Topwater Popper Fishing on Pat Mayse Lake
Pat Mayse Lake · Texas · South Central
This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir offers diverse cover, ranging from dense submerged timber in its upper reaches to creek channels and brush piles throughout. The lake's stained-to-clear water often supports robust populations of largemouth bass, with an emphasis on cover-oriented tactics and offshore structure.
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 Pat Mayse Lake
| 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 Pat Mayse Lake
Lake: Largemouth bass push shallow for spawning, concentrating around flooded bushes, isolated timber, and hydrilla edges in 2-8 feet of water.
Topwater Popper: First light on spawning flats — fish hold shallow and crush surface baits. Slow cadence with long pauses.
Lake: Fish transition to deeper offshore hydrilla beds, creek channel swings, and standing timber, often holding in 12-25 feet, relating to thermocline edges.
Topwater Popper: 30-minute window at dawn and dusk. Fish dock shade and grass pockets. Noon topwater dies.
Lake: As water temperatures cool, bass become more active, following schooling shad into creek arms and along points, feeding aggressively in 5-15 feet.
Topwater Popper: Extended feeding window as water cools. Fish can be caught on top all day in fall.
Lake: Bass relate tightly to deep structure, such as standing timber, creek channel bends, and brush piles in 20-40 feet, often suspending near forage or hugging bottom.
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 Pat Mayse Lake
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