If you are into bass fishing, you likely know that not all lures are created equal. There are lures for every situation you will come across: weeds, deep water, shallow water, murky water. Topwater baits are very versatile. We’ll show you some of the top bass fishing tips for using topwater lures.

When to use them

The best time to use topwaters are when the water is warm or cool. Deeper baits like worms are best for very cold and very hot water. If the water is above 55 degrees, a topwater will work well. They also are useful in the morning, late evening, and during the period before a storm rolls through.

Types of topwater lures

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Buzzbaits

If you are familiar with spinnerbaits, you will recognize a buzzbait. They are like the spinnerbait, but are meant to be fished on top of the water. They’re great for mid-spring to mid-fall. Because of their shape, they can be fishing through cover. Reel them in slowly, with a few pulls to make the movement look erratic. Bass can’t resist!

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Jerkbaits

These types of baits are best for water above 55 degrees. Jerkbaits tend to be long and will either have two or three treble hooks. As the name implies, when you fish these baits you should do so with a jerking motion. Do a few jerking pulls followed by a pause. These are not recommended for areas with heavy cover, as the hooks can easily get caught.

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Poppers

These strange looking lures are shaped the way they are in order to produce a popping sound on the water. This attracts the bass’s attention to the surface. It’s best to reel in a bit, and let it rest, then reel in more. There’s no need to reel a popper in too quickly. The bass need time to located the sound. To fish this lure in cover, remove the treble hooks and replace with single hooks.

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Propbaits

These are created to make noise on the water when reeled in. As the name says, the have a small prop on the back which creates the noise. This sound can cause some crazy strikes from bass.

Colors

Always a good color choice for topwaters is silver. You want the lures to match the color of baitfish. So silver, black, even some reds or oranges are good choices.

Keep up with our blog for more guides and top notch bass fishing tips. From rods and reels to lures and techniques, we’re covering all your fishing needs. No matter where you go, there’s a Waterproof Chart for your fishing needs. We have lake fishing charts for most major areas like Lake Okeechobee and Saginaw Bay.