Whats your go to bait early in the morning? Soft plastics, cranks, buzz, spinner, topwater, etc.?

i like to throw a topwater popper.

If I'm beating the banks it's topwaters almost every time.If there is a significant grass line,I will probably throw a horny toad parallel to it.Then adjust as the sun comes up.

Depends on cover my favorite though are a buzzbait or a weightless stick bait.

Bone colored Yellow Magic is the first thing that hits the water for me this time of year, especially if I see shad rising and fish busting.

super spook and a spro frog - just too exciting to pass up

Nice, I would have to say my 3 most favorite would be:
1.Ribbit Frog
2.Yellow Magic
3.Buzzbait

Although I watch a lot of tournaments on t.v. and see the pros reaching for the crankbaits and pulling off the bank around first light and hammering em! I have a tough time understanding that because at first thing in the morning I love using topwaters and beating the bank...can anyone explain exactly how they are catching them out there and why they often choose that rather than tossing a topwater in shallow water?

Depends on the cover and the time of the year. I've caught deep fish on Topwater.

I would suspect that they are trying to locate the fish first. You can burn a crank bait more effectively and faster than say a frog. Once they locate the fish they probably change baits and fish that area hard. JMO

Spro and Ribbit or LF Tackle frogs

Spook or crankbait with crank getting the job done lately.

YM FTW!

Super Spook or Buzz bait for me depending on the cover

tx rigged chigger craw. It is hard to pass on the topwater bite, but this time can be good for soft plastics. If looking for fish as stated, I employ a chatter bait or shallow CB.

Buzz Baits or Spinnerbaits!!! Anytime of year too!! But that bite for me ends pretty quick!! Then is backin off drops and ledges by about 8 with Shakey Heads and T-Rigs!!