Topwater Fishing for Bream in Summer

By Abz Meshlawi

Targeting bream on topwater lures in summer is easily one of the most exciting ways to fish. Warm water pushes bait up shallow, the fish are active, and the surface explosions are hard to beat. It is a style that rewards patience, accuracy, and the right gear. Once you understand how bream behave in the heat and how to work a topwater properly, your confidence grows fast.

Rod, Leader and Lure Choice

Topwater fishing is all about feel. You need to control the lure with small twitches while still having enough length to cast far and cover water. My personal choice has been the Daiwa Infeet SK 722LFS. It has a fast taper with a sensitive tip which makes it easy to walk a lure side to side without overworking it. Some anglers prefer a shorter rod, but I always lean toward seven foot or longer because it helps with distance, especially when fish are spooky.

Leader choice is simple. You do not need to stress about leader thickness as much as you do with soft plastics or crankbaits. I stick with Daiwa X Link 6lb fluorocarbon. It has the perfect balance of strength and finesse, and it floats well enough that it never interferes with the action of the lure.

My go to topwater lure is the Daiwa Infeet Slippery Dog 65F. It is reliable across flats, edges, pontoons, and open water. If I am searching for a bigger class of fish or want to draw fish from deeper water, I will switch to the Slippery Dog 85F. Both sizes also work on pelagic species, although I normally change the stinger hooks if I am chasing fish like kingfish. 

How to Work the Lure

The first few seconds after the cast. I let the lure land, let the ripples fade, and only then begin working it. The goal is a smooth walk the dog style retrieve. Short twitches from the rod tip move the lure side to side which is exactly what triggers curious bream to rise. If a fish comes up and swipes or even just follows, I pause. Most of my strikes come on that pause. Whiting act differently. They prefer a constant and slightly quicker retrieve, so I adjust based on the species that shows up behind the lure.

Where to Fish Topwater Lures

Topwater lures are extremely versatile in summer. You can fish them along natural structure like mangroves, rock walls and drop offs. They also work well around man made structure such as pontoons, jetties, and bridge pylons. Bream will often sit high in the water column in the heat which makes them perfect targets on the surface.

The flats are another prime area. Shallow sand, weed and broken ground hold feeding fish during incoming tides and a long cast with a quiet landing gives you the best chance. Working a topwater across ankle deep water and seeing a fish rise from the bottom to smash it is one of the best parts of this style. 

Final Thoughts

Topwater fishing for bream in summer is simple once you understand the basics. With the right rod, the right leader, and a good walk the dog lure, you can cover a lot of water and turn follows into solid hook ups. It is a technique that never gets old and one that every bream angler should spend time learning.