Where they fit
Useful when fish are willing to look upward or when shallow cover makes a surface presentation practical.
Topwater lures built for visible surface presentations, disturbance and direct feedback from following or striking fish.
Surface fishing is highly visual. A topwater lure can create disturbance, silhouette and movement without disappearing below the surface, giving the angler immediate feedback on follows, misses and takes.
Useful when fish are willing to look upward or when shallow cover makes a surface presentation practical.
Surface movement, sound and silhouette create a very different signal from a subsurface lure.
Wind, chop, light level and fish activity should influence how subtle, loud, fast or paused the retrieve becomes.
The category is a starting point. Water clarity, wind, pressure trend, light, water movement and actual fish response should guide the final colour, depth and retrieve.