A topwater fishing lure or walker is a type of surface fishing lure, usually floating just at the water surface, that may be moved about the surface of water in order to attract and cause fish to attempt to strike the lure.

What does a topwater lure do?

They are particularly effective fishing techniques where long bomb casts and a lot of drawing power are helpful, as these baits can be thrown a long way and the loud plop of the tail churning water is capable of drawing a fish to it from a long-distance or from deeper water.

Do top water lures float?

Top water lures come in all shapes and sizes, and in most cases float. The bulk of them are made of hard plastic and are equipped with treble hooks. Treble hooks help increase your chances of having a fish get and stay hooked when they strike, since bass can often miss a topwater lure, or barely hit it.

What does top water mean in fishing?

Top water fishing uses top water lures -- designed to float above the surface of shallow water. Lures are cast upon the surface to mimic the noise and shape of insects, small fish or other food bass prey on. The presence of bass close to the surface makes for an exciting hunt.

Is crankbait good for bass?

Crankbaits are some of the most powerful bass lures, because anglers can cover a large amount of water in little time when fishing a crankbait. Often, bass fishers use crankbaits to scout unfamiliar waters quickly and find the areas with the most bass.

Topwater Lures: Best Tips For More Topwater Strikes

44 related questions found

What makes a good topwater rod?

Rod/Reel/Line: Use a longer 7 or 7 ½ foot medium heavy power rod, and a fast 7.1:1 reel spooled with 15 pound monofilament or 30 pound braided line for this topwater fishing technique. How: Make long casts past the structure you're fishing, and get the bait walking by twitching your rod tip while reeling up the slack.

How do you fish with topwater?

STEPS TO TOPWATER FISH

1. You can use topwater lures such as poppers, which have a concave face that makes a big splash when you jerk the lure sharply on the surface.
2. Cast the lure to your desired location, then reel in using a retrieval motion that mimics a fish's meal.

What time of year is best for topwater?

Most topwater fishing for bass occurs in the summer, but it can also be very productive in spring and fall. Topwater lures are less productive when the water is cold and bass are less aggressive. Here are the prime conditions and circumstances in which you might try fishing with topwater lures: Early Morning.

What do bass do after a cold front?

As the air temperature cools from a cold front, the surface temperature of the water will also begin to cool. This will force bass in shallow water to seek holding areas in deeper water where the temperature will be warmer.

What lures to use in summer?

5 Best Summer Bass Lures: Warm Weather Favorites

• Plastic Worms. During the heat of summer bass will often move to cooler, shady areas near the bottom of the water column. ...
• Skirted Jigs. ...
• Spinnerbaits. ...
• Lipless Crankbaits. ...
• Topwater Frogs.

When should I start throwing topwater?

In a nutshell, the best time for throwing topwater baits is post spawn, in late spring. The reason for this is because they just went through a phase of little feeding, so they are very aggressive. They are starving and looking for food. They will eat any bait that looks like an easy catch.

Are whopper Ploppers good for bass?

Bass tend to follow Whopper Ploppers at times, and the tiny spot of color gives them a good aiming point. ... Don't “play them out.” When fighting fish on the Whopper Plopper, particularly in the bigger sizes like the 130mm and 190mm, do not play the fish out.

Do you use weights with topwater lures?

Yes. You can use weights with lures, but you need to keep in mind how much weight you should add and if it matches your fishing style. ... There are several reasons why you might need to add weight to your lure or get your hands on a fishing sinker: Weights enhance your lure's anchoring ability.

Is topwater good in spring?

Early spring is a great time to cast topwater lures for big bass. These fish will strike surface baits well before most anglers realize they will.

Are bass spawning in Ohio?

Spawn. ... Not all bass spawn at the same time, but the main part of the spawn occurs from late May to mid-June, with water temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees. Largemouths seek out shallow flat areas with protective cover in which to build their nests or beds and spawn.

Do topwater lures work at night?

Topwater of all kinds are great choices for nighttime fishing. Spooks, poppers, frogs, prop baits and anything that makes a disturbance on the surface can work well. However, buzzbaits take the top prize for night fishing. ... Black is always your best color at night and make sure you use heavy 65 pound braided line.

What is a good bass fishing setup?

Bass Fishing Rigs

• CAROLINA RIGS. Carolina Rigs are Sliding Sinker Rigs created specifically as bass fishing rigs with a weedless hook and a soft plastic worm. ...
• TEXAS RIG. The Texas Rig is one of the most popular bass fishing rigs. ...
• DROP SHOT RIG. ...
• THE NED RIG.

What line do you use for walking baits?

Stick to 20- to 30-pound-test braid and 15- to 20-pound-test monofilament. A good tip for improving a walker's action is to connect the line with a split ring or a snap. The “loose” connection allows a full range of motion for the bait to walk.

What action rod do you want for topwater?

For the majority of topwater walking baits, the same rod will suffice. Both Dobyns and Mueller agree that the 733C is the rod to go with. When asked what makes it so good for topwater baits, he explained it is all due to the action. “We purposely slowed the action to make it more versatile,” he said.

Can you fish topwater with a spinning reel?

You can fish topwater lures on both baitcasting and spinning tackle. Most experienced anglers rely on baitcasting tackle for the lion's share of their topwater fishing. But spinning tackle will work fine as well. In fact, it may offer distinct advantages in windy conditions or when casting light lures.

What power does topwater have?

The best weight for a topwater rod is medium power. A medium rod is light enough to work your lure with twitches and small wrist movements, while it's also strong enough to set the hook hard.