Top water??

[Dutch]

Do any of you Stockton guys regularly catch bass on top water baits?  I used to catch lots of bass on a variety of them when I primarily fished the Rock.  At Stockton for me it is a waste of time.  Once in a while I will get a few on buzzbaits but Whopper Plopper, spook and frog just don’t produce for me.  Any pointers?

[FishnDave]

I found some pointers.  Sorry, I couldn't resist. 😁

[Smithvillesteve]

Try a Pop R!!!

[Dutch]

34 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Try a Pop R!!!

Don’t own any.  I gave away everything smaller than a spook junior.

[Smithvillesteve]

Love that spook jr Dutch!! One of my favorites. Caught a nice 17.5" LM on one the other day over at Pomme. 

[Flysmallie]

I always considered Stockton one of the better topwater lakes in the area. 

[Dutch]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

I always considered Stockton one of the better topwater lakes in the area. 

So what is your secret?  How can I go about catching a top water fish down there.  I’ve been fishing it since they closed the dam.  Other than buzz baits I can’t remember a top water bass.

[Flysmallie]

Early is better than late most of the time but it seems like the later fish average bigger. We used to go every Saturday morning and would fish around the big rock island at Cedar Ridge until it was light enough to run wo. Then we would hit secondary points in the big coves across from state park marina. Lots of good smallmouth in that area. 
 

Dump the spooks. Those fish just don’t seem to like them. Chug bugs are the ticket. Or if you can find a Heddon’s Dying Flutter. Sometimes they want them really fast but most times it’s just plop-plop-pause-boom. They will be close to the bank. 
 

Never a bad idea to throw a fluke or floating worm in behind them every once in a while. Those big smallies like to follow but won’t commit to the surface sometimes. Biggest one I have ever seen followed a buzz frog all the way to the boat three casts in a row. Followed a floating worm a few days later and then I never saw it again. 

[Walcrabass]

Dutch,

 Stockton is a great Top water Lake. A 1/2 oz. Black N Chrome Pop R works wonders. Vary your chugging sequence and add a little swimming in there too. Another great one is the KVD Sexy Dawg Junior. Carolina Chrome, Nude, Clearwater Minnow, Sexy Shad, all good patterns. I believe it to be better than a spook. Better hopping and side action.................

Walcrabass

[conorsixtakc]

Caught a few on a plopper a couple summers back. This lm and a few spots. Nothing huge but they’ll definitely eat it when the times right.