Top water fishing for bass gives an added bonus to the spectators and fisherman alike. Top water bass fishing involves using an artificial bait that floats on the surface of the water, giving a visual addition to the sport. You can practically see the fish grab the bait and run.

Fishing with top water baits for bass is usually best in the early morning, late at night, after dark, and on cloudy days. When other fish are spawning is also a good time to use top water baits to fish for bass. During hatching season for one of the most favorite snack of a bass, the mayfly, is another great time to catch a bass on top water baits.

When bass are schooling in open water is another great time to use top water baits for bass. Generally, bass will school in open waters when after bait fish. So the top water baits are great for this time. There doesn’t appear to be any actual wrong time to use top water baits for bass. The times listed above are just when the top water baits seem to work well.

As with any type of fishing, there’s many factors that can affect the strikes of the fish. While these are the recommended times, you could try the top water baits for bass nearly any time.

The first tip for using live bait is where to put the hook. The best place to put the hook is in the mouth of a shiner. This way it can swim through the water in a more natural motion. One important thing to remember however is take care of your live bait. Dead bait will be no good. Casting the hook into the water to hard can kill the bait. Try to remember, it’s all about presentation. Presenting the most appealing meal to your catch is what it’s all about.

Another tip is to use a gang hook. This also allows for the most natural presentation and that is what will lure the big fish in. If you cannot find shiners then night crawlers will make a perfect substitution. These are pretty much universal as far as bait goes. They can catch anything from a perch to a 25 lb. bass. They’re also easy to handle and place on a hook.

After you use live bait for a while you may not want to go back to using artificial bait. You will find you’re going to catch more fish and the fish will be bigger. Plus the cost of live bait is cheaper then using artificial bait.