Topwater Baits 101

The topwater bait is no doubt the most fun way to catch bass. Over the last century topwater baits have probably hooked more anglers than any other kind of fishing lure. When used under the right circumstances these baits can consistently bring bass in all day long. I hope this article will have you throwing more topwater water baits as you search for summer bass.
Topwater baits can be used throughout the fishing season for bass, but they really take hold in the hot summer months. There are many types of topwater baits you can throw at bass, but they all have more productive times and places, like many other bass lures. Let’s dive in and see what you should be throwing at your favorite bass fishing spot.

Buzzbaits

These baits are probably the most popular and easiest topwater bait to throw. These baits excel when the sunlight is minimal and while it is raining. They work well anywhere that the weeds aren’t too thick. These are awesome around wood and in open water too. Simple is the real appeal to these baits, throw them as far as you can and reel them in so they “buzz” along the top. Like any bass lure they come in a huge selection of colors and are effective when the wind is blowing or when it is calm. Most rod/reel combos will handle throwing a buzzbait, again making it simple and a great all-around lure for some topwater action.

Pop-R and Prop Baits

These small finger shaped baits are a blast when the water is calm. There is definitely a learning curve to working these baits correctly. Each size and brand of these particular baits are a little different, so there is no one way to do things. These baits come with typically two treble hooks, so casting in and around objects is key to keeping your baits from getting snagged up.

A medium action spinning or baitcasting rod will help you work these baits correctly and land your bass. Each bait will offer a surface commotion that bass love to seek out when the water is calm. The best tip I can give you is to twitch the rod to make these baits “pop” and “spin”. You will find out as you work these baits that the more gentle twitch, the better these baits will respond. These baits are a slow moving bait as you pause between twitches, as much as 10 or 30 seconds, depending on the mood the fish are in.

Walking baits

By far the most advanced topwater bait on the market. These are not easy to learn and requires many hours to get the right cadence with your rod to make them move as they should. A medium action rod, or medium/heavy action rod with a softer tip is required to get the proper walking action out of your bait. With each small twitch of your bait the lure will swing from side to side on the surface, driving the bass crazy below.

Like the previous baits, these lures have two or three treble hooks, so pinpoint casting around objects and weeds is a must. Shad and bluegill colors seem to dominate the color selections of these baits. Once you master the proper rod twitch you will love working these baits and waiting for that topwater explosion. Set the hook the lightly and have your drag ready for some line peeling as these bigger topwater baits attract the big ones!

Toads

These rubber baits are a great backup idea when the bass are missing your buzzbait offering. A toad is a solid body of rubber molded so that the legs kick behind it. You slide the toad on the hook much like you would a work or crawdad type of bait. Cast it out and reel it back slowly for a less obtrusive topwater bait. Weighted hooks can be used for these baits to add casting distance or if the water has a little bit of chop on it. These work great around any cover including heavy weeds as the single extra wide gap hook should be skin-hooked back into the toad making it snagless. You can pause these baits and allow them to sink a bit driving leary bass crazy.

Hollow-Bodied Frogs

The best for last, these are my absolute favorite baits to throw for bass. These hollow bodied lures come in so many colors that it makes Crayola jealous. Many companies have floating frogs but are very different from one brand to another. There are many good frogs out there to buy, but if you are looking to purchase a few, check out the Optimum Baits Furbit Frog. These frogs have it all and allow you to hook up with as many bass as possible.

All hollow-bodied frogs are designed to work around weeds. They float in open water and stay on top of any floating weekends without snagging the weeds. Some specialized equipment is needed to properly work these baits and catch as many as you can. A medium/heavy rod should be paired with a high-speed baitcasting reel. The reel should have a minimum of 50# braided line. This rod/reel/braid combo will allow you to hook the bass when it strikes the frog and yank it out of the weeds before it can get buried in them and spit out the frog. Frogs can get a bad reputation because anglers will miss a lot bites.

The correct setup should take care of many of those missed fish, however even the best frog fishing anglers in the world still miss some bites, mostly due to the frog never getting the hooks in their mouths. It is a rush to see a bass come through the weeds and blast a frog, if you haven’t tried these you are missing out!

Summary

There you have it, the Topwater baits 101 of the many types of bait that get our blood pumping. Bass fishing is an awesome sport, but when the opportunity exists you should always try a topwater bite to make the sport of bass fishing an even bigger thrill.

by Todd Reed

Home – Iowa Sportsman

August 2020

Check Out this Topwater fishing article with a different insight – Topwater Fishing – The Iowa Sportsman