Just about every gamefish know to man will blast a topwater. Heck... even the big boys offshore come in to investigate lures trolled on the surface. If a bait skipping across the surface can draw in a prized 1,000lb plus Marlin it can surely catch a simple one pound Bass or Trout right?

The sight and sound of something breaking the surface and creating a disturbance on the water gets any fishes attention in a hurry. Most baitfish will rush to the surface when under attack from predators, at times even jumping clear out of the water to avoid being eaten - mullet are a prime example. This natural, panic type action is what topwater lures imitate so well and thus what makes them so successful to even wary gamefish in shallow, clear water. If you done any fishing at all you'll surely notice just how many hits or strikes occur on the surface of the water. Whether its a 100lb Tarpon or 1lb Trout, a noisy topwater plug will catch them. Its pretty funny to watch a Shark try to figure out how to turn upside to eat a plug darting across the surface and even bottom feeders like Redfish will chase down topwater baits with vengeance at times.

In fact topwater fishing can become almost too addictive, the rush that comes from seeing your bait get blasted often makes you attempt to set the hook too soon, thus pulling the lure out of the fishes mouth before he really has it. So, make 100% sure the fish has the lure before you yank back, the general rule is to wait until you FEEL the fish and not just see it. Once you see some good topwater strikes you want to fish these baits all day just to see them get hammered. Even if the fish jumps off or does not get hooked at all the visual are well worth the efforts - its just that much fun!

A good thing about topwaters is you can use them to scout an area quickly. If actively feeding fish are around a topwater plug will call them in. Even if they do not comment to taking the bait you'll often see a swirl, boil, or wake from a near miss. This also makes topwaters a good lure for new comers to fishing since the strike can be seen (and heard), plus its hard to drag a lure across the surface wrong - often ANY motion on top is enough. Sometimes just the bait hitting the water after the cast and sitting there will draw in the curious or very hungry fish to investigate. Even Bass which some folks consider slow and lazy are aggressive surfaces feeders when the opportunity to score an easy meal presents itself. And for schooling fish nothing beats a topwater, often the split second the lure hits the water near a pack of Jacks you'll be hooked up with one.

In low light conditions such as dawn, dusk and especially night, topwater lures are sometimes the only bait you can really use effectively since you can heard them working in the darkness. However, do not let that limit your topwater time. I throw them all day long if its overcast, cloudy or if you see activity. In fact, I always keep a topwater rigged and ready to go so that if I see something moving near the surface I can throw in its direction. It's all part of my "Six Shooter" approach to catching fish regardless of conditions.

Any lure that floats can be used as a topwater, but they are basically four types of baits each with certain actions for various conditions:

1) Chuggers or Poppers - these plugs have a cupped or flatten front (where you tie the line) that spits out water when chugged or jerked forward. My favorite is the Storm Rattling Chug-Bug, but another good one is a Rebel Pop-R or Rapala Skitter Pop. They can be worked very slowly with short jerks on the rod or quickly plopped with quick snaps while constantly reeling. They can also be fished “dead-stick”, in other words just let them sit on the water and give a pop every 20 seconds or so. This keeps the bait in the fishes strike zone which allows spooked fish to return and investigate. The splashing sound they create can call fish in from a distance which is helpful if the water is choppy or muddy from wind. Keep in mind sound travels SIX times faster/further in water then it does in air, so fish can really hear these baits. Trout seemed to really respond well to the sound of a chugger and will come up just to take a look, I think its because the splash sounds like another Trout grabbing a snack.

2) Walk-The-Dog or Pencil plugs - these are long, tube-shaped baits that “walk” side-to-side when retrieved correctly. From an overhead view the motion looks like a “Z” as the bait heads off in one direction and then quickly changes to the opposite direction at the next moment in an erratic/nervous pattern. In order to get the right action you need to master the technique of twitching the rod (short and fast) and then letting the lure coast or slide on a completely slack line. It takes some practice, but once master it you can make the lure dance and walk in a very lifelike fashion. The Zara Spook is the best excellent example and clear winner in this category of baits. They work great when the water is calm and the fish are a bit spooky. They can be worked very slowly or at steady pace that simply drives fish crazy. Check out the Mirr-O-Lure TopDog and TopDog Jr when targeting big Jacks or Tarpon, as these are heavy-duty, oversized walking lures. On the other hand, the Ghost (and even smaller Goblin) are small, wheedles, soft plastic versions of a Spook which are great when your working the mangrove edges for Snook but can't risk throw a lure covered with treble hooks into the tangled mess. I also put floating Rapalas and soft jeckbaits in this category as they can be twitched or darted at the surface or just below it in a side-to-side motion. A lure with an amazing, life-like action is the Excalibur Spittin’ Image. Once I saw this lure demonstrated to me at Florida Sportsman fishing show I just had to have one, it acts like a real bait fish struggling on the surface.

3) Buzzers or Props Baits - as the name suggests these baits buzz or have tiny propellors that spin. The old Heddon Torpedo is the most common member of this family. Another great spinner is classic, wooden Devil’s Horse, it's a two prop beast that really throws some water and makes a ruckus. Peacock Bass love it, or maybe they hate it - but they sure blast it with gusto either way. If you have to make a lot of noise or cover allot of water in a hurry I’d throw a prop bait. You can also put Bass style Buzz-Baits and in some cases even Spoons with-in this group of lures as they spin and kick water in all directions.

4) Hybrids - these are other topwaters that do not fit in categories already mentioned. One in particular is the Johnny Rattler - it's a buzzer complete with a prop, but also with an angled front like a chugger. It's one of my favorites for Bass because you can work it fast or slow, loud or soft. When in doubt it's a good lure to test out what speed or action the fish are interested in or keyed in on that day. Another wacky hybrid bait is the Weed Walker, it looks like a tiny steam-driven, paddle-wheel river boat that can climb over the thickest vegetation around. It may not catch many Bass, but trust me it calls out the lunkers. And then there is the Frog, Rat, and Mouse style “do nothing” soft topwaters. They are designed to be dragged slowly across weeds or just allowed to rest near lilly pads. Another good lure here is the old JitterBug, it has a chugger like front that looks like a snow plow of sorts. It makes are very unique sounds as it "gurgles" across the surface when reeled at a medium speed, its a great lure to work on calm nights.

So if it floats throw it out on top and enjoy the show! There is nothing better than catching a fish on top, in fact like most season anglers I’d rather catch one fish on a topwater than five or six on another bait. Once you've seen a big Snook or Tarpon leap clear out of the water in attempt to eat your lure from ABOVE you'll never be the same. ::FFAH::