Topwater Popper Fishing on Lake Lamar Bruce
Lake Lamar Bruce · Mississippi · Southeast
This compact MDWFP-managed lake provides an intimate fishing experience, focusing on healthy populations of largemouth bass within its abundant cover and distinct creek channel. Its smaller scale often means fish are concentrated, making it a productive stop for anglers who appreciate detailed structure fishing.
A floating hard bait with a concave face that produces a spitting, popping action when twitched. Most effective in low-light conditions near cover — points, dock edges, weed lines, and grass pockets. The pause after the pop is where most strikes happen. Few experiences in fishing match watching a largemouth explode on a popper.
Topwater Popper Setup for Lake Lamar Bruce
| Rod | 6'10"–7'3" medium casting rod, moderate action |
| Reel | 6.4:1 baitcaster or spinning |
| Line | 14–17 lb fluorocarbon or 30 lb braid (braid gives better action and hooksets) |
| Weight | 1/4–1/2 oz (Rebel Pop-R, Megabass Pop-X, Strike King KVD Splash) |
Seasonal Tactics on Lake Lamar Bruce
Lake: During spring, bass move to shallow timber and brush near spawning flats, responding well to Texas-rigged plastics, jigs, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits in 3-8 feet of water as water temperatures reach the low 60s.
Topwater Popper: First light on spawning flats — fish hold shallow and crush surface baits. Slow cadence with long pauses.
Lake: Summer patterns push bass deeper to offshore brush piles and creek channel bends, typically holding in 12-25 feet, where drop shots, shaky heads, and deep crankbaits become highly effective, especially around thermal breaks.
Topwater Popper: 30-minute window at dawn and dusk. Fish dock shade and grass pockets. Noon topwater dies.
Lake: In fall, bass follow schooling baitfish toward the shallower ends of the lake and creek arm channels, creating opportunities for topwater baits, lipless crankbaits, and swimbaits as they actively feed on shad.
Topwater Popper: Extended feeding window as water cools. Fish can be caught on top all day in fall.
Lake: Winter fishing slows, with bass often concentrating on deep timber lines and channel edges in 20-30 feet, requiring slow presentations of football jigs, spoons, and suspending jerkbaits like a Megabass Vision 110 Jr. with extended pauses.
Topwater Popper: Generally ineffective in water below 55°F — bass won't chase topwater in cold conditions.
Best Conditions
Dawn and dusk year-round, overcast days, calm to light-chop surface, spring through fall near cover and grass edges
Don't set the hook on the explosion — wait until you feel the fish pull the line. Half of all missed popper strikes are from anglers jerking too early.
More Techniques for Lake Lamar Bruce
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