Topwater Fishing: A Complete Guide
Topwater lures make a commotion at the surface to imitate injured baitfish, frogs, mice and insects. Walking baits, poppers, crawlers, prop baits and buzzbaits, how to retrieve each, where to cast, when bass come up, and setting the hook.
A surface or topwater lure attracts predatory fish with commotion at or just below the surface. Wikipedia describes them as imitating prey swimming at the top: injured baitfish, frogs, wading mice, lizards and water snakes, drowning insects and even ducklings. Part of the appeal is seeing the strike. This guide covers the main types, how to work each one, where and when to fish them, and the hookset, following Wikipedia, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and New York DEC. More methods are in our techniques section.
Why bass look up
DEC notes that largemouth bass will eat almost anything that fits in their mouths, including fish, frogs, snakes and mice, and MDC lists frogs, mice, snakes and other small animals that fall into the water among their occasional food. MDC says both largemouth and smallmouth are most active at dawn and dusk. See our largemouth bass profile.
The main topwater lures (Wikipedia)
Most topwater lures float, but some sink and must be reeled quickly to the surface to work.
Walking baits
Also called stickbaits, pencils or spooks: streamlined, usually with two or three treble hooks, some with rattles. They slide across the surface in a serpentine path like a baitfish near the top. The retrieve is “walking the dog”, a rhythm of rod twitches and reeling. Wikipedia says they are often cast into schools of actively feeding fish and retrieved quickly like a fleeing baitfish, and that largemouth have been known to come up from deep water to hit them. Wakebaits are a variant built to push a bigger wake.
Poppers
Also called chuggers: a cupped face pushes water and makes bubbles like injured or drowning prey. They are among the oldest lure types and come in fly versions too. The traditional retrieve: cast to isolated cover such as a fallen tree or a patch of weeds, wait for the ripples to disappear, then pop the lure with a twitch of the rod tip, pausing up to several seconds between pops. They can also be worked faster in open water.
Crawlers
A scooped metal lip or a pair of “wings” makes the lure wriggle and splash like a small animal struggling at the surface. Usually retrieved slow and steady, and popular for night fishing.
Prop baits
Floating lures with one or more small propellers that splash as they spin, usually imitating an injured baitfish. Retrieve steadily or with a twitch and pause.
Buzzbaits
A jighead and wire with a propeller blade and a single hook; they don’t float. Cast near cover and start reeling as soon as it lands so it doesn’t sink, then keep a steady pace. Wikipedia says this lets you cover water quickly, that more blades or props allow a slower retrieve, and that some anglers add a soft-plastic trailer or a trailer hook.
Where to cast
- Isolated cover: fallen trees and weed patches for poppers (Wikipedia).
- Near cover: buzzbaits.
- Feeding schools: walking baits.
- Lily pads: DEC says lily pads and floating plants attract insects, baitfish and bigger fish; cast into the edges and openings. Our lily pad guide covers fishing them.
Bigger fish
MDC’s bait guide lists oversize plugs among muskellunge lures. See our muskellunge and northern pike profiles.
Setting the hook
MDC’s general rule applies: when you suspect a bite, reel up loose line and set the hook with a powerful upward sweep, because a slack line usually won’t drive the hook home. Walking baits and poppers carry treble hooks, so unhook fish with pliers or hemostats and keep your hands clear (MDC).
Sources
- Wikipedia, Surface lure. Read 28 October 2026.
- Missouri Department of Conservation, field guides Largemouth bass and Smallmouth bass; Fishing tips and Bait and lures. Read 28 October 2026.
- New York State DEC, Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass and Where to fish: lakes and ponds. Read 28 October 2026.
Recommended Gear on Amazon
- Topwater poppers - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
- Walking topwater lures - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
- Buzzbaits - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
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