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Posts: 18
| When do you guys stop throwing topwater?
I've heard some say theyll throw into the 40s as long as you slow it down. Others have said around the 60 mark.
Also, does this change much while night fishing?
Just curious to hear what people think. |
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Location: oconomowoc, wi | when the Vikings win a super bowl! |
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| I was a little surprised that just after sunset today in 66* water I caught a Muskie on a topwater. So I now have confidence to 66* |
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Posts: 133
| Topwater works well below 66 my friend |
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Posts: 526
| I'll stop when my boat won't float on the water...or once I need an auger to fish. |
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Only stop when the bait bounces off the water, treat the colder water like night fishing, slow it down. |
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Location: Smith Creek | So for everyone who says to stop using topwaters "when they bounce off the ice" How many of you are actually using topwaters consistently when the temps are 35-45?
Not only do i doubt most people that make that claim are actually fishing when the water is that cold, but i really doubt a topwater is your first, second, third or even fourth choice in conditions like that.
I personally don't use them below 50. And I've caught enough fish in cold water to say with confidence that if your first choice of baits is a topwater when the temp is below 50 you aren't catching much.
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Location: minocqua, wi. | fishhawk50 - 9/17/2017 8:34 PM
when the Vikings win a super bowl!
09.18.17 Internet Winner ... ^ |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Flambeauski - 9/18/2017 10:35 AM
So for everyone who says to stop using topwaters "when they bounce off the ice" How many of you are actually using topwaters consistently when the temps are 35-45?
Not only do i doubt most people that make that claim are actually fishing when the water is that cold, but i really doubt a topwater is your first, second, third or even fourth choice in conditions like that.
I personally don't use them below 50. And I've caught enough fish in cold water to say with confidence that if your first choice of baits is a topwater when the temp is below 50 you aren't catching much.
And now I don't have to say it. |
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Nobody said topwater was their first choice, we all were basically saying that you can indeed throw topwater til the end if you choose to do so. Any slow moving bait will still produce fish when the temps drop.
Slamr is correct though - pretty rare to see guys casting when things are that cold though. By the time temps are in the 40's many have already closed shop for the season, and most that haven't are dragging live bait. Big rubber is #1 if still casting in most boats
Edited by Espy 9/18/2017 11:23 AM
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Espy - 9/18/2017 11:18 AM
Nobody said topwater was their first choice, we all were basically saying that you can indeed throw topwater til the end if you choose to do so. Any slow moving bait will still produce fish when the temps drop.
Slamr is correct though - pretty rare to see guys casting when things are that cold though. By the time temps are in the 40's many have already closed shop for the season, and most that haven't are dragging live bait. Big rubber is #1 if still casting in most boats
YOU CAN throw topwaters. And you could attach a piece of chicken or banana to a hook and throw that. BUT.... |
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Slamr - 9/18/2017 11:26 AM
YOU CAN throw topwaters. And you could attach a piece of chicken or banana to a hook and throw that. BUT....
But if you are still casting... then topwater is still viable |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Espy - 9/18/2017 11:56 AM
Slamr - 9/18/2017 11:26 AM
YOU CAN throw topwaters. And you could attach a piece of chicken or banana to a hook and throw that. BUT....
But if you are still casting... then topwater is still viable
So yes, any bait that you can put in the water is still viable. |
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | So to sum it up:
When do you guys stop throwing topwater?
When you stop throwing baits. |
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Posts: 580
| I agree that topwaters are rarely the best choice as late season progresses. But I wouldn't let a specific water temp necessarily be the deciding factor in when to throw.
I think the prevailing weather conditions are more important. (Which for any type of bait selection is often true no matter what time of season you are in).
For instance, I've had some success, even into late Nov, with unseasonably warm or balmy conditions using slow-moving topwater (like a WTD topwater worked slowly with accentuated pauses) on flat water at dusk over and around shallower structure. Unseasonably warm weather during the fall often means tough fishing, but the warmth can draw fish into shallower cover and in those circumstances, low-light with a topwater can be productive whether the water is 55, 45, or 35 degrees.
EDIT: Ok, if the water is 35 degrees, it's unlikely that it was a warming trend that day...but my point is still the same. 
Edited by Matt DeVos 9/18/2017 12:30 PM
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Posts: 133
| Anytime fish are still shallow topwater will work I Beleive.... But if fish are using a 25' break then probably not.... Really pretty simple |
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Posts: 1084
Location: Aurora | Later in the season the better as long as it mimics a mammal.
Biggies know mammals are warm blooded and eating them will make them feel all warm & fuzzy inside on their continued quest for aquatic domination.
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Posts: 443
Location: Duluth, MN | Just got back from LOTW....most of our action was in 1-3 feet of water on topwater...even in the miserable 4 day east wind we had. |
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Posts: 613
Location: Michigan | There are specific times in the Winter where topwater is the first choice. If fish are super shallow for any reason then a slow moving topwater like a weagle is perfect. |
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| If you happen to run into a frog migration, its great. |
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Posts: 28
| C’mon, let’s all come clean on this.
We can all agree that topwater is a horrible choice in late Fall. There’s nothing worse in the box when temps drop below mid-50s. And tw ain’t all that good in the mid-50s, either.
Twincities, don’t believe it, few, if any of these guys are catching skis on tw in <55, and even less in sub 45.
Fact is, hardly anyone’s throwing them at those temps.
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Posts: 2015
| No rules .. I remember one fall in 48 degree water..everyone in the boat started throwing topwater after I popped two quick fish on top.. think we ended up with 7 up to 49" and 44" was the smallest... caught a nice one this spring a week after iceout.. 42 degree water throwing over 25 feet of water... no rules..is topwater your best choice sub-50 degree water... not most days but like most "tools" there is a time and place, and topwater should always be in your toolbox .. thinking outside the box has lead me to many big fish, especially deep but that's a different subject.
Edited by IAJustin 9/19/2017 8:15 PM
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Posts: 133
| Scp.....you think a fish won't hit a lure on top in the fall just because it's on the surface?? Like I said before if fish aren't using shallow structure probably not the best option... But if fish are on a shallow reef please explain to me why it wouldn't be a good option? |
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Posts: 28
| I expected the standard pushback after my post, with tales of huge lunges on tallywackers in sub-50 temps.
Point being, these are the rare exceptions that prove the rule.
Defending a weak position with unrepeatable results doesn't make topwater anything but a poor decision come late Fall. |
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Posts: 133
| I wasn't arguing the late fall part ... But the water temps that yiu stated in your post of 50-55 is hardly late fall my friend. And I have done really well mid 50's on weagles worked slowed. We obviously fish different waters but where I fish WHEN THE FISH ARE SHALLOW have been a good option for me. Just trying to tell the original poster that it should be a option |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | I do very well in 50-55 degree water on prop baits. Even got a 43" in 42 degree water on a topraider a couple years ago. The key is to use them when fish are shallow. |
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Posts: 343
| Out west I've caught tigers around Halloween, and my second largest tiger came on October 20th. It depends on the fall, a warmer fall equals a later topwater bite. |
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