Favorite Top Water Lures

[Gavin]

$10 or less....Buzzbaits..you can toss em on spin tackle, but better on casting. I like white, chartruese, and black...I'd probably start with some Zip n' Ziggy's, Sexy Dawg Jrs, and Excalibur Zell Pops. I carry and use most of whats been mentioned so far...but I also like the LC Gunfish, and Spook Jr...Sometimes a different profile, or slightly different action makes all the difference. Have fun.

[Mitch f]

All of the above work well, I think the biggest factor with WTD lures is the action you impart. The size is a big factor too, zippin Ziggy for a small profile works great. For a med profile I like the KVD or popper/walkers. The bigger profile the Super spook, bigger Sammy's, and the KVD.

[Al Agnew]

1. Walk the dog lures...Sammy if you want to spend more money, Sexy Dawg Jr. if you don't want to spend so much. There are others out there that may be just as good on any given day, but I always catch fish on those two.

2. Popper types that also walk the dog...Zell Rowland Pop-R if you want to go a little cheaper, Gunfish, and LC G-Splash if you don't mind spending more money.

3. Buzzbaits...I make my own, because I want them to be fairly compact.

I like the idea of the "buzz-frogs" when there are algae or lots of leaves on the water!

Colors...Just have a light color and a darker color. I don't think it matters much exactly which colors. I do like translucent colors in very clear water. And I like chartreuse in buzzbaits, with black coming in second.

And as for spending money...unless you have a run of bad luck, or you are using line that's too light, you will get several years of use out of a single lure because you won't hang it up in deep water where you can't reach it. So I wouldn't worry too much about initial cost. You'll spend a lot more in soft plastics than you will on expensive topwaters.

[cwc87]

My top water baits are. Chug bug. Sammy Dog-x. Black buzz bait or white. Stanley ribbet frog for certain situations Some lakes if I'm after bigger fish the giant Zara spook.

Smallmouth on streams a 5/8 oz black jitter bug is hard to beat after dark. Don't waste ur money on the 3/8 size.

Very finicky ultra clear water bass try the Sammy 65 or mega bass dog-x jr.

[ozarkgunner]

I can't get the smaller Sammy to walk right.

[Gavin]

I can't get the smaller Sammy to walk right.

Get a Zip n Ziggy...

[rps]

Guys, trust me on this. Both popper people and WTD people will love the Top Dollar on rivers. Just the right size, splashes and walks. Check my posts for the last two years for pictures of Top Dollar fish. On the unmodified Bill Norman's just sharpen the hooks.

[Gavin]

Thanks RPS....I know that you like it...finally got one to try...the shape reminds me of the Crease Minnow...a saltwater fly that can be very productive at times....in freshwater streams, its been at its best when ripped fast across riffles. Will see if it makes the cut...

[rps]

I googled crease minnow. I see the resemblance.

The bait sometimes throws oddly - someone said like a potato chip - and getting a WTD going sometimes is difficult. However, in the long run consider this: I am a topwater fanatic and I am willing to spend $20 per bait. I fish modified Top Dollars.

[Gavin]

Mods? Looking forward to trying the TD when we take the pool cover off. Saw some interesting spook mods the other day...take the back hook off...tie some silicone around the split ring....balance I guess...upsize front hook. Looked pretty good...probably needs some tank time to get one where you want it. Headed off the grid in the canoe tomorrow...back early next week sometime. Yall tear em up!