One of the most visual and fun ways to catch bass is with a topwater lure.

When you can actually see a monster largemouth fly through the water column and breach the surface, your adrenaline will be pumping to the max.

So, let’s take a look at some of the best topwater lures for bass as well as some tips and tricks for increasing hookups.

Topwater fishing for bass can be an experience you won’t soon forget. Let’s check out some different types of topwater options…

Best Topwater Lures for Bass | The Rundown

In this section, we will mention some top-tier topwater lure brands, but the main point is to cover the types of topwater lures, not necessarily specific models.

You can click any of the links below to jump straight to that particular topwater lure.

• Hollow Body Frog
• Popper
• Buzzbait
• Spook
• Jitterbug
• Popping Frog
• Floating Minnow

1. Hollow-Body Frog

A hollow-body frog is a great option where there is vegetation or other potential for snags on the surface of the water. (Photo: Drew Pierce)

“Frogging” is one of the most popular topwater strategies, as big bass love to munch on frogs. This is especially true in areas with algae, lily pads, and other things on the surface. Because the hooks are tucked into the backside of the lure body, you will not snag everything you hit on the surface.

LIVE TARGET Hollow Body Frog, 2.25", Green Yellow

$14.86

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We specifically denote the hollow-body variation because it is the most common and easy to use. There are other types of topwater frogs, but this one tends to be the most versatile.

Companies like Scum Frog and Booyah do a great job of crafting hollow-body frogs. Once you can learn to walk the frog, the bites will come in full force.

2. Popper Lure

Poppers, when jerked, throw water in a forward motion, creating water disturbance that get bass’ attention. (Photo: Drew Pierce)

Especially for smallmouth, poppers are great topwater lures that provide more extreme action. Rather than being subtle with your action, poppers are made to throw water forward and cause a disturbance on the surface.

These are hard-bodied lures that feature two treble hooks on the bottom. The cupped mouth allows for the popping of water. With this build, it is perfect in open, clear water as it will not work correctly if it comes in contact with items on the surface.

Strike King KVD Splash Jr. / Natural Shad, 2 1/4-inch

$9.99

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3. Buzzbait

Buzzbaits are like a spinner bait that runs on the water’s surface, and they can lead to some violent topwater blowups! (photo: Drew Pierce)

Buzzbaits are basically spinnerbaits with a propelling tool. So, instead of diving down into the water column, they stay on the water’s surface and provide a sort of bubbling effect.

This gurgling and spinning is super enticing to bass and can be used in a variety of situations.

Use the same colors as you would with a spinnerbait, as white and chartreuse and black and blues can get the job done.

Megastrike Cavitron Buzzbait (1/4-Ounce, Gold Blade Chart/White Skirt)

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4. Spook

While spooks can be expensive, there are many simple versions in basic colors that can help you land a topwater bass. (photo: Drew Pierce)

Although spooks are usually used in saltwater, bass spooks provide awesome action to seek out the larger fish. Spook lures are long, tube-like lures that are walked on the surface.

Spooks provide serious, big action that will weed out the smaller bites and focus on the trophies.

Spooks can be quite expensive, and there is really no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on the high-end stuff. Keep it simple with the classic colors, and spend your time perfecting the action.

Heddon Super Spook Topwater Fishing Lure for Saltwater and Freshwater, Red Head, Super Spook Jr (1/2 oz)

$10.64

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02/25/2025 05:03 am GMT

5. Jitterbug

The Jitterbug is a topwater classic that mimics bugs on the water’s surface. (photo: Northwoods Lures)

A lure that is somewhat similar to a popper is the Jitterbug.

The classic Jitterbug is made by Arbogast, and has a bit of a different action from it’s cousin, the popper.

The Jitterbug features a couple-cupped front lip. This gives the Jitterbug a back-and-forth motion, so it can be used with a steady cadence.

Jitterbugs are also a bit smaller and chunkier than poppers, so they are good about imitating bugs that are warbling on the surface. Black and green is a really popular color for the Jitterbug, so keep that in mind.

Jitterbug Topwater Lure, 2", 1/4 oz, Frog/White Belly, Floating

$11.29

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6. Popping frog

Popping frogs have a lip similar to popper lures that works well in open water. (photo: Drew Pierce)

Obviously, the first item on our list was the hollow-body frog, but a popping frog deserves its own section.

Popping frogs have cupped mouths to provide that popping action on the surface. This lure has its own section because the action and use is completely different.

A popping frog is best in open water and near edges rather than in the muck.  This type of action is super enticing and will add some spice when a regular frog isn’t getting it done.

Rebel Pop'N Frog Fishing Lure, Cricket Frog, 1 7/8 inches

$10.75

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02/25/2025 05:23 am GMT

7. Floating Minnow

A floating minnow resembles a jerkbait, but can be worked with “twitching” of the fishing rod. (Photo: Rebel, Amazon)

Finally, we have the floating minnow. A floating minnow looks exactly like a jerkbait, but you do not have it dive down into the water column, but rather work it on the surface.

The bill is there to shift the lure side to side and provide a swimming action. With the hard body and two treble hooks, hookups are strong and easy.

The key to a good floating minnow is a colorway that looks as natural as possible. When you pair a good color with the right action, you are in a great place for success.

Rapala Original Floater 05 Fishing lure ( Fishing lure (Gold, Size- 2)

$7.48

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02/25/2025 05:08 am GMT

Topwater Bass Fishing Tips

Now that we’ve covered 7 of the best topwater lures for bass, let’s cover some tips that will help you get more topwater blowups!

Find a cadence

With many topwater lures, you need some sort of consistency. With a frog, you want to “walk” it back and forth on the surface. This gives your lure a super realistic action that bass love to munch on.

With lures like the buzzbait, this is much easier, as you just need to reel it in at a steady pace.

Either way, find what your bass wants to bite and keep it consistent once you have some success.

Sometimes finding the right cadence is all it takes to get the topwater action to heat up.

Mix up the colors

Believe it or not, the colors of your topwater lure do matter when it comes to fishing for bass.

It might seem useless to put thought into the color because the bass are below and you might be thinking they can’t tell the differnece. That is not the case.

You need to put some thought into the colors of your lures and mix them up if something is not working. If a certain frog has an unappealing shade when the bite is slow, mix things up and it might get the job done.

Color is an important factor in choosing the right topwater lure for the situation. Don’t be afraid to mix things (and colors) up!

Find structure

Similar to any bass fishing strategy, structure matters.

When there is structure under the surface, there are likely bass chilling there. Just because you are working a topwater lure doesn’t mean that structure doesn’t matter.

So, when you can find structured areas, you’ll likely find bass willing to come to the surface and strike your lure. Working across points and over structure will increase your bites tremendously.

Just because you’re fishing topwater doesn’t mean you shouldn’t find structure. Find the structure and find the fish.

Final Thoughts On Topwater Lures For Bass

If you are new to the topwater game, it can be so much fun. You’ll see, when a huge bass rams through the surface and bites your lure, the feeling is like no other.

Use these lure recommendations and tips to give you a good starting point for topwater fishing. Good luck, and put a hook N1!

Bass fishing has exploded in popularity, which has been a boon for the fishing gear industry.

The days of dropping a cane pole down and hoping for a bite are long over. Now, technology has never been better to help you get hooked up with a trophy bass.

So, let’s break down the best types of fishing reels when targeting bass. Each one of these reel types has its pros and cons, and we’ll cover those as well.

So without further adieu, here are the best fishing reels for bass! (You can click the links below to go straight to that type of reel:

• Baitcaster
• Spinning Reel
• Push-Button Reel
• Fly Fishing Reel

#1 – Baitcasting reel

The best and most popular bass fishing reel in the game is the baitcaster. In the grand scheme of fishing, baitcasters are fairly new to the game. Although there are similar designs dating back to the late 1800s, the modern baitcaster that was developed from the likes of Shimano was in the 1970s.

Over time, these reels got lighter, better, and eventually became the best reel for bass fishing for a number of reasons.

The best reel type for bass fishing is the baitcaster, which have continued to improve in design and performance. (photo credit: Drew Pierce)

Shimano SLX 150, Low Profile Baitcasting Reel

$104.99

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Baitcaster Pros

• Performance: The first reason baitcasters are the best reel for bass fishing is the performance. Especially with artificial lures that have some weight to them, no reel can provide the accuracy and torque that a baitcaster does. You can zip lures in smaller spaces a lot easier than with any other setup. This is because you have full control over the spool.
• Drag: Baitcasters are very good at being able to lock down the drag and get really high quality hook sets. Modern drag systems are designed to give you leverage over the fish. With bass fishing specifically, you want a tight drag so you can keep the fish tight through the hookset and fight. Other reels do not have the high drag capability that baitcasters do. Having this type of strength will increase the quality of your hookups.
• Feel in the hand: Over time, baitcasting reels have gotten smaller, lighter, and easier to fit in the hand. They are specifically designed to be ergonomic and not take a toll on your hands. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s the little things that can make a difference in a long day of fishing.

Baitcaster Cons

• Price: Generally, baitcasters are going to be more expensive than spinning reels or push button reels. If you look at the purchase as an investment and can afford it, no problem. But, for the beginning angler, these prices can sometimes be intimidating.
• Harder to learn: One of the most frustrating aspects of starting with a baitcaster is mastering the cast. Unlike with two of the other options, you cannot just pick up a baitcaster and shoot the lure out there. You will be in a world of trouble. Mastering the cast with a baitcaster is something that takes a long time and has a serious learning curve. If you have someone to help you through the process, you are in good shape. But, if you are going into it cold, this will be tough.
• Struggles with lighter presentations: Baitcasters are made to throw lures with weight. However, bass anglers love to implement weightless presentations into their strategy. Weightless rigs have amazing action, and baitcasting rigs struggle to provide that action as well as the other options. So, when it comes to casting lighter lures with baitcasters, they are not always the best option.

#2 – Spinning reel

Although baitcasters have stolen the show in the modern bass fishing scene, spinning reels have been at the top for a long time. This is because of the versatility and simplicity of use that cannot be found in other fishing reel types.

For a lot of beginners, the spinning reel is entrance to the sport of fishing. Here are the pros and cons of a spinning reel!

Spinning reels are easy to use, even for the beginner, and they are affordable as well.

The Pros of Spinning Reels

• Ease of use: First and foremost, spinning reels are super easy to use. When a first-timer wants to get into fishing, it is typically either with one of these or a push button reel. This is because there is little-to-no learning curve required. Once you know how to use a spinning reel, you are set for life, no matter the brand or model.
• Price: Spinning reels are also very affordable. Fishing can be a pricey hobby, so having a budget option that can still perform is key.
• Simplicity: This goes along with ease of use, but the simplicity of a spinning reel is a big attribute. When you buy a spinning reel, the technology is catered to common knowledge, for the most part. Without a ton of knobs and alternative aspects, you should be set to go fairly easily.

Lew's Fishing, Custom Pro Speed Spin Spinning Reels, 6.2:1 Gear Ratio, 12 Bearings, 22 lb Max Drag, Ambidextrous, 160/10 (TLC3000)

$107.99

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The Cons of Spinning Reels

• Not great for heavy lures: Spinning reels do best with light weights. So, as the opposite of the baitcaster, this is where you want to throw the weightless and very light rigs.
• Does not have the best casting performance: Generally, the accuracy and casting performance is not up to the par set by baitcasters. So, if you are flipping docks or need to get lures into tight spots, this may not be the one to go with.

#3 – Push button reel:

The most basic bass fishing reel on the market is the push button.

This section will be short, as they are mainly just meant for kids and entry level anglers who have yet to work up to the other kinds.

Push button fishing reels are great for the beginner due to their ease of use. Just push and cast! (photo credit: KastKing)

The Pros of Push Button Reels

• Super easy to use: These are called push button reels as they literally just have a push button and you have to do nothing else. This is why they are so easy to use. You simply hold the button and let go as you cast.
• Great for kids and smaller bass: Because of the ease of use, it is really good for beginners and fishing for smaller bass. Once someone gets into fishing and learns about the other reals, these will probably be left behind.

KastKing Brutus Spincast Fishing Reel,Reversible Handle for Left or Right Casting.

$34.99

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02/25/2025 01:48 am GMT

The Cons of Push Button Reels

• Do not work that well comparatively: The performance of the push button reel compared to the others on this list is at the bottom. They do not cast super well and are super bulky in the hand.
• Does not handle big fish well: Push button reels do not have the best drag system. So, if you hook into a large bass, you may struggle getting it in successfully.

#4 – Fly fishing Reel

The fishing reel that is the most “different” on this list of reels for bass fishing is the fly fishing reel. Fly fishing is a whole different animal that requires an entirely different skill set. So, let’s jump into the pros and cons.

While fly rod reels can be used to fish for and catch bass, their operation requires a steeper learning curve.

The Pros

• Unique way to fish: Because fly fishing is so different, you can see this as an opportunity for a new challenge. This puts you in a unique spot when it comes to targeting bass.
• Gives you different perspectives: Fly fishing can be done in just about any body of water, but flowing streams and picturesque rivers are best. Buying a fly reel can be a good way to get out there.

The Cons

• Requires different knowledge: Because fly fishing requires a totally different technique and knowledge set and a lot of practice, it will be harder to acclimate to bass fishing with your fly reel as fast as you could with some other reels.
• Can be expensive: Fly fishing is an expensive hobby to get into. Especially because the lures are different, you have to go all in, and the reel is a part of it.
• Travel: If you are going to be travelling with your fly fishing gear, you’ll need to get some special gear.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of types of bass fishing reels on the market. So, weigh your options and see what will work best for you and we hope you Put A Hook N1!