We all know the feeling.  You’re working you’re favorite top water lure back to the boat after casting it out.  You watch it with anticipation of that explosion as a bass attacks it.  It’s that moment that makes you keep throwing it cast after cast.  It is by far my favorite way to catch bass.  I am going to share with you few of my favorite lures, and ways to fish them in this article.

Storm Chug Bug- As those of you who know me, or read some of my reports know that by far my favorite top water is a Storm Chug Bug.  I figure that would be a good place to start.  This lure is a hard bodied stick type lure with a cupped mouth. Kind of like a Pop R, but longer.  

Conditions to use it in-  This lure makes a lot of commotion on the water witch is great at times, but bad at other times.  If you have a dead calm day with no wind, or ripple this is not the best lure to use.  It will spoke fish.  I find it works best with slight to mild winds.  It really works good for schooling fish as well.  The sound it gives off is like fleeing Pogies, and the action is a walking the dog type witch looks like a injured bait fish.  It works good in all water colors, but best in stained to clear water.  It can be worked over grass flats, on the bank, by docks, around lilies, open water, or over deeper structure.  I have used it to pull fish up off of brush piles in 8 feet of water.

Best times of the year-  I find the Best times for this lure is Spring, and Fall.  However it is a very effective lure year round.  Especially when the bass are schooling.   

           

Best Colors-  I prefer to stick to the shad colors when fishing for bass that I know are there feeding on Pogies, or mullets.  White, silver with black back, silver with green back…..  When I am going down the bank I may switch to a frog color.  Bull frog, frog, or hot frog.

Lines-   I prefer to use 12 lbs. mono.

Tricks-  This lure is harder to walk than a Zara Spook due to the cupped mouth.   For that reason when I take one out of the pack the first thing I do is put a small split ring on the eye.  This will make it easier to walk the dog with the lure.  You want to pop it so that it walks from side to side.  Let the fish tell you if they want a quick tight walk, or a wider slower walk. 

Small split ring

Small split ring added to the eye

Buzz Bait

Conditions to use it in- Buzz baits are a great top water lure for times you need to cover a lot of water.  It works in every type of water, and weather condition.  I like to find a bank that has some cover that is in the water for a few feet off the shore.  Cypress trees, or docks.  I love to cast it into the cover, and bounce my lure off of it.  It also works great over grass.  

Times of the year- This lure works year round. In the spring, and fall you can just about throw it anywhere you want. In the summer you want to find the shaded areas by deep water.  In the Tchefuncte I love to go along the cypress tree lined banks throwing into the trees.  In the winter you will get far less strikes, but don’t let it stop you.  Look for rock banks, or wood structure that sticks out of the water with a lot of sunlight shining on it.  These places will transfer heat into the water.  You also want to slow your buzz bait down as much as you can.  In the tricks section is a good way to do that. 

Colors-  I usually use white, or white and chartreuse.  I have used a black one in really muddy water.

Lines-  Mono, or braid if in really heavy cover.

Tricks-  Some people like to have their buzz bait tuned to run straight, but I like to make it run to either side depending on what side I am fishing.  That way it’s easier to bump it against the cover.  A good way to slow down your buzz bait with out it sinking is to put a bigger blade on a small buzz bait.  I like to take all the blades off of my buzz baits after the wires are to bent up to use anymore.  I save these blades for swapping out.  I will put the biggest blade I can before it hits the wire to be able to slow the bait way down.  This also gives you the smaller bait profile witch is also great for winter bassin.


Frogs

   Frogs generally come in two types.  The hollow belly, and swimming type.  The difference is the hollow belly will float if you stop working it.  The swimming type has to be reeled in to keep it up like a buzz bait.  It will, however, stay on lily pads or on thick grass when you stop it.  I do not throw frogs a lot, but I will share with you what I know.  

Conditions to use them in-    I generally throw these when I fish thick grass or lily pads.  The do work well along the bank under trees, or docks as well.   As far as what times to use witch one, all I can say is try them both out.  They both do very good.  I prefer to throw the swimming type on thick grass flats with holes in it, or spars areas of lily pads.  If I have thick lily pads, or solid mat of grass I will throw the hollow belly.  For the bank fishing it’s a toss up.  I will chose as if I am picking between a buzz bait or Chug Bug.

Time of the year-  Like all top waters they work best during spring, and fall.  They work great during summer as well due to the all the aquatic vegetation every were.  They do work during the winter some, but I have not found it to be a good enough bite to keep throwing it.

Colors-   For the hollow belly frogs I will stick with the frog colors.  Bull frog, frog, black, brown, green, black and yellow, or even a hot frog.  I also throw a white one at times.  For the swimming type I will throw a white, black, and black and yellow. 

Lines-    You should stick with braid, or mono.  I personally use mono most of the time, because I do not like braid.

Tricks-     Like I said, I don’t throw these as much as some people.  I do have a little tip though that was given to me by a friend of mine.  When I am throwing a swimming type frog I take a trailer hook with the rubber that is over the eye, and put it on the main hook then hook the back of the frog up.  The rubber piece over the eye keeps the hook pointed up so you don’t hang up. 

     Well there you have it.  Some of my tips for top water fishing.  I hope you find these helpful, and the help you catch some fish. I have included a short video on how to "walk the dog" with a my favorite lure. The Chug Bug.  Till next time good luck to everyone!   -Chris Basey

Frog with Trailer hook

Bury the original hook to keep trailer in place