Topwater Techniques, Lure Selections for Bass

You can trace Dr. Todd A. Kuhn's love of topwater lures for bass back 20 years to the St. John's River.

That's when the host of the Game & Fish video-tips series Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight caught his personal-best bass, an 11-pounder that bit a gold/black back Rapala 11G.

"She just exploded on the bait. I set the hook and what a fight," Kuhn says. "I love topwater baits."

• VIDEOS: Watch more Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight episodes

In Episode 8 ("Technical Topwater"), Kuhn covers all types of topwater baits, and how and when to use them. Wind and water clarity impact your topwater lure selection. It's critical, Kuhn says, for a bass to see and hear the lure. Learn more about topwater fishing for bass in the video above.

Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight is a 13-episode video series on gameandfishmag.com that focusses on the best baits for bass fishing. Join Game & Fish's Dr. Todd A. Kuhn every Tuesday this spring as he goes deep into how bass lures work, what bass find irresistible in them, and how you catch more on your next trip.

Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight

Video Schedule

• Episode 1: Soft Plastics; Flukes, Worms and Lizards
• Episode 2: Soft Plastics; Tubes and Creature Baits
• Episode 3: Rigging Soft Plastics; Texas and Carolina Rigs
• Episode 4: Rigging Soft Plastics; Jig Heads
• Episode 5: Rigging Soft Plastics; Swimbaits
• Episode 6: Selecting the Right Soft-Plastic Hook
• Episode 7: Spinnerbaits from Top to Bottom
• Episode 8: Technical Topwater, Live March 31
• Episode 9: Choosing the Right Bass Rod, Live April 7
• Episode 10: All About Lines, Live April 14
• Episode 11: Baitcasting Vs. Spinning, Live April 21
• Episode 12: Find More Fish with Search Baits, April 28
• Episode 13: Weighting Your Bait, May 5