When I am not fly fishing (which is 70% of my fishing), I will use top water for bass as second choice.
No doubt, at the break of dawn, you will catch me 'zinging' a lunker lure. But on those dog days (which could happen anytime of year), my 'go to the box' lure of choice is an Arbogast Jitterbug. Color: red/white. I can not remember a time that this grand-daddy of lures has not turned a dog day into a 'saved' day.
