What is 1 top-water lure you would choose if you could only pick 1 and had to catch fish on it.

Black buzzbait you can fish it any time any place any where and it will catch fish plus you just chuck and wind not hard to work

I agree the black buzz-bait is my favorite top water heck it is probably my favorite lure.

I haven't tried a black buzz bait, but in stained to dirty water with vegitation i love throwing a charteuse buzz (buzz king).  I open water I like Excalibur pop'n Image/jr

My number one topwater bait is a Storm Chug Bug in the Bass pattern, The 3/8 ounce size. I like this bait be cause it casts well and you can walk the dof with it as well as pop it. Im aware of the fact that there are other baits out there that can do the same but I prefer the Chug Bug. The  biggest fish I've caught on it is a 6.5 pound Large Mouth on it.

I would say a scum frog. My favorite color is a brown body with chartreuse legs.

Jitterbug for me.

Spit'n image

Zaraspook, I have caught bass from 4" to 9.29 # on it. There is nothing like the blow-up a big bass makes on one. ;D

          Lucky Craft Sammy in chartruse shad, the next smallest size. This tricky topwater drives bass nuts.

Just about any walking bait like the Spook or Spittin' Image. I used to make a good wooden one back when good walking baits were scarce.

One of my all time favorites was a little known bait made my Rebel about 12 years ago called the Jumpin' Minnow.  It was the small size (3/8 oz.) and the only color that I could get to walk right was the shore minnow color.  I have no idea why a color helped balance the bait better. This bait had one very loud ball in it that drove the fish crazy.  You could hear the sharp click 40 feet away from the boat. Always looking for another. I wore out the two that I could find.

Heddon baby torpedo

My number one topwater bait choice in open water would be a Zara Spook.

In weedy and brushy areas.  The buzzbait would be my number one choice.

Jitterbug for sure!

Yeppers, gotta love a black buzz bait and a grass frog.

Hook 'em hard

Snag

Definely a popper, lots of vegetation (scum frog), also if there are lots of lillies or scum use a rubber worm weightless and reel it in across the top of the water and you will see results as good as using any other topwater lure.

#1 for numbers, Heddon Torpedo

As you add to your collection, these are the topwater lures I would recommend for catching quality fish:

Heddon Zara Spook (5" 7/8 oz)

Lucky Craft Sammy (4" 1/2 oz)

For smaller lures like the Torpedo I recommend using a medium action, medium power spinning combo. For the larger, heavier lures a medium action, medium heavy or heavy power baitcasting combo.

For me it's a buzz bait (usually black and blue), scum frog and bass rat.  Yea I know that's 3 not 1 but oh well!

Black Jitterbug at night in summer.