Fishing Tackle: How to Choose the Topwater Lures?

If you want to have a trip of topwater bass fishing, the most important thing is to choose the right topwater lures. There are many kinds of topwater fishing lures in the tackles store, so it is very difficult to simplify your selection process. If you don’t want our effort in vain, you’d better consider the advices of the experienced people.

We usually divide the topwater lures into following types: walkers, poppers, wakebaits, minnows baits, prop baits, buzzbaits and frogs. Different types are suitable for different conditions, today we will talk about the topwater walking and topwater popper, and they are the most common lures people use in the topwater fishing.

1. The walkers of topwater fishing

Topwater walking baits have a slender baitfish profile, and move in a sashaying, “back and forth” action referred to as “walking the dog.” They create a tremendous surface commotion, and draw interest from bass at a great distance. For that reason, they are ideal when you’re fishing in open water areas, and any time you need to cover water to locate feeding bass. They are also ideal for targeting schooling bass, as they can be cast a mile and fly straight every time.

As we have said before, different types are suitable for different conditions. You can use a walker under the following conditions:

1) When the bass you fish are big: Walking topwaters are very effective

when you catch the big bass, because they are the great bait for big bass.

2) When the water is calm: Walking baits are best in slick or slightly rippled

water. Big noise will spook the fish in the calm water, walking topwaters usually have a more subtle, gliding action and can make less noise.

3) Schooling bass: When you see bass schooling in open water and blowing

up everywhere, you need to have a walking bait in your hand. They cast so much better than others, so you can reach fish 40 yards away from you. They also emulate a fleeing shad very well, which triggers a schooling bass’ instinct to attack.

2. The Popper of topwater fishing

Topwater poppers feature a flat or concave face, and a baitfish profile. By twitching and jerking the rod, these topwater baits create a splash and popping sound that drives bass crazy. Because they are most effective when worked relatively slowly, poppers are ideal for target fishing in shallow water. They can also be casted very accurately, which means they are easy to place gently next to a stump, laydown, or grass line.

The appropriate scenarios of using a popper are:

1) When you want to catch the bass for numbers: Topwater poppers will

catch a lot of bass in the fall when other presentations fall short, you’ll still catch a big one every now and then, but it’s a great option for filling your limit.

2) When the water is choppy: In the windy days, the water is choppy, and it

you still use thewalking topwaters, it will be hard for the bass to see the lures . Poppers can help the bass know exactly where the lure is.

3) When the water temperature is decreased: When the water temperatures

dip down into the low 60s or high 50s, it’s hard to beat a popper. The bass aren’t as active in this temperature range, so a slow presentation is essential. You have to be patient because some of your best bites will come on a long pause.

Here are the main difference between the walking topwaters and poppers, and I think you’d better prepare both of them at home, and experience the different styles of topwater fishing.