3 Topwater Bass Baits That Will Cover You All Summer Long

When the summer heat raises water temperatures into the bathwater range, a topwater bait is the least likely lure most bass anglers would choose then.

Although bass can seek cooler temperatures in deeper water, some remain near the surface to feed on schooling baitfish while others stay shallow in the shade of heavy cover and ambush any prey swimming nearby on the surface. So a topwater bait remains a viable option to throw nearly any time of the day in the summertime.

Here are three topwater baits you should try in the heat of summer to catch bass on the surface.

1) Hollow Body Frogs

Throw frogs in the nasty stuff. Grass, lilly pads, slop, and brush are all prime areas to toss a frog.

Aquatic vegetation growth peaks during the summertime so bass have plenty of shallow cover that provides them with a cool and comfortable hiding place. Bluegill feeding on insects or frogs skimming across the weed mats will draw bass from their weedy lairs to attack their prey on the surface.

A hollow-body frog is an ideal topwater bait in this situation to trick bass because it can skim across the mat and hop along in the holes of the mat. When skimming the frog across the mat, keep twitching the lure until it reaches an opening in the vegetation, then let it sit in the hole for a couple of seconds before popping it once or twice.

2) Topwater Walking Baits

Topwater walking baits work well when bass are busting on the surface eating baitfish.

One of my favorite topwater walking plugs from spring through fall is a Zara Spook. Even in the heat of summer bass just have a hard time resisting the sashaying action of a Spook as it is walked along the surface. Throughout the summer you can walk a spook around standing timber such as cedar trees or along the sides and front ends of boat docks over deep water to catch suspended bass. The pros claim suspended bass in clear water will rise up from as much as 20 feet deep to attack the walking bait.

3) Topwater Poppers

Topwater poppers take practice but once you can master that distinct ''blooping'' sound - It's game over.

Throughout a summer day, bass rise to the top and attack schools of baitfish in a furious series of splashes. Be prepared for these short bursts of surface activity by keeping one rod ready with a topwater chugger that matches the size of the baitfish. When the surface erupts, quickly pop the chugger through the marauding bass. The plopping noise created by the chugger imitates the sound of bass exploding on their prey, which attracts the predators to your surface offering.