Topwater fishing for bass is a thrilling experience, and selecting the right lure can significantly impact your success. This review dives into five top-performing hardbaits, each offering unique attributes to entice those aggressive strikes. From budget-friendly options that offer incredible value after a simple upgrade, to premium lures boasting superior craftsmanship and unparalleled action, this guide covers a range of choices to suit every angler and budget. Whether you prioritize sound, action, casting distance, or a combination of these factors, we'll explore the strengths and weaknesses of each lure, helping you make an informed decision.This detailed analysis covers five popular topwater lures, comparing their sound production, action, durability, and overall effectiveness. We'll examine classics like the Rebel Pop-R and the iconic Spook, alongside higher-end options such as the Reaction Innovations Vixen and Lucky Craft Gunfish. This comparison will help you determine which hardbait best suits your fishing style, preferred techniques, and budget constraints, ultimately boosting your chances of landing that trophy bass.
Pros And Cons
- Causes much disturbance on the water's surface
- Good walking bait with a CD mouth
- Nice finishes and good construction
- Doesn't have as good a sound as the Reaction Innovations Vixen
- Awesome colors
- Nice finishes
- Fantastic sound
- Good walking action in water
- Doesn't take on water
- Expensive ($17)
- Great sound
- Casts very far
- Many color options
- Very effective
- Inexpensive
- Some models may require hook replacement
- Inexpensive ($4)
- Catches a lot of fish
- Nice sound from free-floating ball bearing
- Comes with junky terminal tackle (hooks are easily bent)
Read more: 5 Killer Spinnerbait Fishing Lures You Need
Rebel Popper (Pop-R)
The Rebel Pop-R is a classic topwater popper, renowned for its affordability and effectiveness. Its design, featuring a distinctive cup on the mouth and a tapered body, has been widely copied. While the included hooks are notoriously flimsy, this low price point allows for an easy upgrade to higher-quality hooks and hardware, significantly improving its overall performance.
The Pop-R's unique sound, generated by a free-floating ball bearing, is highly attractive to bass. This sound, combined with its versatile action, makes it a top choice for anglers. Replacing the stock hooks with something like Owner Stingers and adding Bucktail and Flash-abou improves its hooking power and enhances its attraction.
Don Iovino Splash It 2
The Don Iovino Splash It 2 is a larger popper known for its exceptional sound. While more expensive than the Pop-R, at around $13, its louder popping sound and overall quality justify the price for many anglers.
The Splash It 2's unique textured glitter on the bottom adds visual appeal to the lure. The speaker highlights the attention to detail in the design and construction, emphasizing that this detail increases the lure's attractiveness to fish. While the hook quality is mentioned, the superior sound and overall appeal often outweigh this.
Reaction Innovations Vixen
The Reaction Innovations Vixen is a high-quality walking bait with fantastic sound and action. Its exceptional colors, like the “Glitter Shad,” are visually appealing. The dense sidewall material contributes to its impressive sound and durability, making it a premium choice despite the higher price point.
This lure's design and construction prioritize quality. Many copies exist, but the speaker asserts the Vixen is superior due to its sound, casting capabilities, and overall finish. The $17 price tag, the speaker states, is justified by the superior quality and performance.
Lucky Craft Gunfish
The Lucky Craft Gunfish is a highly effective walking bait known for its exceptional action and water disturbance. The unique “CED” mouth design creates a significant splash and bubble trail, highly attractive to bass. The high-quality construction and finish reflect the Lucky Craft brand's reputation.
While the sound may not be as pronounced as some other lures, the Gunfish’s strong action makes it a favorite among many. The speaker prefers the 110 or 115 size, noting its versatility and effectiveness in attracting and enticing strikes.
Spook (Various Models)
The Spook, in its various forms (Super Spook, Super Spook Jr., Rattling Spook, etc.), is a top choice for its exceptional casting distance and effectiveness. Its aerodynamic design allows for incredibly long casts. The sound, especially while walking the lure, is extremely effective at drawing strikes.
Spooks come in a multitude of colors and often include good hooks, although upgrades are common. The speaker highlights the aerodynamic design and long castability, emphasizing their overall effectiveness and versatility in different fishing situations.
Conclusion: The Best Topwater Hardbaits
While personal preference plays a significant role, each lure in this list offers unique benefits. The Rebel Pop-R is affordable and easy to modify, the Don Iovino Splash It 2 boasts exceptional sound, and the Reaction Innovations Vixen provides a premium blend of sound and action.
The Lucky Craft Gunfish excels in water disturbance, and the Spook is unmatched in its castability. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your budget and fishing style, but each bait in this review is a solid contender for your topwater arsenal.