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When to Top Water #13509967 04/09/20 02:32 PM
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BassCrash Offline OP
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Nothing more exciting than having a top water bait strike... am I right? I haven’t had a top water hit in a while.

What are the ideal conditions for top water fishing? I know I’ve heard calm early mornings, but it’s been a flop for me lately. Am I to early? Is post spawn better?

Any advice?

Last edited by BassCrash; 04/09/20 02:49 PM.
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13509999 04/09/20 02:51 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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The very best topwater time is now. From the tail end of the spawn thru May is typically best. Early AM & late evening is normally the best time but if it is cloudy you can get a topwater bite any time thru the day. I caught some on a black buzzbait two weeks ago in the middle of the day. I consider a buzzbait a topwater lure.

If you are throwing it in an area where you feel there are fish present and not getting bit I would suggest you try a different bait. Sometimes prop-style baits like a Tiny Torpedo work best while other times a small popper style will be better. I'm sure you've heard about the Yellow Magic. This bait is hard to beat this time of year when the male bass are guarding fry.

Walking baits like a Zara Spook, Sammy or Gunfish are also killer when the bluegill start spawning which is from now thru May in most NTX lakes. I am sure you saw some of the MLF pros catching big fish on Fork in early March on hollow body frogs. Frogs will also work well this time of year and will typically draw a bigger bass than other lures.



Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510026 04/09/20 03:04 PM
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Topwater2 Offline
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I throw a top water 24/7/365. Yellow Magic is my go to bait backed up by Johnny Rattler, and then a frog in the grass. I find my big bass in very still, calm, undisturbed water any time of day. Some of my biggest come from old boat slips in the filthiest water you've ever seen. Throw your bait, let it sit for a bit, give it one small movement, pause, followed by two small movements and keep it in the strike zone as long as you can. I fish very, very, very SLOW and it gets the big bites. Look for places where you think they are lying and waiting to attack something. Old boat slips, next to jet ski ramps, skip under the docks, throw in thick brush and tree's with a frog. I look for lanes in the brush and throw my YM or JR as far back as I can get it and hang on. That's how I do it, hope this helps.


FishKen
Re: When to Top Water [Re: Topwater2] #13510036 04/09/20 03:09 PM
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BassCrash Offline OP
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Thanks. Good info. I’ll keep at it.

Re: When to Top Water [Re: Topwater2] #13510040 04/09/20 03:09 PM
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Hair Jig Offline
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Originally Posted by Topwater2
I throw a top water 24/7/365. Yellow Magic is my go to bait backed up by Johnny Rattler, and then a frog in the grass. I find my big bass in very still, calm, undisturbed water any time of day. Some of my biggest come from old boat slips in the filthiest water you've ever seen. Throw your bait, let it sit for a bit, give it one small movement, pause, followed by two small movements and keep it in the strike zone as long as you can. I fish very, very, very SLOW and it gets the big bites. Look for places where you think they are lying and waiting to attack something. Old boat slips, next to jet ski ramps, skip under the docks, throw in thick brush and tree's with a frog. I look for lanes in the brush and throw my YM or JR as far back as I can get it and hang on. That's how I do it, hope this helps.


This is EXACTLY what I have done for years.

I don't fish topwater all the time, but you can bet I'll always have a rod in the deck with a Devils Horse or Buzzbait rigged.

Some of my biggest fish have came on topwater baits in the heat of the day.


Healed by Grace and trying to stay that way
Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510073 04/09/20 03:26 PM
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I kind of had my idea about when it was time to start throwing a Topwater but that kind of changed when I saw so many pro's frog fishing Fork earlier this year.


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Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510122 04/09/20 03:45 PM
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dk2429 Online Content
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Topwater is good any time of day, but like most... I prefer that first light, overcast, fog coming off the water morning up in a creek. Early morning, and/or overcast is IDEAL, but they will work all day.

Best topwater there is? Heddon one knocker bone spook


Majek 22 Extreme/225 Optimax Pro XS hauled by a 2500HD Duramax



Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510124 04/09/20 03:47 PM
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i-Fish Offline
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Keith Combs throws a buzz bait year round. I’ve caught fish in the afternoon on a sunny day with a popper. Some times may be better than others but just like any other lure it may or may not get bit today but tomorrow is a different story. Always be throwing!


If you can't find em wind em.
Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510206 04/09/20 04:21 PM
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Now!


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Daytime Tournaments.


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Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510212 04/09/20 04:23 PM
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I wore them out on a frog yesterday, during the middle of the day.


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Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510216 04/09/20 04:24 PM
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Any time! But especially on windy, cloudy days, mornings, evenings, and night. I like wakebaits and frogs. The cooler and breezier, the better for wakebaits. And I’m throwing the 7-10” jointed baits, not little shallow diving crankbaits.

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“Slide”
Re: When to Top Water [Re: dk2429] #13510273 04/09/20 05:01 PM
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Walls Offline
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Originally Posted by dk2429
Topwater is good any time of day, but like most... I prefer that first light, overcast, fog coming off the water morning up in a creek. Early morning, and/or overcast is IDEAL, but they will work all day.

Best topwater there is? Heddon one knocker bone spook


+1

Re: When to Top Water [Re: Walls] #13510384 04/09/20 06:10 PM
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dk2429 Online Content
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Originally Posted by WALLS
Originally Posted by dk2429
Topwater is good any time of day, but like most... I prefer that first light, overcast, fog coming off the water morning up in a creek. Early morning, and/or overcast is IDEAL, but they will work all day.

Best topwater there is? Heddon one knocker bone spook


+1


I caught just about every kind of fish off of one, fresh and saltwater.. Trout, redfish, bass, crappie, bluegill, etc.. (Yes I have caught a bluegill on one. How he got that 1 hook in his mouth is beyond me)


Majek 22 Extreme/225 Optimax Pro XS hauled by a 2500HD Duramax



Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510542 04/09/20 07:23 PM
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Throw a top water all day. Typically mornings and evenings are better because of the shade factor, but create your own shade. Boat docks, trees, bushes etc.


Life�s a garden, dig it
Re: When to Top Water [Re: BassCrash] #13510870 04/09/20 09:43 PM
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senko9S Offline
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spawning females love a slow frog.

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