I live in the North East corner of NC. I was out fishing for about an hour or so before sunset yesterday using a Jitterbug topwater lure.  I caught a couple nice bass this way but also noticed that at times when I would stop the retrieve something would come up and just thump the bait making a popping sound. It would never take the bait. I figure this wasn't a bass because a bass would most likely explode on this lure. My thinking is it was Brim or some other panfish. Any thoughts on this? Thanks

It may very well be bass doing that. I have caught many bass on top water baits that weren't inhaled by the fish. Rather, the bass just "sipped" it, there would be no surface commotion whatsoever and I only know I have a fish on when my line starts running. Ive also have had bass come up just to bump lures, and just peck at the side of the lure right next to the boat. But, I also know that bluegill and rock bass will come up to inspect surface lures and just peck. 

Edited June 9, 20169 yr by Jar11591

One of the biggest LM I ever hooked came on a strike just like you described.  It was late morning and the lure was a Bomber Long A with tailspinner.  I was fishing it on the surface like a topwater and had just paused it with there was a tiny "bloop" and the lure was pulled under.  Like the OP, I thought it was a small bream until I saw the line move.  When I set the hook, it was definitely no bream!

Territorial bass will sometimes just bump the lure with a closed mouth. 

I would burn it in if that happened. Or with a jitterbug reel as fast as you can without it blowing out

Thanks for the replies. All I can say is these must be some timid bass. I had 20 or 30 hits in an hour. and sometimes multiple hits. I'd get a pop and I would let the lure sit and would get 2 or 3 more pops at it. Kind of frustrating.:)

 

It was likely the bream on beds, or possibly crappie.  It happens to me a lot during bass post spawn, but rarely during the summer or fall.