Bass fishing with topwater baits is without a doubt the most fun
you can have fishing for large or smallmouth bass. People watch these
bass tournaments on the tube and see all these pros using plastic and
spinner baits jigs and crankbaits, forget about the fun and excitement
you get with topwater baits. Topwater baits create great action and
stories to pass on to family and fishing friends.
Bass fishing
with topwater baits is without a doubt the most fun you can have fishing
for large or smallmouth bass. People watch these bass tournaments on
the tube and see all these pros using plastic and spinner baits jigs and
crankbaits, forget about the fun and excitement you get with topwater
baits. Topwater baits create great action and stories to pass on to
family and fishing friends.
The best time I find for topwater bass
fishing is in summer, the colder the water the slower the response, and
the more you have to work that bait. Early morning and evening are best
for topwater bass fishing.
Of course weather effects your choice
of lures also, on a bright sunny day it is better to have a light wind
to go with it, a bit of a chop makes the bass less spooky. On a calm
sunny day use a heavier lure and lighter line for longer casts. Bass
tend to become real spooky in calm and clear water, so the further the
cast from you the better off you'll be.
Wind can also change the
type of topwater bait you can use I believe that when the wind comes up
you should use a smaller bait that makes a lot of noise. The larger
baits just plow through the chop, while the smaller baits ride the chop
and still make that enticing noise to get the strike you want. Also try
to fish through the troughs created by the wind.
Bass fishing
topwater baits has some of it's own quirks you want to be able to make
pinpoint casts to cover areas and make a clear retrieve. Most of your
topwater bass fishing will be done in shallow water over weed beds,
flats and around objects and shoreline cover. The majority of bass
population remains in shallow water all summer.
To fish bass with
topwater baits cast about a foot or two past your target and bring it as
close to the cover as possible. If you do not get a strike after the
first few feet reel in and try again and make another cast. Fishing
cover like this there is no need to reel the bait all the way to the
boat. Work the bait slowly to get that strike from the bass that is
hiding in the shadows and under cover. Have patience when fishing
topwater baits, let the ripples disapear, and let the bait sit a few
seconds before you make you retrieve.
When the bass strikes a
topwater bait, wait till you feel the fish before you set the hook. If
you try to set that hook when you first see the strike you'll miss more
than you will catch. I can't count the times that lure has been nocked
back towards me by the bass striking that topwater bait.
Now for
some of the most popular baits, Poppers are among the oldest of topwater
bass fishing lures. They have the dished out face with the line tie in
the middle. When retrieved they make a slash noise or "bloop" when
popped. Poppers work best in warm, calm, shallow, clear water. You get
your action from the rod tip not reeling. The harder you snap the bait
the more noise and commotion created.
Stickbaits are rounded,
hot-dog shaped lures usually plastic or wood. weighted to float nose up.
The only action they have is what the angler ads to make them work.
These baits have appeal for big bass, just using the jerk, then real up
slack and jerking again produces a good erratic side to side motion that
gets lots of attention from bass.
Propbaits are cigar shaped and
fitted with propellers on one or both ends. Propbaits can be worked fast
or slow, quiet or loud, but stop and go retrieves are best. The bass
will let you know what is best so vary your retrieve. Be sure to
experiment, propbaits are dynamite around sunken logs, lily pads, and
shallow cover. Be sure the blades on the lure run freely,
Wobblers
and Crawlers, these baits are particularly best at night or early
morning, Examples of these are the Jitterbug or the Crazy Crawler. They
make a loud plopping sound when retrieved steadily. Use a steady slow
retrieve for the best results with this bass bait.
Buzzbaits are a
little like spinnerbaits desingned to be fished on the surface. There
are two types, the opposite wire types, with the blade above the hook,
and the inline type with everything on one shaft. Excellent for clear
water, and pick up less weeds. Again experiment with your working of
this bait, twitching and vary speeds to create different noises.
Weedless
Spoons are also in this category, designed to be fished in dense cover,
either through the thickest weeds, lily pads, or grass. They go through
the toughest cover you can find. Fishing with weedless spoons for bass
you will want to be using heavy fishing tackle, rods and reels. I like
to point my rod tip at the lure on my retrieve, and again here be
patient and allow the bass to take the lure.
Now just remember,
get out there enjoy nature, fresh air and let's go fishing. When using
these tips you will improve your results and of course have more fun.
Jack Phillips has been fishing Canada coast to coast for over 50 years. Fishing fun provides solid advice for walleye,
bass fishing,
pike, muskie, a variety of trout and more. Ideas on when and where to
go on your next trip to Canada. Ice fishing tips. Delicious fish recipes
to boot!
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