In the midst of my winter blues, I recently picked up the In-Fisherman Handbook of Smallmouth Strategies book which I've seen so highly praised. On Page 105, it recommends surface lures as a good choice for pre-spawn smallmouth. The book defines pre-spawn as water from 46-55*.

 

Topwaters are my favorite way to catch fish, but I never really threw them at this time because I always thought it was too cold. I guess it makes sense, since the fish are feeding so aggressively. The few short times I have attempted were unsuccessful, but I guess I'll have to try it out this year! I have some Zara Puppies, Tiny Torpedoes, and a little 1/4oz Jitterbug which might work good. My usual pre-spawn rotation primarily consists of football jigs, spinnerbaits, and lipless cranks.

 

Do you guys have any experience using topwaters in water this cold?

I can usually get them on spook style walking baits and ploppers early in the year.  Northern fish tend to be more aggressive at colder temps compared to southern fish.

I’ve seen them smashing shad on top in 47 degree water. They can’t help but hit a spook or pop R if they are in the right mood. They also smash it when the water is 80 degrees at noon in ankle deep water 

I usually dont throw top water pre-spawn, but I have had random luck with a POP R in shallow north sides of my lake mid day.....I am a believer that some fish just live shallow.  

If it's sunny mid-day, they may do it at those temps.  For largemouth I don't bother until it's at about mid-high 50s, and even then subsurface stuff still seems to work better until it gets into the 60s.

I like a walking bait with a slower, steadier retrieve than I use during the warmer months.

14 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like a walking bait with a slower, steadier retrieve than I use during the warmer months.

This right here.   I start earlier than alot of folks with top water baits.  I really like the subwalks, smaller walking baits, wake baits early in the season.  Wake baits have really done well for me this past year in the spring...I just give it a slow and steady go

Twitchin' a size 13 original Rapala minnow and the size 9 jointed original Rapala minnow.

With water temps in the 40's, topwater for Brown Bass is rarely my 1st, 2nd or even 3rd option.

However 50 degrees is sort of the cut off for me but that's often dependent on any current / recent cooling or warming trend.

Water that's warming up & through 50, can inspire some surface action.

And times when it's swinging the other way can shut it down for me.

Prevailing wind direction, speed & duration can also play a role.

A-Jay

 

 

Never caught a smallmouth shallow enough in the 40s to think about using a topwater. One time at a pond, largemouth were biting my jerk bait as soon as it hit the water, so I tried a topwater. Temps were right around 40, but I think this was a fluke. 

Every year we have a Valentine buzzbait bite! 

 

It's more about the bass being shallow & aggressively feeding than water temperature.

 

Except this year ?

A chrome spro rat size 30 will absolutely get chewed pre spawn. 

On 2/19/2021 at 1:57 PM, J Francho said:

Never caught a smallmouth shallow enough in the 40s to think about using a topwater. One time at a pond, largemouth were biting my jerk bait as soon as it hit the water, so I tried a topwater. Temps were right around 40, but I think this was a fluke. 

Nah man, it was a topwater, a fluke is something entirely different lol

On 2/19/2021 at 4:54 PM, A-Jay said:

With water temps in the 40's, topwater for Brown Bass is rarely my 1st, 2nd or even 3rd option.

However 50 degrees is sort of the cut off for me but that's often dependent on any current / recent cooling or warming trend.

Water that's warming up & through 50, can inspire some surface action.

And times when it's swinging the other way can shut it down for me.

Prevailing wind direction, speed & duration can also play a role.

A-Jay

 

 

I saw your pics on storing baits with rubber bands.  You simply need more lures.  Come on, A-Jay!

A friend of mine caught his PB smallie in February on a popper. I was pretty shocked.

On 2/20/2021 at 5:53 PM, Sphynx said:

Nah man, it was a topwater, a fluke is something entirely different lol

The bait was a floating jerk bait, like a Rogue or something similar, not a plastic fluke, lol. 

the spring bite is less about the current water temp and much more about the water temp multi-day trend.  I want to be there on the 3rd day of a 3 day warm-up... at any temp.

 

oe

12 hours ago, J Francho said:

The bait was a floating jerk bait, like a Rogue or something similar, not a plastic fluke, lol. 

It was a poorly executed play on words by me, you seem to have gotten the idea for all that.

My PB 6.9 was in 55 degree water on a whopper plopper! Only thing they would bite. Fished 10 hours with out a fish. Then tried my new WP and had a 20lb bag of smallies in short time 

I thought you took the fluke part serious. Ha!

Well...he wasn't big, but I got one on the fly rod yesterday with a popper, nothing I know that you can do with your trousers on rates as that much fun as far as I'm concerned. 

Late in the season, I'll throw a popper until the water is around 45 degrees or even less. Early in the season, it seems to take until the water hits 50.

My wife got a huge hookup on a Whopper Plopper 60 on Easter. So there's that.