Topwater Baits

[T Bartels]

Well guys here the story: My dad picked up a used 14 flatboat that he said I could paint and stencil to use at our duck hunting spot next fall. We're gonna keep it at a buddy's cabin and just bring the trolling motor with when we wanna use it. Now, I made the suggestion of using it for fishing this summer too and he said that was fine. Like i said this place is pretty shallow in most places, say no deeper than 3 foot in most spots. Early in the spring before the weeds come in it wouldn't be a problem but, later the lily pads get THICK and there are only a few actual fish able locations. So basically what I'm trying to get at is, what kind of topwater baits do you guys like??? I have a few old plastic frogs that will work ok but is there any decent new ones around?? My favorite topwater is my Jitterbug but with all the moss and scum that'll never work. I've tried buzzbaits but never really got the hang of it. So if anybody's got some hints or tips they'd be willing to share, go for it!!! Thanks for the help!!-Taylor

[harpenter]

For topwater fishing it's hard to beat a good buzz bait. I know you said you've tried them, but struggle using them. I would put some time into learning the art of using a buzz bait properly.

Another good suggestion is a chatterbait. While not top water, they are good in weedy conditions.

[Pegleg]

Taylor,
I'm down in Florida and we have weeds all the time. The only unfishable weeds i've ever seen were weeds with no water under em. :icon_biggrin: I use weightless worms t-rigged and plastic frogs t-rigged with a wide gap hook. Also try flippin the heavy weeds with jigs and t-rigged worms with a heavy pegged weight. Its realy amazing how shallow bass live when they have heavy weeds over head. :confused0024: In other words don't be afraid to fish weeds. Use heavy line and a med-heavy rod so you can pull them hogs out of the salad when you hook em. I carry a push pole in my little boat to get thru some of the weeds I fish down here.
Pegleg

[capt.kirk]

Taylor,What Pegleg said + I like the weedless rubber frog in the real
heavy cover,You may miss more than you catch But what a BLAST to
see that Hawg come up out of the water,Be careful it will learn you
how to cuss :icon_eek: Kirk

[T Bartels]

Thanks a lot guys for the help!! I'm gonna give the t-rigged worm a shots. I was reading my field & stream magazine and they had a whole page on topwater weedless lures. Got some good info outta that. Has anyone tried live frogs?? How in the world do you rig something like that?? Thanks again!!

[capt.kirk]

Taylor.just hook him in the skin behind the head.AN HANG ON!!!!!!!!:confused0068: Kirk

[T Bartels]

Taylor.just hook him in the skin behind the head.AN HANG ON!!!!!!!!:confused0068: Kirk
Will they float or swim under???

[Schoe]

Most of the time they will swim or kick around. I have had them dive for a short time but they usually come right back up.

Like Kirk said, HOLD ON and brace yourself. Schoe

[capt.kirk]

Aint it a Heart Thumping experience to have that Hawg Bust the
water wide open and Jumpin and Tail Dancin tryin to throw that
Bait out????????? :party0045: Kirk

[CrappieKeith]

Sure is.
I just love buzz baits and scumfrog's.
I do catch my fair share on plastic shad swimbaits too.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_Picture035.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=Picture035.flv)

[GotstaFish]

Nothing beats top water action on the Mississippi River in the Spring and Summer or Fall as that goes lol. Try out the new SPRO Bronzeye Frog in Tropical White on Pool 13 ;)

[gofish]

started out teachin my boys bass fishin with scum frogs.......relatively safe fer dear ole dad with them hooks bein hidden an fun fer the boys ta watch.........an snagless!!!!!! lol.....course then we have....froggie in the forest.....have ta post that story jus fer laughs

[Timotha7]

Scumfrogs! Dang I never knew what the name of those things were, but those were my
go to lure since I was a little kid riding the bike to ponds, local baitshop had them, an don't recall
they had a name on them, just hung on one of those paper cards on the wall

Could put them about anywhere short of wrapped around a tree limb an get them back

One of our favorite uses for them was when we were frogging
Dang old bullfrogs would chase them across a pond to try an bite em:icon_biggrin:

Great topwater baits

[T Bartels]

Nothing beats top water action on the Mississippi River in the Spring and Summer or Fall as that goes lol. Try out the new SPRO Bronzeye Frog in Tropical White on Pool 13 ;)

Haha, I was looking at those in the Bass Pro catalog and was like "Man, those look awesome!!"...talk about expensive tastes!!! lol I'll have one before too long though!! :sign0020:

[capt.kirk]

Experment,While im setting here waiting for warmer weather i had 1 of
them brain farts,I have a old Jitter Bug,Just in front of the back hook
in the under belly im going to put a small eyelet and attach a Beetle Spin
on about 8 inches of line to travel under the Jitter Bug for short strike
or perhaps catch a Crappie or Gill that eyes are bigger than its mouth,
Will it work,I aint got a clue??????? but its worth a try,or have i been
in the house to long :confused0024: Kirk

[ho_shi]

i prefer spinners, buzz baits and zara spooks, have had the most luck with them

[highrider]

Haha, I was looking at those in the Bass Pro catalog and was like "Man, those look awesome!!"...talk about expensive tastes!!! lol I'll have one before too long though!! :sign0020:

They get really expensive when the owls start eating them!!! :confused0056:
spro jr bronzeye frog and owls!!! LMAO True story coming soon
Rich

[capt.kirk]

Were ready for a good story Rich,glad im not the only one on here
that doing some confession!!!!!!!! :icon_eek: Kirk

[cambridgefisherman]

I like Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers myself. Also Chatterbaits are an excellent bait, I absolutely killed the bass today on that.

[Timotha7]

Saw the pictures you had up on that link, looked like a very good day on the water
When they are hitting on top water it is fun!

Tim

[SirFishALot]

I use buzzers with some soft plastic, like a Power Grub or the tail of a Power Worm, on it (to slow the sink rate....easier to keep near the surface at lower speeds) in lily pads. You can put a stinger hook on it to increase the number of hookups, but I just learned to set the hook most times. (The stingers often increase hookups with tough pad stalks.:icon_mad:) It's easy to hook up more often with a buzzer.....just don't set it when you SEE the strike, but when you FEEL the strike. I see it, drop the rod tip to the water then cross their eyes with the hookset.:icon_biggrin: The flavored plastic helps, too, by getting them to hold it longer.:evilgrin0039:

Another thing I use a lot, just today actually and with some success, is a Sluggo soft plastic jerkbait rigged weedless with no weights. It can cut across the top of the pads, walk the dog across the clear patches and even do a jerkbait "death twitch" so you can really mix it up on those bass.

Texas rigged worms and crawdad imitating jigs have worked well for me, too, although they are not topwaters like you asked.