Field Guide

Topwater Lures

The full surface family — walk, pop, plop, buzz, frog, prop, wake.

Confidence

SpringSummerFallWalkingPopperPlopperBuzzbaitFrogPropWakeBug

Gear

Rod

All-purpose (ploppers/buzzbaits/big walkers): Cashion ICON Worm & Jig 7'3" MH / Fast · Rod-input (walking baits/poppers/props): Cashion ICON Topwater Jerkbait 7' Medium / Extra Fast · Frog: Cashion ELEMENT Z2 Casting 7'3" Heavy / Fast

Reel

Shimano SLX 150 DC SLXDC151HG — 7.2:1 LH (all three setups)

Line

Sufix 832 Braid Lo-Vis Green — 30 lb (all-purpose & rod-input), 65 lb (frog)

60-Second Refresher

60°F is the unlock: Prime from late spring through fall once water pushes past 60°F. Low light, overcast skies, warm nights, and active baitfish make it better.

Match knot to bait: Palomar for direct-tie (buzzbaits, frogs, ploppers). Loop knot or split ring for walking baits, poppers, props, and bug baits that need free action.

Clarity & size: Clear water = size down. Stained or murky = size up. Spring = smaller baitfish and fry. Fall = bigger shad, walking baits, and ploppers.

If fish miss it: Speed up so they commit. Pressured fish or cooler water — slow down and pause longer.

When to Throw

Good Water

Late spring through fall with water over 60°F. Dawn, dusk, overcast, low light, warm nights. Wind or chop when you need louder baits. Shade, grass, baitfish, and visible surface activity.

Bad Water

Cold water below 60°F. Bluebird high-sun midday on slick water (fish follow but won't commit). When fish are glued to bottom or deep on structure.

The Topwater System

Walking · Popper · Plopper · Buzz · Frog · Prop · Wake · Bug

Match the bait to cover, fish aggression, water clarity, and the amount of surface disturbance you need.

Heddon Super Zara Spook (Walking Bait)

Black/White Herring

All-purpose — points, submerged grass, schoolers, targets

Covers water with side-to-side walk

Rebel Pop-R (Popper)

Silver/Blue

Docks, laydowns, weed edges, seawalls, fry guarders, calm water

Target bait — pop, pause, watch the rings

River2Sea Whopper Plopper 130

Bone

Grass flats, points, shorelines, windy banks — search bait

Steady retrieve does the work

Booyah Squelcher Buzzbait 3/8 oz

Silver White

Shallow flats, sparse grass, pads, low-light feeding windows

Weedier search bait

Booyah Buzz Clacker 3/8 oz

Black

Low light, stained water, night, stronger silhouette needed

Louder than white — better silhouette

SPRO Bronzeye Poppin' Frog 60

Green Pumpkin

Sparse grass, pad edges, holes, shade — frog with extra noise

Frog profile + popper sound

SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65

Midnight Walker

Mats, lily pads, thick grass, bushes, wood

Heavy-cover walking frog

Rapala Claptail 110 (Prop)

Night Aurora

Calm pockets, grass flats, post-spawn fish, open-water schoolers

Twitch-pause cadence

Arbogast Jitterbug Clicker (Wake)

Black

Warm nights, calm water, shorelines, shallow cover

Classic slow-crawling wake bait

Megabass Grand Siglett (Bug)

FF Kuro Ageha

Calm clear water, overhanging trees, shade, pressured fish

Specialty bug/cicada — finesse topwater

Buzzbait Trailers

Change lift, profile, vibration, surface ride

Swap trailers — not the buzzbait itself — to fine-tune how it rides.

Keitech Swing Impact FAT 3.8"

Sight Flash

Clearer water, shad bite, tighter swim behind the buzz

Clean baitfish profile

Z-Man Goat ToadZ 4"

Black / White

More lift, kick, surface commotion — black for low light, white for shad/frog

Bigger silhouette and more noise

Size Guide

Small · Medium · Large

Clarity, season, and fish mood pick the size. Don't overthink colors — keep it bone, chrome, or black.

Small (<3" / <1/4 oz)

Subtle

Fry, glass minnows, small shad, calm clear water, pressured bass

Less likely to spook fish

Medium (3–4" / 1/4–1/2 oz)

Default

Everyday — mornings, overcast, calm-to-moderate chop, standard profiles

Workhorse size

Large (>4" / >1/2 oz)

Push Water

Wind, stained water, fall baitfish, aggressive fish

More commotion = more attention

Where to Throw Each

Grass Flats / Weed Edges

Walking baits, ploppers, buzzbaits, frogs, and props all play depending on grass thickness.

Docks / Laydowns / Seawalls / Shade

Popper or prop bait when fish are target-oriented — pause around corners and posts.

Points / Creek Backs / Schoolers

Walking baits and ploppers cover water fast when bass are chasing bait.

Mats / Lily Pads / Heavy Grass

Frogs when trebles or exposed buzz hooks can't come through cleanly.

Warm Nights / Calm Shorelines

Black Jitterbug, black buzzbait, or another high-silhouette surface bait.

Cheat Sheet

Cover water fast

Whopper Plopper or walking bait.

Windy bank or stained water

Plopper, buzzbait, or black Jitterbug at night.

Calm water around targets

Pop-R, Claptail, or Grand Siglett.

Thick pads or matted grass

SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65.

Sparse grass / floating debris

Buzzbait.

Night fishing

Black Jitterbug or black buzzbait.

Post-spawn fry guarders

Popper or prop bait.

Fall baitfish chase

Walking bait or Whopper Plopper.