Big Topwaters, Big Bass
From walkers to poppers, there are plenty of effective surface baits for bass. The focus of this blog is using above-average sized surface lures to catch big largemouth and smallmouth bass. Let’s dive in.
WHERE TO FISH SURFACE LURES FOR BASS
Topwaters work best when bass are alert to overhead disturbances. This means surface lures are great for fishing shallow bass habitat, such as bays, flats, shorelines, points and reefs.
Surface lures can also catch bass positioned high in the column over deep water. For instance, smallmouth chasing baitfish in lake basins will strike a splashing topwater fished around secondary lake points, islands and humps.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FISH TOPWATERS FOR BASS
Surface baits reign supreme in low light. Early morning and later in the evening are prime times. Overcast skies are good as well. A bit of chop on the water to diffuse light penetration can also get a topwater bite going.
There are exceptions, of course. On sunny days, largemouth lurking in cover will strike a weedless Walking Frog and ripping a X-Rap Prop can catch shallow smallmouth.
WHY BASS LOVE BIG TOPWATER LURES
Big baits gets noticed by big fish. A large topwater creates a lot of commotion, attracting fish from further away. A substantial bait working across the surface also spells an easy, belly-filling meal for smallmouth and largemouth bass.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BIG TOPWATER LURES FOR BASS
Owning a collection of different topwaters lures will serve you well throughout the fishing season. Here are a few must-haves to stockpile in your RapStack Tackle Trays.
At 4.75 inches, this lure has a hard-cutting action bass can’t resist. It’s ideal for rapid cadences when searching wide areas, but effective, too, for picking apart tight structure.
Stainless steel props produce substantial splashing, churning, spitting and gurgling with the slightest tug. Straight reeling and shredding retrieves work well with an X-Rap Prop — and at 4-3/8” it’s a certified big-bass bait.
The 3-1/8” Arashi Cover Pop fishes big for its size. Its popping, slashing and chugging surface action has excellent drawing power. Perfect for fishing docks, laydowns, rocks and other targets where colossal bass live.
Weedless, hollow body frogs slide across pads, mat and other heavy cover with exceptional efficiency. There are many frogs out there, but the Walking Frog, Poppin’ Trash Panda and Walkin’ Trash Panda are in a league of their own for evoking strikes from big fish.
Stainless steel makes this buzzbait 30% more bend resistant than traditional buzzbaits, which means you can rip it through vegetation and roll past wood without getting snagged. A flat head design gets it on top of the water fast and keeps this buzzbait on the surface, even during a very slow retrieve.
TIPS ON HOW TO FISH BIG SURFACE LURES FOR BASS
- A fast retrieve with a topwater is an excellent tactic for covering water. It’s also very effective at triggers reaction strikes from big fish.
- Slow to moderate retrieves can sometimes be better, though, on lakes receiving heavy angling pressure, but try various speeds and let the fish tell you what they want.
- Leaving a floating topwater still for a couple seconds following splashdown is a tried-and-true tactic. Interested bass that don’t strike the motionless bait often eat within seconds of the retrieve beginning.
- Replacing a topwater’s factory treble with a Bladed Hybrid Treble adds subtle strike-triggering flash and vibration, and will get you more bites.
- Use a swimbait for a trailer to bulk-up buzzbaits.
- A loop knot amplifies a Skitter V’s quick turning action and overall performance.
- Use Sufix Advance Monofilament when prioritizing stretch and shock absorption.
- Don’t set the hook at the sight of a splash. Reel down until the rod loads up and you feel the fish’s weight, then sweep the rod and drive the hooks home.
Big baits catch giant bass, so make sure your gear is up to snuff. The Meta and Omen Black rods are a good place to start to elevate your topwater fishing equipment, but there’s plenty of 13 Fishing rods and reels available at rapala.ca or find them at your local tackle retailer.