Fishing for bass in rivers is one of the most thrilling and rewarding experiences for anglers. Bass, known for their aggressive nature and strong strikes, are particularly drawn to topwater lures due to their visual appeal and natural movement. Among the many types of lures available, handmade topwater fishing lures stand out for their craftsmanship, realism, and effectiveness.
This guide will dive into the benefits of using handmade topwater fishing lures for bass in rivers, explore the different types of lures, and provide essential tips and techniques for maximizing your success. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, this article will provide everything you need to enhance your fishing experience.
1. What Are Handmade Topwater Fishing Lures?
Handmade topwater fishing lures are specially crafted lures designed to float on the water’s surface, mimicking the movement and appearance of natural prey like insects, baitfish, or small amphibians. These lures are typically handcrafted by skilled artisans, offering more attention to detail, higher quality, and better performance compared to mass-produced lures.
Types of Handmade Topwater Lures:
- Poppers: These lures have a concave or cupped face that creates a popping sound when retrieved, attracting bass with their noise and movement. Poppers are effective when bass are feeding on the surface.
- Walk-the-Dog Lures: These lures are designed to “walk” back and forth on the water’s surface, simulating a struggling fish. This erratic action entices bass to strike, especially when they are actively hunting.
- Frog Lures: Designed to imitate frogs, these lures work especially well in areas with lily pads or thick vegetation where bass hunt for amphibians.
- Buzzbaits: These lures feature a spinning blade that creates noise and surface disturbance, attracting fish with both vibrations and visual appeal.
Handmade lures are often made from high-quality materials such as durable plastics, wood, and even metal, ensuring that they perform optimally under various conditions.
2. Why Choose Handmade Topwater Lures for Bass in Rivers?
While there are numerous lures available in the market, handmade topwater lures offer several unique advantages, particularly when fishing for bass in rivers. Let’s explore why they are the preferred choice for many anglers.
a. Superior Craftsmanship
Handmade lures are meticulously crafted by skilled artisans who focus on quality, attention to detail, and precision. This means that handmade topwater lures often offer superior swimming action, lifelike movements, and durability compared to mass-produced lures. The craftsmanship of these lures allows them to perform consistently, even in challenging river environments.
b. Realistic Action
The realism of handmade topwater lures is a major advantage. Skilled craftsmen understand the importance of creating lures that mimic the natural prey bass are hunting, making them more effective. Handmade lures are often designed with features like concave faces for popping sounds, adjustable tails, or flexible bodies that move realistically in the water, enticing bass to strike.
c. Customization
Handmade lures can be customized to suit specific conditions, such as river currents, water clarity, or the behavior of bass in particular seasons. The ability to select the right color, size, and design allows you to match the local ecosystem, increasing your chances of a successful catch.
d. Durability and Quality
Unlike mass-produced lures, handmade lures are generally made from high-quality, durable materials that can withstand the harsh conditions often found in river environments. Whether it’s submerged rocks, heavy current, or aggressive fish strikes, these lures can handle it all.
3. When to Use Handmade Topwater Lures for Bass in Rivers
Knowing the best time to use handmade topwater lures is critical to your fishing success. While bass are aggressive, they don’t always feed on the surface. Here are the optimal conditions and times to use topwater lures:
a. Early Morning or Late Evening
Bass are typically more active during low-light conditions, such as dawn or dusk. During these times, bass are more likely to feed near the surface, making them ideal periods for using topwater lures. The surface disturbance caused by handmade lures, such as poppers or walkers, is more likely to attract fish when the light is low.
b. Calm, Clear Water
Topwater lures work best in calm water because the fish are more likely to notice the surface disturbance caused by the lure. When water clarity is high, bass are more likely to strike at topwater lures because they can see them clearly. However, in murky or turbulent waters, fish might rely more on their sense of vibration than sight, so other types of lures might be more effective.
c. Post-Spawn and Pre-Spawn Seasons
Bass tend to be more aggressive and active during the post-spawn and pre-spawn seasons. During these times, they are feeding heavily to replenish their energy or prepare for spawning. This makes them more likely to strike at a topwater lure. Targeting these periods in rivers can increase your chances of success.
d. In Areas with Structure
Bass in rivers tend to congregate around structures like rocks, submerged logs, and vegetation. Topwater lures are highly effective when used around these structures, as the fish are more likely to be hiding in these areas to ambush prey. Casting your handmade topwater lure near or over these structures can trigger a predatory response from the bass.
4. Choosing the Best Handmade Topwater Lures for Bass in Rivers
Selecting the right handmade topwater lure is crucial to ensuring a productive fishing experience. Below are some key considerations when choosing the best lures for bass in rivers:
a. Blade Type and Action
The action of a topwater lure greatly affects its ability to attract fish. For rivers, you may want to choose a lure that creates a significant surface disturbance to grab the bass’s attention. Lures with concave or cupped faces (like poppers) are great for making noise, while walk-the-dog lures are ideal for mimicking a struggling fish with more subtle movements.
b. Size and Color
The size and color of your handmade topwater lure should mimic the size and type of prey in the river. In rivers, bass often feed on smaller baitfish, insects, or frogs. Choose a 4-6 inch lure for bass in most river environments. For color, use natural tones like shad, bluegill, or silver for clear waters, and brighter colors like chartreuse, yellow, or orange for murky conditions.
c. Weight and Depth
The weight of your lure determines how deep it will sit in the water and how fast it will sink. Lighter lures are ideal for shallow rivers, where bass are often found in the upper water column. In deeper sections of the river or where there’s faster current, heavier lures might be more appropriate.
d. Custom Lures
When looking for topwater lures, consider working with custom lure makers who can design lures to fit your exact specifications. Custom lures can provide unique features, colors, and sizes tailored to specific river conditions or bass behavior in your area.
5. How to Use Handmade Topwater Lures for Bass in Rivers
Using handmade topwater lures effectively requires the right techniques and strategies. Here are some expert tips for maximizing your success:
a. Popping Technique
If you’re using a popper, use a jerky, stop-and-go retrieve. Reel in the lure with short, quick jerks to create popping sounds on the surface. After each jerk, allow the lure to rest for a second before repeating the process. This mimics an injured or struggling fish, attracting bass to strike.
b. Walking the Dog
When using walk-the-dog lures, practice a rhythmic, side-to-side movement by twitching your rod tip while retrieving the lure. This action will cause the lure to move back and forth in a “zig-zag” pattern, mimicking a distressed baitfish. Keep your retrieve steady, but don’t be afraid to vary the speed until you find the right action.
c. Frogging Technique
Frog lures are highly effective in areas with thick vegetation. Use a slow, steady retrieve for a natural presentation or employ short, quick twitches to make the lure appear like a frog hopping across the water’s surface. Bass will often ambush these lures from below, especially in areas with heavy cover.
d. Cast Near Structure
Bass love to hang around submerged rocks, logs, and other structures in rivers. Cast your handmade topwater lure near these structures, and retrieve it across the surface to trigger an ambush strike. Pay attention to the current and try to present your lure where it can move naturally with the water flow.
6. Conclusion
Handmade topwater fishing lures are a powerful tool for catching bass in rivers. Their craftsmanship, lifelike action, and ability to create surface disturbance make them incredibly effective in attracting bass. By selecting the right lure, mastering different retrieval techniques, and targeting the right conditions, you can greatly increase your chances of landing a trophy bass.
At LureBolt, we offer a wide selection of high-quality handmade fishing lures, including topwater lures designed for bass fishing in rivers. Visit LureBolt.com to explore our collection of topwater lures and get ready to enhance your bass fishing experience.
Happy fishing!