Post-Spawn Topwater

Without a doubt, the most exciting form of bass fishing is with topwater lures. Tension builds as you walk a Zara Spook across the water, because at any second a bass can explode on the lure. This is visual bass fishing at its best; there's something special about watching a bass strike, whether it's an explosive bite or a gentle slurp that leaves a swirl of boiling water.

Late summer and fall have always been productive for topwater lures, but a favorite is the first weeks of late spring - early May in some areas, early June in others. Bass have recovered from the spawn and are preparing to begin a major feeding spree, so they respond to a wide variety of artificial lures. When bass get this hungry, they associate surface disturbances with feeding activity. 

The selection of topwater lures is nearly endless: chuggers, poppers, propeller plugs, stickbaits, minnow imitators, buzzbaits and floating soft plastic lures. A favorite is the Zara Spook, a cigar shaped stickbait that can be walked across the surface in a zigzag pattern, known as "walking the dog." Other top choices are the Cordell Crazy Shad and Rebel Pop-R. 

During post-spawn, bass are aggressive, so the area they will cover to ambush a lure, known as "strike zone," is relatively large. A bass may move several yards to attack a bait during late spring, but if a high or low pressure front moves through, fish may move only 3 or 4 inches, if that far. Given the right conditions, a surface lure used during post spawn can be fished over greater water depths. While most anglers wouldn't consider a topwater lure in more than 8 feet of water, post spawn bass will attack a surface lure in water as deep as 12 to 15 feet (even 20 if water isn't murky). 

When fishing clear water, use large baits to attract the deeper fish. Bass will move great distances to get an easy meal, and a topwater lure represents just that. During post-spawn, largemouth bass move to deeper areas along points and creek channels. Use a sonar unit to locate drop offs, weedbeds, tops of submerged trees and submerged hills - all of which offer excellent action. The best structures are located near spawning areas and deeper water in the form of a creek or river channel. 

Weather conditions can affect where bass will be located. With rain and clouds, fish move to shallow ends of points and cover and suspend shallow over deep water. Under these conditions, bass feed aggressively. Bright, sunny days often move bass closer to cover and recognizable structure. Under clear water conditions, cast to a location from as far away as possible to prevent spooking fish. 

After casting a topwater, wait for the circles of a splash to fade before starting the retrieve. But during post-spawn, start retrieving a Zara Spook or Boy Howdy as soon as it touches down. Bass react to movement more than presentation. At times, bass have difficulty hitting a topwater lure no matter how clear the water or large the lure; they're simply striking short. To overcome this problem, keep a rod rigged  with a soft plastic lure, like a plastic craw, that's similar in color to the topwater bait. When bass miss the topwater offering, pitch the plastic craw where the strike occurred. Keep watching the line as the lure sinks, so you can see it move when a bass bites. Brightly colored pincers on the craw will help a feeding bass find it a little easier. 

All in all, topwater fishing after the post-spawn is solid angling fun. Keep a record of when and where success occurs. Depending on water levels, the same areas generally attract bass each year, so you can build a collection of topwater hotspots.