Learning to fish top-water lures for bass is a sure route to excitement. The goal is to trigger strikes from smallmouth or largemouth bass by making a bunch of commotion with buzz baits, soft plastics and hard baits while retrieving these baits to boat or shore. I consider buzz baits essentially generic, with one in most instances as good as another. Soft plastics in my boat always include Scum Frogs, while must-have hard baits for me include Rapala Skitter Walks and Heddon Zara Spooks.

DENNIS ANDERSON