I have never caught a bass on a topwater lure (not counting 5”-7” bass on panfish poppers when I was a lad). But as I have been catching bass on different lures lately (last week was my first spinnerbait catch), I bought a Whopper Plopper 75 in sungill to try out. 
 

I got on the water just as light was on the horizon. I reached the spot I wanted to fish and...nothing. Well, almost nothing. I had a swirl right after the WP hit the water once and that was it. 
 

Switched to WR and TR plastics and caught a dink but it was dead. Then I saw baitfish being chased and I knew the bite was on. I switched back to the WP and made a cast, then another. As soon as I started the retrieve, the lure was gone. 
 

She really put up a fight. 20” and 4 lbs. She really swallowed that lure deep but I got it out and she swam away. 
 

 

Later on I switched back to a WR and lost a nice fish as I was trying to get my net out. Probably a 2 lb’er. 15 minutes later I started working the 5” Senko back to the boat and simply felt dead weight. Turned out to be an 18” bass about 3 lbs. 

 

All-in-all, a good morning on the pond! 

 

Great Job!!

There is nothing like a top water hit!

 

 

 

Mike

46 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Great Job!!

There is nothing like a top water hit!

 

 

 

Mike

It was not an explosion. The lure hit the water, I waited several seconds, started to crank the handle and...it was gone. She must have come up right underneath and sucked it under as quietly as can be. 

 

I might have to feed the bait bait monkey and buy a couple more Whopper Ploppers lol.  

Topwaters are my favorite way to catch them, just wait until you have one blow up on one at full speed, first one that I had like that was all it took for me lol

The look on your face says it all! Nice!

 

My first bass ever was topwater. I never understood why people loved bass fishing until that moment.

19 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

Topwaters are my favorite way to catch them, just wait until you have one blow up on one at full speed, first one that I had like that was all it took for me lol

Even that one was pretty awesome. I was not expecting it to simply disappear without a sound. But I’ll compare to an explosion when I get one. 
 

It's coming!

Those fish that simply sip the bait under are often the biggest ones.

 

Congrats on your first topwater fish!

6 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Those fish that simply sip the bait under are often the biggest ones.

 

Yup - my profile pic was such a catch.

 

A genuine Ross Perot "Sucking Sound"!

 

Karl

Hard to beat the top water bite 

On 8/2/2020 at 8:46 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Those fish that simply sip the bait under are often the biggest ones.

 

Congrats on your first topwater fish!

THIS!  When I see a swirl and the lure disappears my first thought is usually "OH ****" and then the fight is on!  A good explosion is great but a big ol' girl is even better!

Congrats! You're "hooked".

Topwaters are the best. Before I ever caught a bass on a topwater I read someone saying they'd rather catch 2 on topwater than 4 by other techniques. I understand. Get yourself some Pop R's and Chug Bugs. They love those as well.

41 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Congrats! You're "hooked".

Topwaters are the best. Before I ever caught a bass on a topwater I read someone saying they'd rather catch 2 on topwater than 4 by other techniques. I understand. Get yourself some Pop R's and Chug Bugs. They love those as well.

I’ll do that. The ol’ WP batted .000 this morning lol. But only three bass so it was a hot, tough day. 

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

I’ll do that. The ol’ WP batted .000 this morning lol. But only three bass so it was a hot, tough day. 

WP's can be hit or miss. Poppers get more bites on average for me.

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

WP's can be hit or miss. Poppers get more bites on average for me.

Amen!! I catch a ton on poppers when they'll hit nothing else in the top water line. It's my favorite way to fish and I usually run the gamut to make sure I'm catching on the best top water option. Popper strikes are often sudden and vicious. Also, you can catch every size from the smallest to a true giant. Daylight is optimum time and fish shallow. It's addicting, for sure.