Its summertime and the topwater bite is strong just about anywhere that bass swim.
Today’s bass anglers are fortunate to have plenty of different topwater lures to choose from.
Arizona’s Josh Bertrand has learned that picking the right one comes down to several factors and he walked us through several different scenarios for topwater fishing.
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Walking Baits
Walking topwater baits are favorites of bass anglers everywhere, and they have proven their worth over the years. There are several styles on the market, but the basic principle of “walking the dog” remains true.
When Berkley released their new lineup of topwaters at ICAST 2018, they included the Drift Walker, J-Walker, Highjacker, and the Cane Walker. Bertrand explained the differences between those baits and when he chooses one over the other.
J-Walker
This traditional style topwater comes in two sizes (100 and 120), and Bertrand says this is his all-around go-to topwater bait.
“This is the most versatile bait. You can fish it fast and slow,” he said. “I like the bigger size when the water is choppy and I like to walk it slower than I do with the smaller one.”
Drift Walker
Bertrand says this walking bait is designed for fishing fast. “You can burn it across the surface, and it excels in ultra clear water,” he said.
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Highjacker
This lure has a deeper profile and is also very easy to walk on the surface.
“I always recommend this to anglers who are not as experienced with walking topwater baits because it is so easy to do. You can get it to walk right away, and it has a very unique shape and sound,” he said.
Another is Berkley’s Cane Walker and Bertrand loves this bait for its versatility.
“You can fish it at all speeds. It is great for walking fast to draw fish from deep water or slow it down around a piece of cover,” he said. “If you are fishing it shallow around brush or in the shade, you can fish it slow and almost walk it in place. It creates tons of commotion and spits water very well.”
The Choppo
This style of topwater baits has been the hottest way to catch bass on the surface over the past few years. Berkley offers the Choppo in a 90mm, and 120mm size and Bertrand hinted that a size in between these two would be released at this year’s ICAST show.
“I will use the bigger size when there is some chop on the surface and the smaller one when I want to cover water or if I am fishing a river system. The 90 size has a great sound on the surface and is very buoyant; it starts to plop immediately after you start your retrieve,” he said.
Poppers
This popping style bait has been around for years, and there are many situations where they excel. Berkley’s version is called the Bullet Pop, and it comes in three sizes: 60, 70, and 80.
“The two smaller sizes are more open water baits, and I like to fish the 60 on spinning gear, and the 70 can be used on either spinning or casting gear.
“The 80 is a much bigger bait, and I like to fish that around shallow cover with a heavy monofilament line. It walks side-to-side very easily and if you tie it on with a loop knot is even easier to get it to walk,” he shared.
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Prop Baits
Topwater baits with small propellers offer a great topwater action with the additional attraction from the spinning blades. The Berkley Spin Rocket is a bait with a thin profile where the Spin Bomb is a more compact design.
Bertrand likes the Spin Bomb during the post-spawn period.
“It works excellent around bluegill beds and is more of a target casting bait,” he added.
“The Spin Rocket is great around the grass in places like Florida, but out west, I have found it to be very good in open water on really clear lakes.”
Wake Them Up
While not necessarily a true topwater, wake baits are a lure style that can draw fish from deep depths to the surface. Berkley offers the Surge Shad in both a jointed and one-piece design, and Bertrand utilizes both.
“This is a fantastic wake bait. The jointed version is my choice when the water has a little ripple on it and this bait casts extremely well.
“I like the standard version when fishing clear and calm water. They are great in open water and have good action and profile to draw fish from deep water,” he added.
Wakebaits are very popular in certain regions, like the Ozarks, but Bertrand has found that they work everywhere as long as the water is clear.
Josh Bertrand likes topwater fishing as much as the rest of us and knows that choosing the right one can make all of the difference in the world. By having a big arsenal of surface baits, he is ready for any condition he sees on the water.
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