Fishing with Top Water Lures

There are few things as exciting as seeing a bass explode through the surface of a river and devour a top water lure. Even the most experienced fisherman will feel a shot of adrenaline watching the spectacle of a fish hitting on a top water lure. When fished properly, and at the proper time, surface lures can quickly fill a stringer.

The prime times of the year to fish top water lures is early spring when the water is just warming up or fall when fish are bulking up for the long winter. As waters begin to warm in the spring bass and other game fish will move into shallower waters to look for food and to prepare for spawning. In the fall bass and other game fish will spend longer amounts of time in these shallow water areas as they are quickly heated by the sun. Fish appear to feed more this time of year as winter is just around the corner.

When fishing these shallow water areas remember that as the water is not very deep and is preferably clear the fish can see movement above the water. If fishing from a boat stay back a good distance and cast into the area. If fishing from the bank try to cast from secluded locations blocked by brush or other cover. Be mindful of your shadow falling across the targeted waters as well.

Bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, like to lie in cover and watch for a meal to pass by. Cast near submerged logs, vegetation, etc. and reel your lures past these structures. Don't just cast once and move on. Bass can be finicky eaters and will wait until the presentation is just right before attacking its prey.

If you have fished a good area a few times with your lure with no results switch to something different. While much has been written about color and size selection in lures the truth is that fish seem to hit whatever they want on a certain day. Some rules of thumb to start with is smaller lures in clear and calm water, larger and darker lures in cloudy or choppy water.

A key trick to successful top water fishing is to move the lure steadily through the strike. Don't immediately set the hook when the water splashes, just keep reeling until you feel the definite 'thud' of the fish pulling on the line and set the hook.

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