Griz says the topwater bite has started...fall topwater lures, favorites?

[RandyFish]

Hey Guys,

Griz said that he saw good luck with Topwater....is there a specific top water lure anyone favors in the fall, or are we looking at the standards: scum forgs, hula poppers, etc.

And -- Are we dealing with top-water lures in the shallows, or do we focus on the outer edges of existing weedlines?

RandyFish

[blakjack23]

I had some luck this past weekend with a ZaraSpook. Saw a bunch of baitfish being stirred up so I threw it out. Caught two fish right away but nothin after that. Spinnerbaits were working so good I didnt' need to bother experimenting with anything else.

[FlipR70]

Yep, I had one of my better days this year last Saturday just north of Mille Lacs. It rained all morning & I got out as it was starting to taper off. I had a couple of small fish on spinnerbaits but saw a few fish hitting the surface.

I switched to a black buzzbait & caught a 5'12 oz pike within about 6 casts (it was a start). During the afternoon, I picked up 4 bass between 2lbs 15 oz & 3lbs 1 oz. I also picked up one that was 3lbs 12oz in about 4 hours of fishing not to mention the other smaller fish. I found that you had to move the buzzbait as slow as possible but keep it on the surface and they would swirl on it but not many missed. Water temp was between 60 & 63 degrees.

Not a bad afternoon of fishing,

FlipR70

[Skitterpop]

Was out on Saturday and the wind did not help out too much with the topwater bite. In the calm areas I had the best success on a clown (yellow body/red head) Skitterpop- my favorite topwater bass bait. I was sad to find out rapala quit making this color pattern of skitterpop. Largest smallmouth was 19" on the skitter. Can't wait to go back Sat. This was in NW Otter Tail County. In the windy areas I had fantastic success with the xrap.

[montanagriz]

I like anything in the baby bass color. I always seem to do well with that pattern. A couple of my favorites are the original Pop-R and the Bill Dance Spittin Image (Baby Bass & Shad)

[buzzin for bass]

where do you all cast the popper baits? open water, near submerged trees, pockets in weeds?

[Deitz Dittrich]

BFB-- I go with D) all of the above...

It really depends on the lake and the species your after. If after largies in a lake that is quite stained. Then you better be casting at something. Logs, docks, wees.. just something... If your fishing smallies in clear water, well you can cast a pop-r in 35 feet of water no problem and they will come up and chase it. Will a largie?.. NO WAY!!!!

A topwater bait is a tool, knowing when to thow it and when to throw something else is a part of the battle we as bass fishermen face everyday!

[buzzin for bass]

Makes sense, thanks.

[Bobby Bass]

Been out the last two nights great weather except for the strong winds. When is the last time you can say you went fishing on the 1st of Oct. in shorts and a tee shirt? slow going till about 6:30 then I found a topwater bite on the North shore of a lake I was fishing. Several bass and a few northerns and they were good hard hits. Hoping I can get a nice day here without the winds to fight. It just don't seem right to be putting the boat on the trailer in darkness at 7:15 pm

[Slyster]

where were you fishing? Near shore? Deep? Weed bed? etc..

[Bobby Bass]

I spring fish in the fall by that I mean I go fish like I fish in the spring I slow down search for the warmest water which yesterday was on the wind blown North shore. Not much of a dock pattern to fish up here as most of the docks have been taken out. Those that are still in I pitch a worm at. Very little green between the docks so as I travel along the shoreline I slow roll a spinnerbait. I am using a 1/8 spinner which is small but am adding a 3" pearl white Gulp as a trailer. Every Bass that has hit it has taken the entire bait so they must like what they see/taste. All my topwater catches have been with either a jitterbug or a devilhorse both in a frog pattern. The thing about them as we found out right away was long casts produced the fish. I think with the green gone they are a little skitish to the boat. Only was out for 2 hrs last night. Went straight to good spots did not work any place which I had not caught spring fish before. My advice is slow down, bulk up and cast far..