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[NMFishFinder]

What water temp do you guys start throwing some surface baits. I have heard guys saying they trow buzzbaits when it is snowing? any advice?

[screwballl]

Depends on the lake, conditions and everything else.

In my local area of north FL, the bass start hitting top water stuff when the water temps get into the upper 60s, and mostly that is dawn and dusk.

[docav]

i have caught spots and a few smallies with a pop-r when ice was was building up on the guides. i chalked it up as luck because they just starting pushing bait to the top and busting all over. i have only had it happen a few times never something i look for but when it happens be ready to act fast because it normally doesnt last long. doug 

[runthru402]

I'd have to agree with screwball that upper 60's is probably the best time.  Usually throw that first thing in the morning just to see if the bite is happening.

[khargis]

I'm the the boat with the other guys. I usually don't go topwater until at least 60º, probably closer to mid-60's at that. I tend to be a slow fisher when it's colder (worms, lizards, jigs with an occasional crankbait, rattletrap, and/or spinner).

[tim4081]

Have to agree with temps in 60s and the dawn and  dusk....however I've had some very good success with frogs (the buzzing type) in the fall when the water starts turning over....usually from mid morning to late afternoon when there's a bit of chop on the water.

[screwballl]

I have a BPS Kermy frog, the Doug Hannon snakes and some custom made dragon flies setup specifically for topwater so I hope to get to start using them in the next month or two.

[runthru402]

Has anybody used those top-water snakes from the Bass Professor?

[screwballl]

A lot of online sites tend to discourage talking about them too much because they are claimed to be a "gimmick lure that never work". Doug Hannon has been a fishing master for many years so I doubt he would really put out one gimmick lure and have others that work fine because they tend to be more mainstream.

Basically they should work fine in areas where you would use anything topwater including frogs, poppers, whatever.

I got a 3 pack from an ebay auction for $10 since the local bass here do hit topwater bugs and creatures once the water is around 60+

[docav]

i wouldnt be to fast not to call it a gimmick based on who promotes it. the helicopter lure and Roland Martin come to mind. if they can catch a fish or two on it and make a million bucks they will put there name on it. of course there are lures that were called gimmick baits that are now giant sellers because they are marketed differently. look at the kick tail lure http://www.ngcsports.com . now think back at how many times you seen the infomercial on those and thought what junk. now tons of companies are making very similar baits like Spro, Reaction Strike, Bass Pro Shops, Strike King and a 1000 others. the difference now is we just call them swimbaits and they sell for $20 or more. some baits like the kick tail just may have been a little a head of its time. also price comes into play. even though you got them on ebay for $10 you only get 3 baits. one thing comes to mind and thats price = his name on the package. going back to the kick tail for a second think how baits are like that now where as the snakes i dont know off hand of anyone else jumping on the bandwagon. any bait will catch fish under the right conditions but whats sets gimmick baits and normal baits apart is that normal baits catch fish under all conditions all over the country. while the gimmick baits only catch fish when used in the exact conditions that are needed to film and make a commercial. a lot of those commercials are filmed in private ponds or old gravel pits with limited access. you can make any bait look like its the greatest ever made with the right film editing. doug   

[aydensdad]

I caught a largemouth once with a buzzbait in the winter. It was at a farm pond that was 10 feet deep and I doubt it will happen again any time soon. Obviously bass will hit topwater any time of the year but I want a lure that gives me the best chances and topwater doesn't do that for me until post spawn when the water has really warmed. Just like any other lure/technique though, it doesn't hurt to try.

[screwballl]

The pros that we see making TV shows do the same thing... look at KVD and the Strike King Red Eye shad. Lipless cranks have been around for some time, yet you get KVD with his endorsements of them (sometimes sounding like an infomercial) and sales take off. Maybe once the pros start using these snakes will we see hundreds of lure companies starting to make them too.
That doesn't mean that whoever buys that lure will catch more fish, it just means that people spend money on a lure, nothing more. If the fisherman doesn't know or learn how to use ANY lure properly, that lipless crank, spinner bair, swimbait or watever is no better or worse than the Doug Hannon snake or any other "gimmick" lure.

[pawpaw]

I'm not sure what the water temperature is but I start throwing topwaters when the shad start to spawn. It will happen sometime in late March or April here. You can see them early in the morning running up and down the bank like they are trying to get on dry land.