Topwater baits also good in colder water
Despite a water temperature struggling to reach the 50-degree mark, Jeff Samsel pitched a popper-style topwater bait along the shallows rimming a gravel-based Allegheny River island.
After a twitch or two, an 18-inch smallmouth bass rocketed clear of the water, engulfing the lure on the return trip.
The chunky bass was one of many to respond to the Xz2 Xcalibur Zell Pop during that recent outing, thus disproving any thought of surface lures being a warmwater-only deal.
Topwaters entail a wide array of baits, ones that are appropriate for many situations beyond the summer-twilight niche in which they so often are relegated.
When considered as a group — buzzbaits, walk-the-dog cigar-shaped lures, propeller baits, twitched minnow baits, along with the aforementioned popper — some style of topwater is likely a good bass-fishing choice from mid-spring through mid-fall.
It's likely the Arbogast Hula Popper, which is still being made, was the first production-level bait of this style. Other examples include the Storm Chug Bug, Rapala Skitter Pop and Rebel Pop R.
The common trait of these concave-faced surface lures is that they produce a noticeable "pop" when a sharp rod twitch is imparted. They also leave a bubble trail, a visual component for bass to key on.
The Xcalibur Zell Pop used by Samsel is a modified Rebel Pop R.
"The bait gets its name from tournament angler Zell Rowland, considered one of the finest topwater fishermen out there," said Samsel. "The modifications made produce more of a spitting action than a hard-popping one. It has super sharp hooks. The feathered tail makes the bait sit up a little bit and provides an additional target for the fish."
Poppers can be worked in a variety of ways and could represent a living food source to a bass. But, it's also likely bass find poppers a bit annoying, producing reactionary strikes from fish that just can't take it anymore.
Driven by spawning activities during the spring catch-and-release season, smallmouth and largemouth bass spend much time in shallow water, both in lakes and rivers. Poppers are excellent baits for working over such shallow zones, especially in areas where there is a good chance bass will be holding. Poppers are relatively slow to work and are less than ideal for quickly covering water.
Popper anglers work the bait in a variety of ways, from aggressively to much more subtly. During a trip a week before the one in which Samsel joined me, my frequent partner Dave Lehman boated numerous river smallmouth on a popper using a soft, subtle retrieve.
Samsel's tactics were more aggressive, imparting a louder pop of the bait and more surface disturbance. Experimentation is in order.
Regardless of the forcefulness of the pop-inducing rod twitch, it's important to provide plenty of pauses.
"Most of the strikes occur between pops," said Samsel. "In a flowing water situation, it will drift downstream a little bit and the smallmouth will just smash it. You cast it into a quiet pocket, twitch it a couple of times and allow it to drift downstream. The bait floats over a rock, and they come up and get it. Whether they think it's something terrestrial or they don't think at all, it's definitely something they respond to."
A lot of fish will blow up on a lure, completely missing it. It's vital to wait until you feel the fish's weight before setting the hook or you'll likely pull the bait away.
From a visual aspect, treat the bait as a bobber. Don't set the hook until the bait disappears. If you do pull the bait away from the fish, pause it and pop it once more. Chances are good the fish will strike it again.
Rainy and/or cloudy conditions are best suited for spring topwater popper action, especially on smallmouth streams and rivers. Bluebird skies and direct sunlight tend to make the fish a lot more skittish.
