Top topwaters for August bass action

Long-time Santee Cooper angler Kevin Davis said that August is a great time for topwater fishing.

“When fishing the shallow water, it’s a perfect way to begin and end each day,” he said. “On cloudy days, you can score topwater action throughout the day, but low-light conditions and heavy cover team to make topwater fishing an excellent choice in August.”

Davis said a variety of topwater lures will work well.

“Topwater lures such as the Zara Spook, Spro Frog, Zoom Horny Toad and the Skinny Dipper are producing great,” he said. “Other standbys that produce bass action include the Pop-R, Bang-O-Lure, Devils Horse and, of course, buzzbaits.”

Davis said for best topwater action, he prefers cover in three to four feet of water adjacent to six to seven feet of water.

“Often you’ll find this situation along the first depression going into a flat,” he said. “Also, a cut or channel in a cove such as the one at Blacks Camp. There’s a deep ditch that runs from the Canal to the landing, but the water comes up shallow on both sides with vegetation. It’s ideal for early and late topwater fishing. Also, find some deep stumps and trees in that same general depth pattern, and that can be a prime place.”

Davis said that any time of the day, but particularly early and late, there’s an opportunity to take topwater bass that are schooling.

“Actually, I refer to it as a ‘scatter-busting,’ because usually a single fish or small group of fish boil the water in a small or single area,” he said. “They are not schooling as you would think in terms of stripers, but they will bust into and scatter baitfish. Cast to them very quickly, and if you’re on target, odds are great you’ll get a quick bite. But you’ve got to react fast or these scatter- buster fish move on.”