Anybody have an opinion regarding top water smallmouth action during the week of June 14-19?

A lot the shallower lakes and most of the other lakes should be post spawn by then and I’d expect fish to still be shallow. I’d say topwater will be a good choice around that time. I have the best luck with a heddon torpedo in the bullfrog color, others like a whopper plopper, or a walking bait like a spook all should work well. I’d take multiple baits too, I’ve lost some to pike in previous years.

I just returned from a trip where we had a lot of good top water action on Basswood. Surface temps were in the low 70s when we left yesterday which is about 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule. I am guessing that topwater will not be as productive in another 10 days, but you never know. I would bring more sub-surface lures like soft plastics, jerk baits, etc. We had luck with basic poppers, soft plastics with small jig heads,wake baits and, of course, whopper ploppers. Good luck!

Thanks for the input, hopefully they’ll still be fairly shallow!

Topwater bite should be decent then. If you want to read my article on topwater fishing just send me an email at - queticomike@yahoo.com and request Summer Topwater Smallmouth.

Also try using a KVD 2.5 wake bait. I have an article about this presentation in the current Boundary Waters Journal.

You can get top water action for a majority of the time from late May through September, you just have to move with the fish from shoreline areas to reefs , and structure that extends near deeper water.

Basspro69: "You can get top water action for a majority of the time from late May through September, you just have to move with the fish from shoreline areas to reefs , and structure that extends near deeper water."

In your experience how far up will the smallies go to hit a topwater bait? Often times in late July I have very good success on rockpiles in 10 feet of water throwing jigs. Always tempted to throw a skitter pop to see if they would come get it but I never got around to it.

tarnkt: "

Basspro69: "You can get top water action for a majority of the time from late May through September, you just have to move with the fish from shoreline areas to reefs , and structure that extends near deeper water."

In your experience how far up will the smallies go to hit a topwater bait? Often times in late July I have very good success on rockpiles in 10 feet of water throwing jigs. Always tempted to throw a skitter pop to see if they would come get it but I never got around to it."

I’ve seen smallmouth come up from 25 feet plus to hit a top water. They have very good vision and will come a long ways to inflict damage on your lure !