general questions

[jbiasin]

Recently I have been having a lot off bass miss my top water crazy craler when thr go to bit it.....does anyone know how to fix this problem??? Any topwater methods or lures that you would recomend?? What's the best way to fish in the summer for bass, or what are some techneques that are effective this time of year??? What's the best way to fish for bass on a sunny day as compared to over cast or partly cloudy??

[cassidyta]

When they keep missing my top water, I will do three things.
The first is add a trailer hook to my bait. This helps with the short strikes. The second is switch to a weightless fluke or other soft jerk bait. I still work it like a top water, but give a few pauses to allow it to sink. The third thing is to have a second rod handy with a senko tied on. I get a lot of fish by tossing the senko into the spot where they just missed.
You may also want to slow down your retrieve and give it some pauses on the way in

[keithdog]

I'm not sure where you live but if the spawn in still going on and your working your lure accross the tops of the beds, they may be just trying to chase off the intruder and not really taking the bait into their mouth. After the spawn is over I bet your hookup ratio goes up.

[DaveW731]

A) It may be a bit early for a topwater bite, IMO. If you want to fish on top anyway, switch to a fluke and slow down.

B) ANY time I throw a surface bait, I have a senko, fluke or other big bulk plastic on a second pole and throw it at a strike that misses the topwater and just let it fall. I'd guess I get bit on the plastic 30 -40% of the time that I do that.

[walkeraviator]

Im with these guys... i usually just switch to a slower topwater application... i missed one this week on the buzz bait, wish i had tied on a zara spook to follow up with, that has always worked for me... i like the idea of wake baits, swim baits, and flukes worked real slow when teh topwater seems to be happening but they arent feeling energetic enough to plow my buzz bait...