Propbaits are some of the most exciting topwater lures for bass fishing. You can use a steady wind-in retrieve or a twitch and pause technique. The twitch and pause technique tends to work much better as most bass will hit the lure on the pause.
Buzzbaits are one of the most exciting topwater lures to use because the explosions can be absolutely incredible. This is a lure that attracts aggressive bass and it works very well during the early morning and evening hours.
Chuggers (Poppers) are very popular among topwater bass anglers. These lures can be retrieved with a quick twitch and stop motion when bass are aggressive. When bass are not as aggressive, but still willing to hit a topwater lure, a stop and go retrieve with longer pauses will do the trick to call largemouth bass up to the surface.
Floating soft plastic baits, such as the Biffle O’ Lizard featured above, can work well as topwater lures for largemouth bass fishing. I recommend using the baits that are a little larger because it allows you to cast them farther. There are several manufacturers that make lizards, worms and other soft plastic baits that float. These baits can be worked on the surface as topwater lures and largemouth bass love them. The big advantage of using these baits as topwater lures is that you can pause it at any time and the weight of the hook will bring it below the surface. This is an option that you don’t have with most of the hard bait topwater lures on the market. Some bass will be drawn to the noise of the bait on the surface and as it falls below the surface, that’s a great time to strike.
Soft Plastic Frogs work great for fishing over lily pads or a variety of different weeds. The morning and evenings are great times to fish topwater frogs, but you can go into some heavy cover during the middle of the day and get some bass to come up for these lures.
Soft Plastic Mice work great for fishing over lily pads or a variety of different weeds. The morning and evenings are great times to fish topwater mice, but you can go into some heavy cover during the middle of the day and get some bass to come up for these lures.
Crawlers can be very productive during daytime hours, but this is one of the best topwater lures for night fishing. Bass can easily follow this lure’s steady but slow retrieve at night better than they can follow some of the other topwater lures. When using this lure at night, expect to get some bites right next to the boat or the shoreline.
Stickbaits provide an exciting walk-the-dog motion along the top of the water. This retrieve mixed in with a pause will draw aggressive bass from far to see what is causing all of the commotion. Bass will attack stickbaits very aggressively.
