Bait Blades
Bait Blades
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 Hand Poured 4 3 4 Swim Bait Common Minnow Umbrella Rig Baits 5 PACK  US $6.44
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 The New Alabama Mississippi Buzzin Rig US $20.00
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 Elite Spinnerbait Fishing Lure Color Dirty Shad 1 2 Oz US $.99
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 Elite Spinnerbait Fishing Lure Color Dirty Shad 4 5 Oz US $.99
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 Elite Spinnerbait Fishing Lure ColorBlood Shad 1 2 Oz US $.99
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 Elite Spinnerbait Fishing Night LureDark Shad 3 8 Oz US $.99
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 Spinner Bait Fishing Tackle Lure Kit build your own US $3.25
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 SET OF 6 HCBAIT 1 8 OZ SPINNERBAITS SAMPLE PACK US $14.49
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 HCBAIT 1 4 OZ SPINNERBAIT SAMPLE PACK US $14.49
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 6 1 2 OZ BLACK CLACKER BUZZ BAIT W 4 BLADED PLASTIC US $7.50
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 6 3 4 OZ WHITE TANDEM W HAMMERED NICKEL COLORAD0 US $9.95
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 6 1 2 OZ BLACK CLACKER BUZZ BAITS M NOW W4 0 HOOK US $7.50
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 6 3 4 OZ WHITE TANDEM W6 SMOOTH NICKEL INDIANA US $9.95
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 6 1 2 OZ BUZZ BAITS CHARTREUSE CLEAR BLADE US $7.50
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 6 1 2 OZ SPINNER BAITS WHITE SINGLE SPIN W 5 HAMMERED BRASS COLORADO US $6.00
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 6 1 2 OZ CHARTREUSE CLACKER BUZZ BAITS P US $7.50
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 6 1 2 OZ BUZZ BAITS BLACK CLEAR BLADE US $7.50
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 6 1 2 OZ WHITE SINGLE SPIN W HAMMERED BRASS COLORADO US $6.00
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 Heavy Duty Big Bass Striper Rig fished in Alabama and Georgia US $5.50
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 Tailors Top Quality 3 in 1 Spinnerbait US $17.95
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 VINTAGE MANNS 3 8 OZ RATTLE SPIN WHITE WITH SILVER REFLECTING BLADE US $2.99
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 OKUMA SALINA SAF80 SAF 80 BAIT FEEDER SPINNING REEL US $79.00
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 Waterproof Ripple Foams Fishing Fly Lure Bait Storage Case Box Holder Organizer US $1.06
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| The Fly Fishing Blog |
Bass - Fishing Topwater Baits
Bass fishing with topwater baits is without a doubt the most fun you can have fishing for large or smallmouth bass. People watch these bass tournaments on the tube and see all these pros using plastic and spinner baits jigs and crankbaits, forget about the fun and excitement you get with topwater baits. Topwater baits create great action and stories to pass on to family and fishing friends.
The best time I find for topwater bass fishing is in summer, the colder the water the slower the response, and the more you have to work that bait. Early morning and evening are best for topwater bass fishing.
Of course weather effects your choice of lures also, on a bright sunny day it is better to have a light wind to go with it, a bit of a chop makes the bass less spooky. On a calm sunny day use a heavier lure and lighter line for longer casts. Bass tend to become real spooky in calm and clear water, so the further the cast from you the better off you'll be.
Wind can also change the type of topwater bait you can use I believe that when the wind comes up you should use a smaller bait that makes a lot of noise. The larger baits just plow through the chop, while the smaller baits ride the chop and still make that enticing noise to get the strike you want. Also try to fish through the troughs created by the wind.
Bass fishing topwater baits has some of it's own quirks you want to be able to make pinpoint casts to cover areas and make a clear retrieve. Most of your topwater bass fishing will be done in shallow water over weed beds, flats and around objects and shoreline cover. The majority of bass population remains in shallow water all summer.
To fish bass with topwater baits cast about a foot or two past your target and bring it as close to the cover as possible. If you do not get a strike after the first few feet reel in and try again and make another cast. Fishing cover like this there is no need to reel the bait all the way to the boat. Work the bait slowly to get that strike from the bass that is hiding in the shadows and under cover. Have patience when fishing topwater baits, let the ripples disapear, and let the bait sit a few seconds before you make you retrieve.
When the bass strikes a topwater bait, wait till you feel the fish before you set the hook. If you try to set that hook when you first see the strike you'll miss more than you will catch. I can't count the times that lure has been nocked back towards me by the bass striking that topwater bait.
Now for some of the most popular baits, Poppers are among the oldest of topwater bass fishing lures. They have the dished out face with the line tie in the middle. When retrieved they make a slash noise or "bloop" when popped. Poppers work best in warm, calm, shallow, clear water. You get your action from the rod tip not reeling. The harder you snap the bait the more noise and commotion created.
Stickbaits are rounded, hot-dog shaped lures usually plastic or wood. weighted to float nose up. The only action they have is what the angler ads to make them work. These baits have appeal for big bass, just using the jerk, then real up slack and jerking again produces a good eratic side to side motion that gets lots of attention from bass.
Propbaits are cigar shaped and fitted with propellers on one or both ends. Propbaits can be worked fast or slow, quiet or loud, but stop and go retrieves are best. The bass will let you know what is best so vary your retrieve. Be sure to experiment, propbaits are dynamite around sunken logs, lily pads, and shallow cover. Be sure the blades on the lure run freely,
Wobblers and Crawlers, these baits are particularly best at night or early morning, Examples of these are the Jitterbug or the Crazy Crawler. They make a loud plopping sound when retrieved steadily. Use a steady slow retrieve for the best results with this bass bait.
Buzzbaits are a little like spinnerbaits desingned to be fished on the surface. There are two types, the opposite wire types, with the blade above the hook, and the inline type with everything on one shaft. Excellent for clear water, and pick up less weeds. Again experiment with your working of this bait, twitching and vary speeds to create different noises.
Weedless Spoons are also in this category, designed to be fished in dense cover, either through the thickest weeds, lily pads, or grass. They go through the toughest cover you can find. Fishing with weedless spoons for bass you will want to be using heavy fishing tackle, rods and reels. I like to point my rod tip at the lure on my retrieve, and again here be patient and allow the bass to take the lure.
About the Author
Jack Phillips has been fishing Canada coast to coast for over 50 years. Fishing Canada provides solid advice for walleye, bass, pike, muskie, a variety of trout and more. Ideas on when and where to go on your next trip to Canada. Ice fishing tips. Delicious fish recipes to boot!
Which is a better size spinnerbait for throwing in shallow water into heavy cover: a 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz?
I use spinnerbaits as search baits and flipping baits. I use 1/2 oz spinnerbaits of all blade configurations and colors as search baits, but if I'm not getting bit on jigs or plastics in heavy cover, I'll flip a spinnerbait. I've never paid much attention to weight when I buy baits, but I am now starting too. Which size, 3/8 oz or 1/4 oz, is better if I am ever required to flip a spinnerbait into heavy cover ? Thanks.
I'd suggest going heavier than 3/8 OZ and moving up to 1/2 - 3/4 OZ.
Why?
Heavier lures are able to punch through matted weeds easier. ('Course this is all relative to how THICK the cover is. In thick "eel-grass" situations I've always used at least 1/2 OZ, but you may have better luck with lighter lures....?)
To be honest, it's rare I use any Spinnerbait lower in weight than a 3/8 OZ. The conditions that would (occasionally) warrant using a 1/4 OZ would be:
A. In the Spring when the average forage is relatively smaller.
B. SUPER-clear water conditions.
C. SUPER-spooky Bass. (And if there that spooky I'd probably go with a non-rattling Crankbait or Soft Plastic.)
Otherwise, the "average weight" you'd probably want to fill your T-Box with would be 3/8 - 1/2 OZ.
The most important aspects of a S-Bait is Blade configuration and color. In heavy cover you would want to use Double Willows, a Single Willow or a Willow/Colorado configuration. Willow blades tend to snag less weeds and turn easier in a matted environment.
Hope this info helps ya?
