My Topwater Blues!!

[Bassin101]

Ok guys/gals...your challenge should you choose to accept it.   I have little luck ever fishing topwaters , and this stuff is in my box.   Zara Spooks, Baby Zaras, Rebel Pop R's, Various size Torpedo's, Spittin Image, Jitter bug etc.  Occasionally they will roll near the bait but not hit.  I have used  a small piece of worm as trailer.  I have used scent.  

You got my spinnerbait working, now I am in need of a topwater Extreme Makeover LOL...Help ;D

[Skeeter6598]

Stop fishing becuase you are just struck with bad luck. LOL! ;D just kidding.

All of the baits you mentioned will work great but the biggest problem people have with topwaters is that they want to set the hook when they see the fish explode on the bait. The is a Big NO NO! Do not set the hook until you FEEL the fish. Other wise you just jerk it away from him.

If the fish blows up on the bait and you don't feel him just keeping working the bait and don't stop or reel in, in a hurry. Chances are he'll come back on the bait. If he doesn't come back on it, have a fluke or some kind of soft plastic tied on and follow up a strike with the fluke or soft plastic. You'll usually get them that way!

Hope this helps!

[Bassin101]

I've heard variations of twitch, stop, twitch, twitch,wait etc.  Does the lure actually sit still or is it always moving to the boat?

[Skeeter6598]

Try many different combinations of working a topwater. You can walk the dog with the spooks stopping every now and then, or just constant motion. With your torpedo's you can retreive with a slow constant reel, or work them with a jerk and stop or the same way you would the Spooks. Same goes for all of them. Vary things around with your retreive until you find what way they like it!

[LONGEARS]

A pop "r" is my favorite lure any variation of the following should catch fish.Cast to shady side of target let the lure sit on semi slack line until ripples disapear. A small sideways wrist flick will make the lure spit or pop, repeat at varing intervals.When fish strikes count 3 seconds or feel the fish set hook with a hard sweep set.A bass or frog colour works best in my waters.

A bass will come along way for this lure,up or sideways.Take your time.Sometimes I just stop and wait.Always be prepared for the strike.Goodluck

P.S. Don't atttach anything to this lure it takes away from it's action.

[Bassin101]

Skeeter and Longears, you both mentioned waiting to set the hook, maybe I am reacting when I see the bass.  Will now wait.  Do either of you use scents?

[Skeeter6598]

No I don't use scents. Never really tried them.

Yeah waiting on the hook set is probably the single most important thing when topwater fishing. It's also what people have the most problem with. When someone sees a fish blow up on a topwater they automatically get way to excited and set the hook. You have to have patience with a topwater. When you see the fish hit it WAIT til you FEEL the fish then swat him!

[LONGEARS]

I have scents but only use them when fishing is tuff and then I am not fishing on top.Timing on top water hooksets is everthing.I think a lot of times the eye sees the bass coming and the hook set happens before the fish is there and I'm here to tell you waiting too long isn't good either.  ;D ;D

[Glenn]

Start here:

http://www.bassresource.com/fish/topwaters.html

Then follow the links at the bottom of the page.  Be sure to set aside a chunk of time to read through it all.  

Enjoy!

[flippin4it.]

        "BUZZBAITS" If your fishing a buzz bait , don't look at the lure. I have found that when I react to the sound instead of sight I don't rip the lure out of their mouths.

flippin4it

[clooney]

Ok...  We got you to start using spinnerbaits. Right? You're starting to dig them a bit I assume?  So, I am just curious why you didn't mention the "buzzbait" in your list of top waters that you use? But as far as the strike goes I agree you should be patient, make sure the fish has a good bite on it and try a hard sweeping motion rather than a big time jerk.

[Marty]

Are you fishing your topwaters at the highest percentage time, which would be warm water during low light, such as sunrise, sunset and cloudy days?

If you fish them at these times and are in the vicinity of bass, I think you'll get the hits that you say you're not getting.

[Nick_Barr]

Once you feel the fishes wieght then set the hook.

[Boo]

If you get frustrated with poppers or spooks, switch to a BUZZBAIT. Just reel steadily until fish grabs on the bait, then set the hook. Buzzbaits are easy to fish and also catch bigguns!!!!! ;D

[tritonman]

Patience is the key, wait until the fish starts pulling set the hook. If you are still haveing problems, take a look at your hooks, you may want to replace them or sharpen them.

[squid]

Patience is the key, wait until the fish starts pulling set the hook. If you are still haveing problems, take a look at your hooks, you may want to replace them or sharpen them.

This coming from a guy who loses to me on top water...lol....stick to your spinnerbait Tritonman...lol...you are going down...lol

[Bassin101]

Clooney, I did not mention Buzz's because I have been catching with them.

Marty, maybe I need to get on the water earlier and stay later...low light periods.  

[bassinchik]

I have found that top water jerkbaits are really a "reaction bait".  If you throw it enough over the place where you know there are bass, they will eventually hit.  Stay with it for a while..don't give it up and change baits or colors so quickly.  

Topwater baits are working well down here in south Mississiippi already (began in March).  We have caught 10+ bass weghing 5-13 lbs already!

[playmaker47]

well first of all make sure you arent fishing your topwaters too fast. the slower the better. also most of the topwaters have lots of treble hooks which doesnt require much if any hard hooksets. usually just pulling back a little will hook the fish. also if a bass boils at it try just stoping the bait, because sometimes a bass will attack it to get rid of it not to eat it, and if it boils at it the fish could just be trying to get rid of the lure, so stopping the bait makes the fish think it killed or stunned the lure, then it can go eat an easy meal.

[Rattlinrogue]

I am Bassinchik's hubby and I second her post.We catch a lot of quality bass on a floating hard jerkbait(like Rogues,Rapalas,etc.)You can use it as a topwater bait.You can jerk and rip it just under the surface.You can also reel it in like a crankbait.I catch a lot of quality fish this way.You gotta get there before daylight and fish the 1st two hours of daylight for best results.Late afternoon not too bad either.

[Bassin101]

I'll give the jerkbaits a try tonight.  With a few exceptions, I have not been very successful with them either.  Probably, because it is not a bait I am confident with, I do not stay with as long as I should.   Learning curve...you know ;D

[GobbleDog]

I love topwater lures.  My favorites: Zara Puppy (just the right size), Spitt'n Image, and basically any type of popper. 2 points of advise:

1 - Like the poster said before, NEVER set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish.

2 - After each cast, count to 15 and let the ripples go away. I once read that the biggest mistake anglers do with top-water baits is they work them way too fast. Give it a quick twitch and let it sit. Then walk the dog for a second or two... and let it sit.  Keep changing it up and keep letting it come to a full stop for a few seconds.