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Heddon Crazy Crawler: A popular topwater lure.
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Topwater lures is the way to get yourself hooked on fishing. Topwater lures lets you actually see your fish take the lure. It's easy to understand why this method of fishing is so popular. And for the gamefish, nothing gets their attention quicker then something creating a disturbance on the surface of the water. |
There are several varieties of topwater lures. Some lures imitate injured minnows or even frogs, mice and large insects. However, what captivates the fish more so than the realistic features of the lure is the action and sounds it produces. Topwater lures therefore are built for live action, some making chugging and popping sounds, some making gurgling or spluttering sounds. Here are topwater fishing lures that have stood the test of time:
Chuggers
- Chuggers– A chugger, also called a popper, is a type of topwater lure that has a concaved or flattened face. This gives the lure a popping sound while throwing water during its retrieve. Chuggers mimmick a kicking frog, so its no surprise that this lure also works for large and small mouth bass.
Crawlers
- Crawlers – Crawlers have wide arms giving these topwater plugs a crawling action on the surface with a gurgling sound. They are easy to fish because the don't require any special retrieve to be fished, just cast them out and reel them in. They have a quick retrieve making them popular among anglers for covering a lot of water fast.
Stickbaits
- Stickbaits – A stickbait plug is a type of topwater lure having a long thin body weighted at the tail to make them "walk" from side-to-side. This is done by a series of twitches during the retrieve. has a small metal or plastic lip on the front of the lure which gives it the wobbling and diving action its known for. Fish that feeds on baitfish like minnows can be caught using crankbaits. Stickbaits are highly popular with competitive anglers because the technique allows the angler to mimick a crippled minnow with its erratic action.
Propbaits
- Propbaits – Much like a stickbait in length and size, a propbait, sometimes known as buzzers, also adds a propeller at one or both ends of the body. They are not weighted like the stickbait. The propeller gives the lure a sputtering action and sound during the "twitch and pause" retrieve. Gamefish can't help but notice these baits even in choppy or murky water.
Frogs and Rats
- Frogs and Rats – These types of top water lures are composed of soft rubber or plastic. Some have a kicking action in the feet produced from the retrieve. These lures typically have weedless hooks making them perfect to fish in heavy vegetation.
Buzzbaits
- Buzzbaits – The buzzbait topwater lure is quite popular because gamefish cant help but notice the loud action. Made with a large blade, it throws water when the lure is reeled across the surface. This type of lure is popular among anglers because of its ability to rapidly draw strikes and locate the fish. These buzzbaits will catch nearly all surface feeding fish from small mouth bass to large mouth bass. Even extra large buzzbaits are gaining ground among the pike and muskie anglers.
