Top water chances after cold weather and rain?

[Seth Clarkson]

Planning to try shelvin rock to hootentown tomorrow. Tying baits on tonight and wondering if there was any use in trying a top water popper or something early in the morning. I know whopper poppers have worked for me on lakes after it starts to get cold and the bass start to feed. Haven't fished a river at that particular time during the weather change. 

[Gavin]

Try it! if you have open water. Would hit the slack near current, be prepared to punch some wood. Minnows stack up there now. Buzz baits through down tree tops. 

[Seth Clarkson]

Just now, Gavin said:

Try it! if you have open water. Would hit the slack near current, be prepared to punch some wood. Minnows stack up there now.

Would a moving top water or something that stays in the same spot for the most part have a better shot you think? 

[Gavin]

Fish fast. Not that cold. Around noon 

[snagged in outlet 3]

They were on it last weekend. Zara puppy 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Water up by McCord's bend was 55 on Wed.   I got no love up the river.  65 around Bridgeport.   Threw a Plopper for a long time and never had even a blow up

[Al Agnew]

Water temps are important.  Under 60 degrees, topwater probably won't be the BEST option, but it can produce fish down through the 50s, and on special occasions even colder.  

[Seth Clarkson]

Didn't throw topwater long because it was really shallow for the most part. Had one nice smallie on a ned rig jig. Caught some other tiny ones and a few rock bass. Slower day for the most part and it was windy and cold in the shade for most of that stretch. 

[Al Agnew]

The fish should be beginning to gather around wintering pools by now with the drop in temps, so if you're fishing long stretches of shallower water there may not be many fish there to catch.

[Seth Clarkson]

56 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

The fish should be beginning to gather around wintering pools by now with the drop in temps, so if you're fishing long stretches of shallower water there may not be many fish there to catch.

I had never floated the shelvin to hootentown stretch before. Usually too busy for me so I didn't know what to expect. Worked out for the most part. Didn't get wet, had some nice scenery and caught a few fish.