Perhaps the most exciting way to catch smallmouth bass is with topwater lures. Nothing will get your blood pumping quite like seeing a big smallmouth come up and crush your topwater bait.
These days’ anglers have a ton of different topwater lures to choose from. Poppers, buzzbaits, ploppers, walking baits, wakebaits have all been proven tactics that can catch a lot of fish.
However, over the years I’ve learned the hard way that there are certain topwater lures that outperform others when fishing for smallmouth’s.
So which topwater lures are the best for smallmouth bass? That is exactly what we are going to discuss in this article.
Let’s get started.
7 Must Have Topwater Lures for Smallmouth Bass
If you have ever fished a topwater lure for bass, then you know that it’s the most exciting and addicting way to catch fish.
Experienced anglers know that in order to draw in smallmouth bass and get them to take your lure on the surface, you need to make sure you have the best topwater lure tied on based on the fishing conditions.
These days, there are a ton of different topwater lures out on the market, but not all are equally effective for smallmouth bass.
The right size, action, style, sound and color can all play a major role in your fishing success. So what are the best topwater lures for smallmouth bass? Let’s take a look.
Here are the 7 Best Topwater Lures for Smallmouth Bass:
Best Topwater Lures for Smallmouth Bass
River2Sea Whopper Plopper
The River2Sea Whopper Plopper has taken the bass fishing industry by storm recently and for good reason. It’s a killer topwater lure and is one every bass fishing angler should have in their arsenal.
The Whopper Plopper comes in both an original and silent version to help you to adapt to the mood of the fish. It also comes in a variety of colors and sizes to help you best match the hatch.
When targeting smallmouth bass with the Whopper Plopper I find the 90 and 110 sizes to be the most productive. Although I have seen other anglers have success with the bigger sizes as well.
As far as colors go, you can’t go wrong with Bone, Monkey Butt & Bluegill but it’s always best to match your color based on the bass forage and fishing conditions.
If you are fishing topwater for smallmouth bass than the Whopper Plopper is a must have. It will allow you to cover a lot of water and catch a lot of fish.
Make sure to check out My Recommended Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.
Rebel Pop-R
One of my all-time favorite topwater lures to target smallmouth bass with is a popper. The popper is a great option when fishing for bass around tight cover or out in the open on clear water flats.
Perhaps the most popular and affordable popper is the Rebel Pop-R. This lure has been around for decades and straight up catches fish.
It has a great action and just the amount of spit and chug to draw any nearby bass in. For the price the Rebel Pop-R is tough to beat. It’s an all-around solid popper that will help you catch a ton of fish.
Heddon Zara Spook
The Zara Spook is one of the all-time great topwater lures. Its battle tested and flat out catches both monster large and smallmouth bass. (It’s also so much fun to fish)
This legendary walking bait was first introduced in 1939 and has caught bass all over the country ever since. It offers an iconic walk-the-dog action that has proven to catch not only a ton of fish, but it catches bigger fish as well.
While throwing this lure over the years, I’ve been super impressed with its drawing power. The combination of action and sound is second to none.
Every bass fishing angler that throws topwater lures needs to have the Zara Spook in their arsenal. It’s a must have bait.
Megabass PopMax
The Megabass PopMax is a premium popper that will not only help you catch a ton of fish, but will also help you land some of the biggest smallmouth of the year.
The PopMax has a lateral weight system where the weight moves right to left allowing the bait to move back and forth creating a unique walking action.
This a little more expensive compared to the other topwater lures on this list, but it will not disappoint and is well worth the price.
If you don’t mind spending a bit more for a premium bait than I’d highly recommend you pick up one of these poppers and give it a try, it will be well worth it.
River2Sea Rover
Another fantastic topwater lure designed and created by River2Sea is the Rover. This walking style bait offers a unique acoustic sound that will draw big fish in and deliver when it counts.
The Rover is an absolute fun topwater lure to fish. Not only does it get a ton of bites, but it will also help you catch some giant smallmouth bass.
It features a tungsten ball bearing rattle that produces a unique and enticing sound. It’s added weight at the back makes casting it a breeze and gives it an ideal side-to-side action triggering any nearby smallie into striking.
If you are looking for an all-around great walking the dog style topwater bait than the River2Sea Rover is an excellent choice and I would highly recommend adding it to your topwater box.
Arbogast Jitterbug
Another all-time great topwater lure for smallmouth bass is the Jitterbug by Arbogast. This bait has been helping anglers catch big bass for over 50 years and continues to be a major player in the topwater space.
This bait is especially known for being a great night-time topwater lure, but also works great during the day as well. It comes in a variety of different color options and bait sizes.
It features a double-cupped lip that creates a loud rhythmic sound that any nearby bass will have a hard time resisting.
Listen, the Jitterbug has been flying under the radar recently with all of the other new popular topwater lures. Making it a great option to give the bass a different look.
If you haven’t had a chance to throw this lure yet, then I would highly recommend giving this bait a try the next time you are craving that topwater bite.
BOOYAH Buzz Blade Buzzbait
When I’m fishing areas that have grass or heavy cover, my favorite topwater option is the buzz bait. Other topwater lures like poppers and ploppers that have treble hooks are great in open water and around structures, but can easily get hung up in cover.
One of the best value and performance buzz baits out on the market is the Booyah Buzz Blade. The blades on this bait creates a loud clatter that will annoy any nearby bass so much that they’ll have to smack it.
One of my favorite things about the buzz bait is its versatility. You can mix up the action and colors by adding different trailers and the versatility is unbelievable.
The Booyah Buzz Blade is an all-around great buzz bait and is ideal for targeting smallmouth bass in grass and around heavey cover. Make sure to add this bait and technique to your bass fishing arsenal.
10 Topwater Fishing Tips for Smallmouth Bass
Having the right topwater lures tied on can give you a huge advantage, but there are also some important things you should keep when target smallmouth bass on the surface.
Here are 10 tips that will help you catch more bass on topwater lures:
- Only use high quality hooks.Go with natural colored baits in clear water.
- Experiment with you lure retrieval.
- Cover water and target key structure.
- Add a dressed/feathered back hook.
- Fish topwater lures in low-light conditions and at night.
- Learn and experiment with all types of topwater lures.
- Use topwater lure all-day, not just in the morning & night hours.
- Use topwater lures with rattles.
- Make sure to use the right lines and equipment.
When Should You Use Topwater Lures
So when is the best time to use topwater lures? Topwater lures are most effective in the hours that mark the transition period of dawn and dusk. These transition periods are going to be the best time to throw topwater lures.
However, you can effectively throw topwater lures all day, especially when its cloudy or you find areas with shade.
Final Thoughts
Throwing topwater lures for smallmouth best is one of my all-time favorite way to fish. There is nothing quite like it.
I’ve learned over the years that selecting the right topwater lure when targeting smallmouth bass is absolutely critical. The right lure has the ability to pull in and draw strikes from big smallmouth and are a blast to fish.
I would highly recommend checking out the baits and lures we have covered in this article. They are all smallmouth topwater winners and will help you catch a ton of fish.
Tight Lines
