What are the best surface lures for bass?

[Sean]

I have just realised that the reason I don't like lure fishing that much is because I was useing soft plastics and diving lures, I seem to find it far more interesting and rewarding fishing poppers, so what do people regard as the best surface lures for bass? I fish in and around the far north of NSW. Thanks, Sean

[basserman]

1; river2sea buggie (black)
2; koolabung cicarda fizzer (red\yellow)
3; helldon tiny torpedo
4; halco night crawler
5; taylor made basscarder (black\gold)
6; river2sea bubblepop 65
7; jitterbug
8; rapala skitterpop
9; reble crickhopper
10;kakoda cuggerbug

thats my top ten in no order. i'm sure i left a few other great popper\surface lures out but i'm sure others will let us know there top ten

[Fitzy]

For bass I prefer bloopers to fizzers, paddlers & sticks, but still use them all.

Skitter Pop in 2 sizes
Bubble Pop 45
Bubble Pop 65
Surecatch popper
Prince
Crazy Crawlers
Jitterbug
Zara Spook & Zara Puppy
SMAK skywalker
Tiny Torpedoes

Just about anything that floats & can fit in a basses mouth will work.

Have been working on a surface lure design/concept that is working well. I wanted something that is a surface lure and a diver at the same lure. I'm happy enough with it to give it to a lure maker to start mass producing it. Has accounted for alot of fish thus far & hope to test it out on some northern fish in the next fortnight. Should be available within a few months all going well, hopefully in a few sizes to suit from bream to barra. I call it the Pop n Dive. Not a revolution in fishing, but definately something that works.

Cheers,

Fitzy..

[Quinny69]

Rapala skitter pop, Fizzers like Tiny Torpedo/Ambush/Producer turbo prop,AND the best of all A Darlberg Diver Fly.....I hate paddlers as they dont "twich" well.Cant wait to have a look/go at your new creation Fitz, whos gonna mass produce it? MQ

[fishy_phil]

gday
TAYLOR MADE surface breaker...in BLACK accounted for my largest bass and more than half of all my bass in two years in the sydney area, probably about 450 fish using the one lure...but only about 30 fish 45cm plus , but up the north coast...im near grafton on the orara river..crazy crawler and rapala skitter pop have been my most sucessful lures...followed by a home made jitterbug copy.
cheers
phil

[macca]

Ok while on this subject.

When is the best time to use a surface lure?

How late in the morning do they work?

How early in the afternoon do they work?

If you hear or see what looks like a fish on the surface nearby, do you use this option?

Where on a dam is the best spots to try?

What is the best ways to work the lure ?

I have tried many times but never succeeded, I am more or less asking what is the key factors you need to use to catch a fish using this method?

I mainly fish Maroon

Thanks

Macca

[Fitzy]

Cant wait to have a look/go at your new creation Fitz, whos gonna mass produce it? MQ

G'Day Matt,
One well known lure maker had one to copy for the past 12 months or more & hasn't done anything yet. SMAK Lures are keen so I'm giving it to them to make now. Will let you know when they're close.

Fitzy..

[basserman]

have you seen the reble firefly fitzy??? it is a surface/diver (not popper)
or the kolabung popdive lure???
as you sayed they have been around but it would be good to see one as their is alot of bad ones out there trying to do the job!
macca i have had bass on the surface all day some days and others can't even raise a strike on the surface but best bet i thin is in the morning and into the day but just follow the shade
apart from that try evening and into the night but fitzy is best answering about night as i know thats his time
i have tryed a few times at night and found them around alot of structure
as for the dam i would try useing the poppers over the weed beds or once again any hanging structer that gives plenty of shade

[Quinny69]

I havent been out there for ages but Maroon should be goin off on the top atm, Fish ether Dawn or Dusk against the bank, try and find a newly submerged genltly sloping bank and work your lure QUIETLY, just a lil twitch here and there, plenty of pauses too just let the popper sit there. Good luck MQ

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

I wanted something that is a surface lure and a diver at the same lure.

Hi Fitzy,

You mean something like pulling the bib out of a stumpjumper? ???

Cheers
Jeff

[Sean]

Thanks for all the replies guys, keep them coming, I would also be interested in knowing as much as everyone wants to tell me.....I have heard a falling barometer is a waste of time, what if it is really low but rising? or steady?

[basserman]

any rise is when you want to chase them!
a falling bar is a bit bad and does turn them off a bit but if you keep at them you will get anger hit aposed to hunger hits
i'v caught bass in all kind of conditions from clear sunny hot days or overcast humid day with a storm brewing (the best kind of day for bassing) all the way to cold windy rainy days

[fishy_phil]

i have caught bass at pretty much anytime of day but as they said before follow the shade. and it doesnt matter what time of day most of the fish i caught on them (about 90 %) were caught between 9 am and 5 pm.
i have never noticed any difference in the catch rates in bass when it has been a low barometer compared to a high barometer
but this is just my experience but i have noticed that they prefer a differant approach...a loud lure for the low barometer and no differance for the high, if this is of any help im glad to help.
cheers
phil

[basserman]

Happy B'day phil!

[lordy]

I like the jitterbugs. The others might catch more fish but the little jitterbugs are just so cute waddling their way home with that little bloopity-bloop. Brings a tear to your eye