a bit.

I've been catching topwater fish since April in KS. You're topwater bite should have started a long time ago. 

Yesterday I caught 3 average sized Largemouth on a Booyah Pad Crasher.