Topwater Lures Made Easy! (Beginner To Advanced)
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Choosing the right topwater can be a real challenge! Between poppers, walkers, crawlers, whopper poppers, buzz baits, frogs, and toads its hard to know what to throw. But just like anything else, there are key baits that seem to work day after day and month after month. Today Matt is opening up his topwater boxes and sharing the key "stand outs" that he relies on to get bit when it counts.
Matt breaks his spring topwater into 4 categories. He relies on poppers, walking baits, straight retrieve baits, and frogs, to catch fish throughout Spring. Within those 4 categories it gets pretty complicated (as witnessed by the 4 boxes of topwaters he pulls out of the rod locker) but today he is sharing his favorites with us. From each category he's able to quickly select the "key" baits that will get bit when you need them most.
Below you'll find links to the exact topwater lures shown in the video. We've included the guys favorite colors and sizes for each, as well as some of the different rods they use to throw these baits. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
POPPERS...
All Around- Damiki D Pop 70: bit.ly/2Pjvqo3
Colors: Spayu, Phantom, Black Holo
Refined- Yellow Magic 1/4 oz: bit.ly/2al0dKP
Colors: Smoke Shad, Japanese Shad, Alewife
Bigger Fish- Megabass Pop Max: bit.ly/2qqfmm1
Colors: Gill, Pumpkinseed, MB Gizzard
WALKING BAITS...
All Around- River2Sea Rover 128: bit.ly/2acSVea
Colors: Sooner, Bone, Abalone Shad
Refined- Evergreen Shower Blows 105/125: bit.ly/2zIkqUH
Colors: Bone, Half Mirror Wakasagi, Skeleton Chartreuse
Small Profile- Rapala Skitter Walk: bit.ly/37DC2Uz
Colors: Shad Translucent, Bluegill
STRAIGHT RETRIEVE BAITS...
-Whopper Plopper 130: bit.ly/2a7ipHL
Colors: Bone, Bluegill, Munky Butt
-Whopper Plopper 110: bit.ly/2bsPbQV
Colors: Bone, I Know It
-Dirty Jigs Skirtless Pro Buzz: bit.ly/2WJ85R3
Colors: Silver, Red
-Quad Blade Buzz: bit.ly/2SCqcmj
Colors: Night Stalker, Red Bug
SMALL FROGS...
-Jackall Kaera: bit.ly/2Fz6SA3
Colors: Glitter Bluegill, Glitter Hasu, Green Frog
-Spro Bronzeye Jr. 60: bit.ly/2XkbgxR
Colors: Killer Gill, Red Ear, Neon Glow
MATT'S FAVORITE WALKING BAIT COMBO...
Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: bit.ly/2gqziwT
Reel- Shimano Metanium DC (HG): bit.ly/2qrSZvs
Line- Sufix 131 Braid 40 lb: bit.ly/314VoyF
Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb: bit.ly/2ae97J9
MATT'S FAVORITE FROG COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" Extra Heavy: bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (XG): bit.ly/34HlAAk
Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: bit.ly/2clBRiQ
MID-PRICED WALKING BAIT COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium: bit.ly/2cgmMAe
Reel- Shimano Curado 70 MGL (HG): bit.ly/2apmDJt
Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: bit.ly/2clBRiQ
BUDGET POPPER COMBO...
Rod- Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium: bit.ly/2mGp1Vc
Reel- Shimano SLX 150 (HG): bit.ly/2NfdOnk
Line- Power Pro 30 lb Braid: bit.ly/2aFg46b
WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??
We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here...
TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: bit.ly/38YpPIz
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MAJOR EQUIPMENT WE USE DAILY...
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex 112: bit.ly/2vFQypW
Electronics- Humminbird Solix 15: bit.ly/35HuPRY
Anchors- Minn Kota Talons: bit.ly/2F0QBSP
Net- Frabill Conservation PLD 2612: bit.ly/3kdZ3kA
Camera- GoPro Hero 9: bit.ly/2KQ0VEI
FAVORITE TOOLS AND GEAR…
Favorite Storage Box: bit.ly/3kngvEG
Favorite sunglasses: bit.ly/3cLH0kl
Favorite Pliers: bit.ly/2MpUBEr
Favorite life jacket: bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite Scale: bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Favorite Lure Retriever: bit.ly/2TLTJc6
Favorite Braid Cutters: bit.ly/35KSp3O
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
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If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!
#topwater #bassfishing #Spring
Hey mat and Tim I would love to thank you guys for spreading the knowledge of bass fishing to the community! I am sure I can speak on behalf of alot of people, you have taught me almost everything I know about the sport! I always look forward to watching you guys Monday, Wednesday, Friday every day! It's incredible the work you guys put into the videos! I love how you guys aren't one sided on company's as well. You guys find what works best instead of taking sponsors and speaking only on there behalf. Instead of taking the easy route you guys persist on finding new and better ways to catch fish! That's what makes you guys stand out of the crowd!
Very well put! 👍👍
100 percent. If only the googan fan boys would see this channel and understand why nobody is taking them seriously except for children and ppl that's main subscribers and viewers are 13 and under
@@440-fishermandrock8 I don't understand the hate for Googan. Yea there's some members I can't stand. But most of them are stand up guy and the baits ( minus their clickbait lure) are fire.
@@svanginault I like the googan squad baits but the videos just aren't very informative, especially compared to Tactical Bassin!
Yes. Definitely 1000% agree. That's actually the hard part is investing time and knowledge finding out techniques that work. Saves us the headache, especially the finances that most of us don't have to purchase every type and color. The time Matt & Tim put in these videos are very much appreciated. I myself have learned alot from these guys. Keep up the great work! 🙏🏽🙌🏿👊🏿🎣🐟🤙🏿✌🏿💯
I wish I could like this video a thousand times! You're speaking my language in this one Matt. Nothing is better than a huge bass blowing up on your top water. I've actually been scared by some of the strikes if I'm not fully paying attention and it catches me off guard. Also, I caught my pb on a one knocker spook right at dark last fall.
I just got back into bass fishing 2 years ago and absolutely sucked the first year. Now days, I feel like I catch a new pb every month plus I been catchin some monster muskies! All my recent success is thanks to watching tactical bassin, learning about baits,when to use them as well as good strategies on how to apply them.
I love to throw a small popper in the spring because I've had the experience that in my area the bass like small topwaters in the spring. Great info Matt, you guys never disappoint!
A great tip I saw online for the plopper style Bates is to add a split ring and a swivel to the front.. If it does get bound up with any weeds it will keep from having the whole bait turn and twist your line
I have boxes of top waters also, but the rebel popr is still one of my favorite all time top waters.the best budget bait out there
Absolutely! Throw some better hardware on it and they will fish as good as baits twice as expensive ( even if you add in the cost of replacing the hardware). I can get them to walk, pop and spit right out of the box but if you shave the lower lip down a bit it really makes them more active on the surface.
@@richardbossman9875 Excellent tips as they have changed slightly over the years.. The original pop R had a bottom lip that was a little more recessed Like you are describing to do by shaving the lower lip down. I never have to change the hooks as I have never had a problem with fish in Wisconsin . Unfortunately we are not catching a bunch of 6 to 10 pounders, but only occasionally Catch a 6 pounder
Yes!!! The video I have finally been waiting for! Top water videos are my favorite from you guys.
Finally!! Someone who will take the time to show me types of bait, when and how to use.... and hold them close to the cam so i can see...... thank you!!!
Topwater is downright by far my favorite category of fishing! And last year I destroyed them on a good old fashioned Arbogast Jitterbug, not the big giant one or the jointed oh, I'm talking the little 2in I believe 1/4 oz. Probably has more to do with showing them something different than anything else but man after 90 years they still catch fish
Old school Bates still work. It's just that some of them haven't kept up with the colors that attract fishmen
@@williamgould7807 that is a very correct statement.
@@williamgould7807 we are slvts for those pretty looking lures….
Thanks for breaking it down to the " nitty gitty", then we can build from that.
Please continue this format.
Very good information.
And that’s what I appreciates about you guys!
Hey guys just caught my pb double digit bass last weekend on a white frog on the Tennessee River its definitely that time thanks for all you guys do!!!
Congratulations 👍
What a problem trying to pick favorites out of so many. Glad it was yours and I think you did an outstanding job Matt. Thanks for another award winning performance.
Skitterwalk is probably imo the easiest one to get that walking action, great for beginners.
You definitely have over did it on the top waters. Feel free to send half of them my way to simplify your life. 🤣 Poppers are my all time favorite top water. They flat out catch!
Two 8 pounders
🐟🐟on bone 110 whopper plopper
Because of you guys!!
Wonderful presentation. You didn't mention my heddon torpedo😰😰😂
That small 13 navigator is my new go to. I tie my own feathered trebles and it walks so easy.
Love it when you talk about baits you get so excited & you do thorough job, I never caught a fish on the whopper plopper, I have the 110 bone color, I just gave up on it, glad that you have success with it!
This is amazing knowledge thank you! I'm starting my journey this spring and coming out the gate with these winners. I can't loose , seriously thank you !!
Super informative and very well presented so it was easy to understand. Often I find myself wishing that you fished Florida or the South more often. Purely personal since I'm in Georgia, Alabama and Florida most of the year. That said, I spent 18 Winters in Minnesota so the Northern and New England lures work there. Thanks again.
We actually fish Florida and Georgia a ton. We live 30 min from the Georgia border 👍🏼
I didn't remember that correctly. I watched your Vacation videos and forgot it was a different location than where you normally fish. My bad. Will revisit watching more often now that I can relate better to southern styles of fishing. Thanks!
Matt, if you haven’t tried it, you need to add a size 13 original rapala to your smallmouth topwater arsenal. It is a perfect “finesse” topwater that we CRUSH them on in northern Wisconsin. Try it on your next topwater smallmouth outing. You will not be disappointed 😏
Dude Matt hearing you talk about the bluegill colored frog just gave me so much more confidence. Lol im a KY boy. Bluegill frogs are my #1 choice👌 Learned so much from yall over the years.
Thank you for always having the link and size for your baits you use. Great content as always. Cheers and tight lines!
Nice to see lures with hook rash and teeth marks in the thumbnail. It shows people actually have lots of experience in what they are talking about.
no mention of a hula popper. that's my go to.
Bruh!!! Glad the champion is back home! I thought i read something somewhere about you buying a stroker and I thought the champion was done for. I’m glad the ole champ is back where it belongs.
More to come on that soon 😎 But the champ isn't going anywhere!
Fantastic video
Made me think about my top baits and colors.
Walking baits: Super spooks, Spook jr.
Rovers. Getting in to shower blows and wow.
Hard to find bait is my Balsa
Pro/Balsa Bull
Poppers: Rico and Rio Rico, Splash it and Mega bass. Pop max
Hard to find: Berkeley Frenzy popper
Colors are Bone, Shad and Chartreuse
I really enjoyed this thank you.
Great video guys I love top water. Can’t wait for the topwater bite to start the river here is still in the mid 30s. PS popmax is amazing so easy to walk it.
Just caught my PB today on a whopper plopper. Awesome job and as always gents. Much respect from Japan
Thank you in Advance brother and thank you for all your Advice
River2Sea dominates my Topwater box. Bubble walks, bubble pops, rovers, 90s, 110s. They just work!
I fish tons of open clear water smallmouth fisheries and the whopper plopper is the deal, as is the popmax. Great video topic.
Storm chugbug is my all time most successful and favorite topwater
5am uploads!
Matt I have a couple of things I want to ask about with regard to bait modification, adding a feathered treble hook to some of my walking baits such as the skitter walk that you mentioned? How about experimenting with the use of markers to add various features to hard baits? You’ve made me think of going outside the box with some of my techniques. At any rate keep up the great work that You and Tim are doing.
My favorite post spawn is the Megabass I-Loud! It just get bit! That and custom wake baits!
The frog that slapped for me last year was the KVD Pad perch! Totally gotta check those out if you see em!
My fave is the spro pop 80. Good size for all sizes of fish. Loud. Casts a mile. Gamagatsu hooks and spro split ring right out of the package for only $7.
Thanks for taking us to school! Appreciate the prioritizing, opinions and pickiness. *Hooks are a whole other topic of course. **Do you ever substitute the trebles for inline hooks? Thanks for your time and info!
Should have known better than to go to BassPro before I watched the video! Great video. Thank for taking us all to school.
Great informative video! Thanks! You made top water simplified.
Great video Matt! I added the Evergreen SB to my arsenal last year with great success. I was also having a blast using the Heddon Zara Puppy in Flitter Shad.
I knew your top water video was coming soon! 😁🎣
I overnighter some stuff from tw yesterday. Got a bronze eye popping frog 40 hoping it will kill it in the small ct ponds.
Also you guys should start a monthly lure subscription and send out a couple of your guys favorites in each box
I dont normally endorse them, but i find the googan popper is great for a good tight walk.
Great video as always Matt. You mentioned the conditions for choosing a popper but not conditions for the others. Is there Any way you could quickly explain conditions for walking, straight retrieve, etc. Thanks again, can’t even explain how much I’ve learned from you both.
The Rover was the surprise I have been hearing shower blows for a while now😀
Rico's and yellow magic are my 2 go to poppers. I throw both of the sizes. I have an obsession with poppers I have way too many of them lol.
Also been a fan since about 20000 subs n love you guys
The one thing I learned about all topwater baits is this: the only color that matters is the one on the belly. That's the only color the bass will ever see.
That's just not the case- fish see far more than you're giving them credit for. I've watched bass track my lure as it flew over the surface of the water and then was in place to basically catch it when it landed- and when you walk a frog or a plug it doesn't just sit flat on the surface, it tips on its side and cuts left and right. Yes, the belly color is predominately what they will see- but they catch flashes of the sides and are able to see things that are above the surface. I think ppl make a mistake thinking the belly color is all that matters. I think it matters most but, it's not all they see.
@@stoneysdead689
Somewhat true, unless the bait is translucent
@@stoneysdead689 Unless fish have eyes above the water, it is absolutely true.
@@stoneysdead689 It is all they see. Bass only have two eyes underwater. Scientific research has confirmed this. The belly color is all they see. It has been confirmed be extensive, peer-reviewed research. And the kicker is this: to a fish the belly of a topwater always looks dark because they are seeing it from underneath.
@@LowBrowFishing OK - science confirmed it? Show me. Where's the experiment, where is the paper- I'd love to read it. LOL- The haven't confirmed any such thing- man you're something else bud. Believe what you like- I disagree with you- and science in no way backs you up.
Edit: I'll check back though- you come up with that research, that experiment- then I'll apologize and admit I'm wrong.
Love the sb105 y'all got me hooked on that last year.
Ok Matt and Tim! What great lessons will be learned today? Been waiting patiently since Wednesday. LET'S GO!!
I remember when you picked bluegill as a last color because you said they were the toughest for the bass to catch
Can we get a full video just on poppers!?! I'd like to learn more!!
I watched This video and went out an hour later and caught some fish on a popper just how you said thank y’all for the tips
I love the river 2 sea bubble walker! It gets bit when no other top waters do for me
I use a whopper plopper 90 percent of the time (110)
Not a frog guy personally, trying to get into walking baits a little more this season but can't get away from the WP.
Crushes smallies and largies here in Northeast Ohio
You guy done put a big dent in my bank account but I love it been tearing them up
Hey Matt sweet video Sir . I live here on the upper TVA on Ft.Loudoun and Watts Bar . We figured out 3 spawns ago that a Spook Pupp works great in the same spots and situations as a popper . We throw it on a spinning outfit with 10 lb braid . I was wondering if y'all ever throw the smallest Spook on glass ? Thanks for all you guys do for the community ...
Good stuff, basic simple,, excellent video
I'd strongly recommend the RICOH Popper over the Yellow Magic. Better hooks and easier to walk the dog. Accidentally tied on a Yellow Magic two weeks ago at Trinity. Fish popped off, was shocked. Then realized Yellow Magic with subpar hooks sitting in the box all winter. Cut it off and tossed it onto the bank. Hahaha. Made me feel a little better after losing the 4 LBS smallie.
I couldn't disagree with you more- the two are almost identical- to the point that even pros argue about who stole the pattern from whom- did Yellow Magic steal it from Ricoh- or did Ricoh steal it from Yellow Magic? And I've used both extensively and neither has an inferior hook on it. Never had a hook on either one of them bent out, never lost a bass on either lure, and they both walk so easy I doubt anyone could tell a difference in that respect.
its always the lures fault
excuse angler at its finest
@@stoneysdead689 #fakenews
@@elijahteaford2368 the rod will be next to blame! haha
Thank you, Matt!
For hardbaits my 3600 bag has:
Prop
Walk
Pop
Wake
Then I have a few frogs in a 3500 in the front pocket.
I want to see Matt throw the whopper plopper 190!! Instead of me narrowing down my topwaters, I just buy them all & all the colors 🤷♂️
Have you ever used zmans poppin frogz or poppin shadz?? The poppin frogz have became my favorite top water as of last summer. Thier elaztech so they float, u texas rig them so very weedless. Come over & through vegitation with ease, good hook ups. U can pop them or burn them across surface like a horny toad because they have curled back legs. I have done very well with them, better than any other popper for sure, mostly because I can throw them in some sticky area's. I just got the poppin shadz but haven't had chance to fish them yet. Thier way bigger, triple size of frogz. Love me some top water action!!!
buzzbaits slapping right now
Y’all need to come down to Santee copper in sc before it gets to hot
Is that machine gun fire at 9:18? 😅 Great vid!
This was really helpful, thanks a lot!
Great video nice
Major Chug bug fan here
New moon 🌙 next week big girls 🐟🐟🐟🐟
There coming😎
Thank you for bringing up the yellow magic last spring. Since I've gotten a few I've caught countless good size fish and even more smaller fish. It's the best topwater I've ever used
Can we go down the popper only rabbit hole please? 😂
Thank you so much for the video wow Awesome
Can you make a video titles “why chartreuse” and cover as many chartreuse go to baits out there
Oh please do the whole video inside the popper box
I cant remember the exact name of the popper, but the Deps Vibration Jr. (I think) is a killer for me. It's the one with a little spring inside body.
Great information ++
My favorite is a rattling chug bug
Smooth radio voice………oh and great vid too.
Rebel pop r. Red hooks
Have y’all tried the duo international walking bait line up? Their tetra works yurapen is a small 2” top water is dope, their Realis Pencils are upsized versions of them.
Fantastic video Matt, as always I enjoy all the years of knowledge.
It's definitely ridiculous how many top water baits I have, I'm a straight up top water junkie.
Matt I have a question for you how did you get the console out of you boat I think I remember when you bought that boat wasn’t a duel console. I have a charger that a duel and that’s the only down fall to that boat. How did you cut the other console out
Nice. No wake baits?
Good 👌🤝
Few things I wanna talk about more on this Friday morning :)
Hey mattt great video I just curious do u or Tim ever use the Rico popper and u do believe the 3 picks perform best?
I’m surprised no wake baits and walkers (winged crawlers) made the list
I love these videos but I seem to eat more bologna afterwards 😅
can you do one on musky lures
Whats your opinion on the whopper plopper vs the Googan Revolver?
What do y'all guys think about hook bonnet's??
I’ve had some problems with my whopper ploppers rolling. How could I fix that?
Been having a top water rod dilemma. I got a Dobyns champ 705 glass. Want it to be a top water rod and also a cranking rod. Should I do straight mono or braid to mono when I want to use my top waters and then do braid to fluro when I want to crank?
I just recently got a whopper popper within the last year and I have had no luck with it yet but I only have one color and it's monkey butt
Have you ever used creek chub knuckle head and lf so how do use it can't figure it out