pre spawn, spawn topwaters?

[apegs]

I was wondering what other peoples succes is with top waters during pre spawn and spawn. I have been reading alot about top waters recently and tried it out on sunday. Not much luck except one little guy. I was throwing a rapala floating minnow. Whats your guys expierence with top waters in this phase of the bass season? And what do you throw?

[Tator2k]

I lilypads and over heavy veg. I'll toss a seismic toad.

[mnmuskie]

scum frogs and sproll frogs. poppers usually are better. Went out sunday with bro and landed 50 to 60 most between 2 and 4 pounds.

[apegs]

scum frogs and sproll frogs. poppers usually are better. Went out sunday with bro and landed 50 to 60 most between 2 and 4 pounds.

what depth were you fishing, what time of day? were the fish pre spawn still? I want to know if this is effective for pre spawn and spawn.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I dont throw topwater till the surface temps reach 75+ degrees. Maybe I am missing out on something.. But I think there are better ways to get them when the water is cool.

[Mike_Top]

I found 66 degree water on a north metro lake yesterday (memorial day), and caught a dozen 1 and 2 lb'ers in 3-6 feet. I was throwing small suspending fat cranks and lipless cranks. With the 66 degree water and the fact that they were chasing cranks makes me believe they are post-spawn and aggressive.....I'm no expert so I could be wrong. In the past I've only used topwaters in the summer early in the morning and at dusk. It was so windy yesterday that I didn't even consider topwaters..

[thatoneguy]

i did very well early Sunday AM using a Jawbreaker on the surface to locate fish and catch the aggressive ones, then moving in with a jig to pick off a few more. Water temp was only abut 59 when I started.

[H0LE HOPPER]

honestly love fishing topwaters... pounded em this weekend on a ribbit frog and zara spooks water temp was only 61-65 most caught in the m orning otherwise a favorite would be just use a weedless worm and go through thick cover. Good luck

[ShoreGuy1984]

I usualy have more success with topwaters after the spawn, but thats just me. Ill still throw them out though. The best popper out there is the Rebel P66 Super Pop-R. This thing is unbeleivable. they are very very hard to find though. I think they are discontuned.

[Mike_Top]

The best popper out there is the Rebel P66 Super Pop-R. This thing is unbeleivable. they are very very hard to find though. I think they are discontuned.

I've got a pop-R, its a good one...but I'd give the nod to the Storm Chug Bug. I like it because its got a long thin body that easily can do the walk-the-dog, or can be popped. I've got one that is super hacked up, its caught hundreds of bass over about 6 years of heavy use. Surprising I haven't lost it yet. Knock on wood...

[Nick Kuhn]

You can get them during the spawn, I like to throw them through bullrushes. Usually it's just small aggressive males though. Can be lots of action, but not much size.

[scott b]

My biggest Bass ever came on a black Jitterbug while I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes at dusk in early June. 7 lbs. Saw her earlier that day and she would not hit. 3-4ft. Have caught pre-spawn shallow in the morning. On a side note, I give the nod to the Pop-R.

[Gekhang]

caught a 4lber prespawn on a live target frog in about 2-3fow towards sunset.

[RK]

DD - you're missing out Muskie guys say the same thing about topwaters not working in cold water. My response is "what that's appealing about a topwater at 75 degrees would make it unappealing at 60?" Different species, but I've caught muskies on topwaters in 39 degree water in November, and on opening day in the spring. We all catch all kinds of bass early in the season on stuff that runs 2" down...

I will say that early in the season I do better on more subtle topwaters (this is consistent with muskies in cold water, incidentally). Stuff like pencil poppers, small, subtle walk the dog baits - A LC Gunfish rather than a Sammy - subtle poppers, prop baits like the Boy Howdy (sorry, Wayne... )... Stuff like that vs. a bigger, louder hard bait or buzzbait. A tube with a piece of styrofoam stuffed in it on a light wire hook is good too.

Topwaters can be great around bluegill spawning beds...

[Fever]

Water temp last night (first night of league fishing) was 63-64degrees. Top water moss mouse and scum frogs in 2-3 fow were working as was wake baits and spinner baits. We (partner and I) caught 15 or so fish in 3 hours. Our best three though were two 15's and one 14.5 incher. We ended up with 6th place out of 13 boats. From what I heard all people were shallow and most were throwing topwater. All we really needed was that nice kicker. I actually missed one on my first cast of the night (unexpected). casting a spinnerbait in 4-5 foot of water she hammered it after just a few cranks and before I could drop my rod tip she jumped and shook the hook about 20-30 feet from the boat. Looked to be about 18-19 inches or so. Dang... winning weight of 3 bass was 9lbs 6oz, then 9.2, 8.9, 5.4, 5.3, then we had 5.2 lb for 6th place means 5 teams beat us but also that we beat 7. Just trying to stay possitive.