Pro tip · Wait to set
With a walking bait or frog, wait until you feel the weight of the fish before you set. Swinging at the splash pulls the bait away.
Topwater Bass Fishing: Walking Baits, Poppers, Buzzbaits and Frogs
Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated
Topwater bass fishing starts when the water passes about 60°F and peaks from 65–80°F, best at dawn, dusk and on cloudy days — walking baits over open water, poppers on spawning flats, buzzbaits along banks and frogs over grass.
Topwater lures
| Lure | Where | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Walking bait (4–5 in) | Points, open water, schooling fish | 30 lb braid + 15–20 lb mono leader, or 15–17 lb mono |
| Popper | Spawning flats, shade lines, docks | 15–17 lb mono |
| Buzzbait (3/8–1/2 oz) | Banks, riprap, grass edges | 40–50 lb braid |
| Hollow frog | Matted grass, pads, laydowns | 50–65 lb braid |
| Prop bait | Calm water, post-spawn shad spawn | 15 lb mono |
Topwater pro tips
Pro tip · Mono, not fluoro
Fluorocarbon sinks and drags the nose of a walking bait down. Use mono or a braid-to-mono leader.
Pro tip · Shad spawn
Late April into May on many Alabama lakes, shad spawn on riprap and grass at first light — a walking bait or prop bait along those banks is the bite.
Pro tip · Fall
When the water drops from 75 to 60°F, bass chase shad in the backs of creeks. A walking bait or buzzbait covers water fastest.
Questions from the ramp
Sources
- — Bassmaster — technique and tackle archive
- — Major League Fishing — tournament technique coverage
- — ADCNR Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries — Alabama fishing
Data last reviewed: 2026-11-05