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.

Now, here are some of my favorite TOP-WATER “Big Bass” baits that I strongly recommend to try.

1. A “full size” Zara Spook

2. A Buzz Bait

3. A “Soft” jerk bait

4. A Torpedo (Prop-Bait)

5. A large 6″ Gitzit (or tube bait)

These baits have caught more larger bass for me and my students and charter clients than most top water baits on today’s market.

These other baits would be SUB-SURFACE “Big Bass” baits that I would use should be worked under the waters surface:

1. A Jig & Pig combo (a jig can be used with several different types of trailers) my personal favorite trailers would be either a plastic pork chunk or a 4″ twin tailed Hula Grub.

2. A Carolina Rig (rigging this rig properly is just as important as what type of bait you would use with it.) My 2 favorite baits I usually use with this rig would be a 6 inch Lizard and a 4″ Gitzit (or tube bait)

3. A Texas Rigged twin tailed Hula Grub or a 4″ plastic Crawl.

I have personally used all of these baits at one point in my fishing life time and will admit I have caught Bass with all of them and will not ever go anywhere with out all of these in my tackle box. Good Fishing!