"Get on the bus would you, we're going to be late for summer school!" yelled Spot. "I really do not feel like going today, I'm thinking of staying home," replied Largemouth, "besides, I already ate a big breakfast; hmmm, nothing tastes better than a crawdad early in the morning." That fact was obvious to Spot; he could still see the crawdad tentacles sticking out of Largemouth's chops. "Okay, well I'm leaving without you, I have a lot of other friends and they know where this group of shad is hanging out, so see you...," Spot did not get to finish the sentence when Largemouth interrupted him. "Okay, Okay I'll go but this time, I'm not biting that shad with those letters on their sides, said Largemouth.  “What letters?" asked Spot, although he had not learned to read yet. "H, E, D, D, O, N, Z, A, R, A, S, P, O, O, K" replied Largemouth.

For some unfortunate students and bass it's back to summer school time. Lucky for anglers, the majority of bass have not learned to read yet or the challenge to catch them would prove enormous. During this time of year reservoirs all over the mid-south states have schools of white bass, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass gouging on schools of bait fish.  The peak periods are early morning or late evening, but it’s not usually for a school of bass to attack a group of bait fish anytime during the day. While topwater baits provide the excitement, astute anglers will fish sub-surface lures or lower to catch bass in these schools when they refuse to strike a topwater lure.

For the majority of anglers, the ultimate way of catching bass is on a topwater lure.  For these anglers no other lure can compare. Topwater lures have been around since the early begins of bass fishing. Probably the most famous was introduced to anglers in 1939, the Heddon Zara Spook (www.heddonlures.com). This cigar shaped lure catches bass when anglers employ the legendary "walk-the-dog" action to it. Other Heddon lures have followed the original Zara Spook and proven to be extremely effective for catching bass including the Super Spook, Super Spook Jr., Magnum Spook, Super Magnum Spook, SwayBack Spook, One Knocker Spook, and the Rattling Spook. Additional "walk-the-dog" top water lures that have followed are the Rebel Jumpin' Minnow, and XCalibur Xj4 Jimmy.

Another classic topwater lure that began in the late 1940s was the Smithwick Devil's Horse (www.smithwicklures.com). Jack Smithwick began by hand craving each one at the dining room table. This lasted only a short time before he modernized to a small wood lathe and began to mass produce the Devil's Horse. Prop baits still fool schooling bass today; although, only a small number are still made of wood any more. Other surface-churning prop baits include Cotton Cordell Boy Howdy (www.cottoncordelllures.com), Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad, Heddon Dying Flutter, and Heddon Wounded Zara Spook.

One more classic famous lure company is Rebel Lures who began production in the early 1960s. Rebel Lure Company was named after the Fort Smith, Arkansas, High School mascot (www.rebellures.com). Although nearly taken out of production, the demand by tournament anglers for the Rebel Pop-r was so great the company brought it back. The Rebel Pop-r is a surface popper that chugs and spits water creating nerve racking topwater explosions. Other chuggers that have followed include the XCalibur Xz2 Zell Pop (www.xcaliburlures.com) and on a larger scale Cotton Cordell's Pencil Popper.

Although this classic top water is sometimes overlook, the Hula Popper by Arbogast lure Company (www.arbogastlures.com) still catches fish today. It's named after Fred Arbogast, who created and patented in 1938 the "Hula Skirt". The company has been in existence for over 60 years. The Hula Popper's unique concaved face makes an irresistible "pop" when moved in a series of short jerks and pauses.

The classic topwater baits still catch bass today even after years of being used by anglers. This year though, I may remove the printing on the lures just in case the fish have learned to read; otherwise, Spot and Largemouth, I will see you at school!