Thumbing through a catalog, one may get a chuckle from the almost comical ways that surface lures are described. There are more gurglers, rattlers, clackers, chuggers, buzzers, poppers, spitters, and more. Those names, of course, describe the noisemaking characteristics of a particular style of lure.


For the most part, I prefer more subtle topwater lures such as Heddon's Zara Spooks and Zara Puppies because they are devoid of any noisemakers and simply move with that famous "walk the dog" sashay. However, there are instances when it is necessary to break out the topwaters that make some degree of surface commotion.


Noisy surface baits can be a very good thing, at times, and the key to getting bites. Bass must sense a bait in order to hit it, plain and simple. The sound produced by a lure is simply a way to make sure that your offering gets noticed. Black bass see comparably well, but their ability to hear the commotion generated by a splashy surface even at great distances is uncanny. Basically, every bass in the neighborhood will sense a noisy bait, precisely the correct strategy in certain instances.


The classic topwater situation for largemouths takes place in the tranquil recesses of some cove lined with lily pads at sunrise or sunset. Every bass angler knows the feeling of that perfect time and place where even the trolling motor seems too loud. Ostensibly, something low-key would be better suited there, yet flinging a buzzbait along a mat of pads or bringing it over submerged vegetation or wood may draw some wicked hits. The buzzbait does three things very well in these instances: it covers water; refuses to hang up or tangle easily; and of course, it brings attention to itself by being quite noisy thereby alerting every nearby bass to its presence. These traits are perfect complements for a quiet morning or evening when bass are feeding aggressively around cover.


When bass prowl or are set up waiting to pounce, their aggressive mood matches well with a highly noticeable bait. According to that aggression, I tend to make long casts and rip a buzzbait with verve. Long casts cover large swaths of water and give bass time to home in on the racket, while the speed indicates fleeing prey. Should a buzzbait run over an ambush spot, stationed largemouths often viciously react to its commotion out of instinct. A high-speed bait-casting reel and longer rod perform well with a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce buzzbait. In some cases, according to the forage available or other factors, perhaps smaller, lighter buzzbaits on spinning tackle will do better. A few colors, including black, brilliant white or chartreuse, and some drab, more natural colors will cover most situations.


Staying in the realm of the calm cove or backwater pond, but with sparser vegetation, a Jitterbug can be the perfect offering. A couple of these unique baits along with a single Hula Popper were pretty much my collection of surface lures as a youngster. These classics caught a mess of bass then and still get called in service in certain situations. While the Jitterbug wobbles in a manner all its own, a myriad of popper-type lures are available from a number of companies.


The Jitterbug and popper baits are designed to make commotion during retrieval, but these baits may be worked slowly or with intermittent pauses, which can often be the most effective tactic. So when a fisherman wants to stop the lure to tease a following bass or just hang it over a submerged stump or next to an isolated patch of lily pads in order to taunt a tentative largemouth, these baits can do it. Many spectacular strikes also occur as soon as the lure moved again after a sitting motionless for a few seconds.


Another topwater that has seen plenty of years on the fishing market is the propeller-type lure. It seems that even the true antique lures used prop designs. Still being attached to surface baits today, their longevity speaks to their productivity. While these do well in a backwater buzzed along or worked with pauses, propeller baits are among my favorites when fishing offshore structure and cover. A silent, gliding sort of lure tends to be the usual course when smallmouths or largemouths are chasing open-water baitfish, however, some conditions, the primary of which being choppy water, call for the frothy whir of prop-baits.


Last summer, over an offshore hump, I watched as baitfish were scattered and chased everywhere by bass. Yet, the trusty Zara Puppy just was not playing the right tune. The weather was cloudy and breezy, and I could hardly see my Puppy moving along the surface, and apparently the fish had similar difficulty. It was going to take some noise to attract the fish. Quickly, I knotted a shad-colored Rapala Skitter Prop to the end of my line. It took only a few casts to prove the zip and churn of those props hit the right chord.


These sort of open-water, windy conditions are also conducive to those gliding topwaters with clackers and rattlers and the like. For those inclined to walk-the-dog surface lures, plenty are available with those features. Yo-Zuri, Bass Pro Shops, and many other companies make quality baits in this category. A nice hybrid popper-glider topwater is Storm's Rattlin' Chug Bug, which is effective both puttering along a shallow log or skittering over an offshore ledge. These raucous baits are all excellent choices when wind or showers ruffle the water's surface.


Another reason to use baits that make a certain sound is that it best mimics key summer forage. When schooling bass bust baitfish on the surface, much splashing and a general ruckus ensues. The spitter-type topwaters, which have a less pronounced concave face than a popper, create some splash, producing a distressed look and sound, yet are able to be moved with some speed, matching the mood of the situation.


Of course, baitfish, frogs, and other watery creatures are not the only things bass eat. Especially where trees overhang a water or line its banks, bumblebees, beetles, locusts, and other creepy winged creatures regularly end up on the water's surface, flutter for a bit, then often end up in the gullet of a bass. Bugs should not be discounted as a regular food source for smallmouths or largemouths, come summertime. They are among the easiest prey to catch and bass are opportunists. Propeller-type lures get the call for this insect mimicry. Fishing along the banner smallmouth river fisheries in Pennsylvania, an angler should always keep a Tiny Torpedo handy. The buzz given off by the prop does a nice imitation of fluttering wings. Short, quick jerks in pools where the bait moves little but the props churn water is one approach. Other retrieves, depending on current, wind, and bass's aggression level may be more productive.


As bass fishing goes, an angler must adapt and refine presentations to match the external conditions and mood of the fish. Casting topwater baits near cover and structure is a choice summer pattern. At times and in some locations, those surface lures that create disturbance and noise are excellent options within that strategy.