Topwater Lures Made Easy! (Beginner To Advanced)

Choosing the right topwater can be a real challenge! Between poppers, walkers, crawlers, whopper poppers, buzz baits, frogs, and toads its hard to know what to throw. But just like anything else, there are key baits that seem to work day after day and month after month. Today Matt is opening up his topwater boxes and sharing the key "stand outs" that he relies on to get bit when it counts. 

Matt breaks his spring topwater into 4 categories. He relies on poppers, walking baits, straight retrieve baits, and frogs, to catch fish throughout Spring. Within those 4 categories it gets pretty complicated (as witnessed by the 4 boxes of topwaters he pulls out of the rod locker) but today he is sharing his favorites with us. From each category he's able to quickly select the "key" baits that will get bit when you need them most. 

Below you'll find links to the exact topwater lures shown in the video. We've included the guys favorite colors and sizes for each, as well as some of the different rods they use to throw these baits. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

POPPERS... 

All Around- Damiki D Pop 70: http://bit.ly/2Pjvqo3

Colors: Spayu, Phantom, Black Holo

Refined- Yellow Magic 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

Colors: Smoke Shad, Japanese Shad, Alewife

Bigger Fish- Megabass Pop Max: http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Colors: Gill, Pumpkinseed, MB Gizzard

WALKING BAITS... 

All Around- River2Sea Rover 128: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

Colors: Sooner, Bone, Abalone Shad

Refined- Evergreen Shower Blows 105/125: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Colors: Bone, Half Mirror Wakasagi, Skeleton Chartreuse

Small Profile- Rapala Skitter Walk: https://bit.ly/37DC2Uz

Colors: Shad Translucent, Bluegill

STRAIGHT RETRIEVE BAITS... 

-Whopper Plopper 130: http://bit.ly/2a7ipHL

Colors: Bone, Bluegill, Munky Butt

-Whopper Plopper 110: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Colors: Bone, I Know It

-Dirty Jigs Skirtless Pro Buzz: https://bit.ly/2WJ85R3

Colors: Silver, Red

-Quad Blade Buzz: https://bit.ly/2SCqcmj

Colors: Night Stalker, Red Bug

SMALL FROGS... 

-Jackall Kaera: http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Colors: Glitter Bluegill, Glitter Hasu, Green Frog

-Spro Bronzeye Jr. 60: http://bit.ly/2XkbgxR

Colors: Killer Gill, Red Ear, Neon Glow

MATT'S FAVORITE WALKING BAIT COMBO... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Shimano Metanium DC (HG): http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

Line- Sufix 131 Braid 40 lb: https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

MATT'S FAVORITE FROG COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (XG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

MID-PRICED WALKING BAIT COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Curado 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

BUDGET POPPER COMBO...

Rod- Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 (HG): http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- Power Pro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Spring Buyer's Guide: Crankbaits, Chatterbaits, Spinnerbaits, And Other Hard Baits!

Welcome to video #3 of our Spring Buyer's Guide series! Today we're looking at hard baits for Spring Bass Fishing. We're covering the best crankbaits, topwater, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, etc. With such a huge category to cover, we created a short list of our "must have" baits for Spring. 

We love reaction and power fishing in Spring! If you look on the decks of our boats, you'll find them littered with hard baits. From the outside its a huge category and incredibly overwhelming, but we can fix that. Today we're narrowing it down to one or two key baits from each category that we rely on as we travel the country. Focus your time on the key Spring time baits in the best colors and you'll find success!

Below you'll find links to all the baits discussed in the video. We've listed them in the order they appeared, and even listed our top colors for each lure. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

PREVIOUS BUYER'S GUIDES...

-Rods And Reels For Bass Fishing On A Budget: https://youtu.be/VF0PVC2P1Po

-Best Rods And Reels For Bass Fishing: https://youtu.be/icv2ymodbuk

UPCOMING BUYER'S GUIDES... 

-Soft Baits For Spring Bass Fishing

-Rain Gear/Sun Gear/Apparel

-Boat Electronics, Tools, and Equipment

DEEP/MID DIVING CRANKBAITS... 

-River2Sea Tactical DD75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Colors: Blood Craw, Mirrored Minnow, Ghost Minnow

-Spro RK Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

Colors: Red River Craw, Red Bug, Phantom Green

-Rapala DT8: http://bit.ly/2BL0UYl

Colors: Delta, Red Crawdad, Live River Shad

SQUAREBILLS... 

-River2Sea Biggie: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Colors: Cold Blooded, Gizzard Shad, Delta Craw

-13 Fishing Scamp 60: https://bit.ly/3iMkYAw

Colors: Day Old Guac, Mud Bug Punch

FLAT SIDE SHALLOW CRANKS... 

-Spro Little John 50: http://bit.ly/2dDfuqt

Colors: Blood Craw, Western Craw, Chrome Olive

-Rapala Otts Garage Slim: https://bit.ly/3pV1CLN

Colors: Red Crawdad, Live River Shad

LIPLESS CRANKBAITS... 

-Lucky Craft LV-500: http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Colors: Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad, American Shad

-Jackall TN-70: http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Colors: SG Threadfin, Ghost Minnow, Escape Craw

-Cotton Cordell Super Spot: http://bit.ly/2y3K210

Colors: Royal Red, Rayburn Red, Chrome Blue

BLADE BAITS... 

-Damiki Vault: http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Colors: Holo Ayu, Holo Cyber Purple, Real Shad

-Megabass Dyna Response: http://bit.ly/2R7FlvL

Colors: Ito Hiuo, Jakucho Shad, Setsuki Ayu

CHATTERBAITS... 

Bait- Zman Evergreen JackHammer: http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Colors: Green Pumpkin Shad, Clear Water Shad, Fire Craw

Bait- Zman Mini Max: https://bit.ly/3tqztzi

Colors: Pearl Ghost, Gizzard Shad, Bluegill

CHATTERBAIT TRAILERS... 

-Hog Farmer Spunk Shad: http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Colors: Blue Gizzard, Crystal Shad, Sexy Shad

-Big Bite Baits SwimOn: https://bit.ly/2NkSdPV

Colors: Flame Thrower, Smoky Gold, Pearl

GLIDE BAITS... 

-River2Sea S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Bluegill, Light Trout, Warden Hitch

-GRatt Sneaky Pete: http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Hitch

-Jackall Gantarel Jr: https://bit.ly/3pcIzvW

Colors: Scale Gill, RT Bluegill, Ghost Gill

SPINNERBAITS... 

-Megabass SV-3: https://bit.ly/3lk1SD0

Colors: Hasu, Wakasagi, Gill

-Damiki TOT Type 1: https://bit.ly/368VED0

Colors: Sharp Belly, Smelt Shad

-Terminator P1 Pro Series: https://bit.ly/3xUsekP

Colors: Green Gizzard, Silver Shiner, Nashville Sexy

SPINNERBAIT TRAILER... 

-Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Super Shad

TOPWATER... 

-R2S Whopper Plopper 110: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Colors: Bone, I Know It, MunkyButt

-Megabass Pop Max: http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Colors: Matte Shad, Gill, PumpkinSeed

-River2Sea Bubble Walker 128: http://bit.ly/2e0PZOY

Colors: Loon, Sooner, You Know It

ALABAMA RIGS... 

-Hog Farmer Tactical Flex Rig (Bladed): https://bit.ly/38xd1es

-Hog Farmer Tactical Flex Rig (Non-Bladed): https://bit.ly/3vhpSez

JERKBAITS...

-Megabass Vision 110: http://bit.ly/2j31TKb

Colors: GP Pro Blue, Mat Shad, HT Ito Tennessee Shad

-Jackall Rerange: http://bit.ly/2ge0qED

Colors: HL Silver Shad, Blue Pearl Shad

-Shimano World Minnow: https://bit.ly/3Fwg9F6

Colors: Chart Silver, Black Silver, Ghost Ayu

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

RAW and UNCUT Fishing For BIG Bass!

Come along for a day of bass fishing! Watch how we build patterns and target these BIG bass in a large lake. If you want to see what its like to really figure out a new body of water, this is for you! We're using a chatterbait, swimbait, fluke, and topwater to coax these fish into biting. 

This style of video gives a complete view of what its really like to get out on the water and dial in the fish. When we're just showing highlights its easy to assume that we don't have struggles. Put this video on and watch the ups and downs, the good decisions and the bad, and see how it plays out in the end as Tim sticks some true monster bass! If you don't have time to watch it all, use the cut points below to jump between highlights. If you enjoy this style of video leave a comment and let us know!

These bass are transitioning into the shallows to feed and spawn. Spring has arrived in the South and these bass are feeding! If you want to replicate some of these patterns, we've included links to all the equipment Tim was using. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've included relevant colors, as well as the rods and reels he was using to throw the baits. 

CHATTERBAIT... 

 Bait- Evergreen JackHammer (3/8 oz): http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Color: Green Pumpkin Shad

Trailer- Yamamoto Zako: http://bit.ly/2fKmSRp

Color: Zako, Green Pumpkin Black Flake

UNDERSPIN...

Bait- Megabass Uoze Swimmer (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2kmDjdK

Color: Black/Blue

Trailer- Yamamoto Zako Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2fKmSRp

Color: Zako

SWIM JIG... 

Bait- Dirty Jigs 1/2 oz Swim Jig: http://bit.ly/2dIVUMd

Color: Black and Blue

Trailer- Gambler EZ Swimmer: https://bit.ly/2OLlyUf

Color: Gold Rush

FLUKE...

Bait- Zoom Super Fluke: http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Color: Smokin Shad

Hook- Gamakatsu 4/0 Superline: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

FROG... 

-Jackall Gavacho: http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Color: Chart Strike Gill

TOPWATER...

-Whopper Plopper 110: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Color: Loon

CHATTERBAIT COMBO... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 883C BJR: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL A (HG): https://bit.ly/3tdTQ36

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline Super FC 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

SWIM JIG COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

CUT POINTS...

5:50 - 1st Fish On Chatterbait

14:05 - Explaining The Mindset

22:40 - 2nd Fish Catch

23:40 - Teach How To Fish A Chatterbait

30:10 - Catch GIANT BASS on Chatterbait!

37:20 - Grass Fishing Tips

42:00 - Chatterbait Retrieves Instruction

54:25 - 4th Fish Catch

57:40 - Lose Big Bass At The Boat!

01:01:15 - Teaching About Swim Jigs In Grass

01:26:45 - Mega Live Instruction

01:50:00 - Catching A 6 lber!

02:20:45 - 6th Fish Catch

02:45:00 - 7th Fish Catch

02:48:40 - 8th Fish Catch

02:52:40 - 9th Fish Catch

03:12:00 - Discussing Baits, Gear, And Choices (Wrapping Up)

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

CRAZY UNDERWATER BASS FISHING FOOTAGE!! + SPRING FISHING TIPS YOU'VE NEVER TRIED!

Check out these INCREDIBLE underwater bass Strikes! Watch how these bass interact with lures and what triggers them to bite. Then pay close attention to the details as Matt explains how you can catch giant fish in early Spring by going completely against traditional bass fishing knowledge and triggering a feed response in big bass.

Early Spring topwater? Is that really an option? Could it work in your lake? You better believe it!! Very few anglers throw topwater during the Spring transition but those that do often catch giant bass. Its an overlooked technique that you should consider throwing on warm afternoons. We're not suggesting it be your main approach, but when you're looking for a giant bite, it can't be ruled out. 

Below you'll find links to some of our favorite walking, popping, and straight retrieve topwater lures for Early Spring. We've also included some of the gear we use to fish these baits effectively. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

RELATED UNDERWATER VIDEOS... 

-Big Swimbaits Getting Destroyed: https://youtu.be/OT06aiLojOI

-Underwater Bass Strikes- Jigs and Swimbaits: https://youtu.be/j3s3k0D4wHI

-Fish Attacking Lures and Bass Fishing Tips: https://youtu.be/BP7a6HpQZDM

WALKING BAITS... 

-River2Sea Rover 128: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

Colors: Ghost Minnow, Sooner, Abalone Shad

-Evergreen Shower Blows 125: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Colors: Bone, Black Bone, Skeleton Chartreuse

POPPING BAITS... 

-Megabass Pop Max: http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Colors: Gill, Matte Shad

-R2S Bubble Walker: http://bit.ly/2e0PZOY

Colors: Abalone Shad, You Know It

WHOPPER PLOPPER... 

-Whopper Plopper 130: http://bit.ly/2a7ipHL

Colors: Loon, TW Matte Black

BUZZBAITS... 

-D&M Easy Roller: https://bit.ly/2SCqcmj

Color: Night Stalker, Red Bug

-Nichols Impulse Buzz: https://bit.ly/3sGNUiu

Colors: Black Blue, Black Plague

FAVORITE HIGH-END TOPWATER COMBO...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (HG): https://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline SX1 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

BUDGET ALL-AROUND TOPWATER COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'2" Medium: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT (HG): http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line- Power Pro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

BUDGET-FRIENDLY POPPER COMBO...

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 6'8" Medium X Fast: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT (HG): http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line- Power Pro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz