Topwater

[Dfiene1]

I got to go out on the water this morning for a few hours with the misses. She wanted to try one of my baitcast rods. Since she has never used one before so I cranked up the magnets to prevent an epic backlash. The rod had a Topwater tied on. It was quite windy, way more chop than I typically would throw Topwater. She casted out maybe 25'. As soon as the lure hit the water the surface exploded. Thankfully their was no backlash and she was able to land the fish which was a 5lb smallie. So this all got me thinking, was this a freak incident or do guys have luck throwing top waters in heavy chop?

[bhubbard387]

Couldn't answer your main question but that sure is awesome! After something like that I'm sure she'll never want to put down the fishing rod again

[MO QWACK]

I'm a huge top water guy and oh but heck yeah!!!! In clearish water the rougher the better!!! Big prop baits and spooks. In just a chop chug bugs, pop-r's and when it's calm the spook jr, sammies and gun fish. Muddy water no matter what the chop is I fish more aggressive baits like spooks and chug bugs.
  I've fished in waves so big you could see the strike between the trough just feel weight. When it's dead calm I just use a wuz it. A lot better when fish are skittish.
  Awesome smallie !!!! I would love to see one slam a top water

[BareKnuckleJigs]

It's a choppy situation where I apply the Rattling or Propped Plugs.  I despise the fact that most Hardbaits are made with Rattles, because in most situations I prefer the "silent" Baits (they all make noise with all that hardware).  But Yes, I'm not opposed to Topwater in a Choppy Scenario.

I too, am a fan of the Chug Bug (06 size), but don't tell nobody I said dat.

[efishnc]

Calm, ripples and a light chop, but never on waves where you can't see the bait... (not saying they can't be caught that way; it just seems other baits perform better under those conditions).

[bassinfool]

In a good chop there's nothing better than a big popping pencil.

[Denny Welch]

A 5.5" Whopper Plopper works just great in heavy water.  It sounds like a tug boat comin' through.

[ctom]

Our Mississippi River backwaters seldom get that rough, but I enjoy the heck out of tossing a surface bait to bass. A 3" popper of some sort gets the nod from me. Here though we are just as apt to have a hunk of pike or dogfish blast a surface bait. I really like throwing the soft frogs.

[Lamar]

  I often toss top water in the early morning for bass. You don't always catch one but I have often caught our biggest fish of the day on it. It just seems to be a big fish bait.

[Botanophilia]

I toss a 4" BF Toad into the rapids of rivers for smallies regularly.  Usually find some small 14"-ish fish that way and oftentimes something much bigger.  Chop and current don't matter; if a bass can sense it, think it's food, and catch it, they don't care.