I know this topic has been brought up a lot in the past but I wanted to get your guys current thoughts on this in case you've had any new experiences or breakthroughs... At what water temp do you begin throwing topwater? What are your lures of choice for cold water/ when you first try them in the spring? I've always wanted til late spring/ early summer and want to know if I'm missing out

For me, it's just not about the upper water column temps, but also the overall conditions. If there the slightest amount of chop on the water, I'm throwing some type of top water, if it's cloudy, with no wind, top water, if it's cloudy with wind, it's top water.

What you choose to throw is up to you, could be a frog, buzz bait, rat, wake bait, ect. Heck, I've had some success semi burning a double willow spinnerbait on the surface. 

Now, I'd say if the bass are on beds, topwater may not be the best choice. 

 

It all comes down to..do the bass feel safe attacking something above them, are they willing to expend the energy to chase it down..? These also play a roll in how successful you are, or aren't.

I use to think from the high 50's on up but a few winters ago while float n fly fishing in 49 degree water had a sm hit my float.

I've got fish on top water swimbaits in low 40 degree water. I usually don't go to traditional top waters untio right before the spawn. If there's a real warm day and they're moving up shallow I feel I can get them on almost anything. That first day I'm confident a frog will work around shallow wood is a special day every year. 

We have a "February" buzzbait bite when temperatures approach 50°, it also coincides with pre-spawn.

I've been catching them on top pretty consistently once the water hit 55.

Got my first topwater bite at 49 but didn't land my first topwater until it hit 51

Water was 58 last weekend and I got about a dozen on a toad Sat, missed about a dozen more

On Sunday I had to switch to a popper as they were short striking the toad and wanted it a little slower

I caught nothing over 2 1/2 lbs but probably had 30 blowups between the 2 days

 

My tourney partner was fishing a different area of the lake throwing a jerkbait and said he could have weighed 17-18 on Sat and about 12 lbs on Sunday.

He said he got 7 bites on Saturday and 5 on Sunday

 

I think all the fish I was catching were smaller males on the move shallow looking for bedding spots

I watched a Jacob Wheeler video over the winter and he said he starts throwing top water when the temps are in the low 50’s. He loves that buzz frog. 

Mid 50s is usually when I see it start.  I have caught fish around 50 but not with a lot of consistently.   Some of the shallow coves off the main lake that get sun might be a few degrees warmer right now.  Also, it’s not just the water temp right now but the direction it’s going the past few days.   

I've always heard that a buzzbait will work in high 40s but never really had luck doing it myself...I could see why a popper would work small and can sit still...any of you ever fish a rapala floating minnow as a topwater? I've heard that can be awesome early

I never had much success pre spawn on top waters but there can always be exceptions . A Bomber Long a Minnow in silver flash twitched on top works but its a slow way to fish .

On the lake I fish for pre-spawn smallies, you cannot get a hit on a top water when the surface water temp is under 60  

On the tidal Potomac 50 does the trick.

I have been catching bass on top here in Ohio for about 10 days now. Buzzbait bite has been very good. I don't even hide it from guys cause most don't believe that's what your actually catching them on right now anyways. 

Unless we have a very warm spring I will begin fishing with topwater baits in May.  I've never had any luck on top in March or April.

This was March 53* water temps. 

Ok looks like at 50 I'll bust a Buzzbait out! No better way to catch em in my opinion anyway

 

2 weeks ago in Kansas, mid 50* water temps in a bunch of dead lily pad stalks.

I've been out a couple of times here in Southern Maine. It's early/mid April.The ice went out much earlier as it has been doing for a few years now.  Water is 46 degrees this morning. No fish. Even rarely come across any on my Garmin.  But, I still enjoy the cast.

"I've had em break through the ice to hit a topwater" not really, but I have heard that. I too like to wait till the water hits about 50, but consecutive days of sunny weather can change my mind even when the water is below 50.

While most people will tell you 55 or higher water temps, I have also heard of people killing it in cold water in the 40s with buzzbaits and smaller sized poppers. I can say this is definitely true at the end of the hear as well, but haven't had much luck on topwaters yet this year or in spring water below 55 degrees or so.