I was late to the Top Water test grounds.  The tide was peaking at noon but the bite had really slowed down when I arrived at 9:55 am.  Clay said the fish were a lot more active from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.

I was able to photograph his 15.5″ kaku he caught just as I arrived. It was expertly tagged at a 45 degree angle off the Y and Z axis (side and top).

Eagerly, I threw out my narrow faced top water lure.  I didn’t get a single follow.

Clay changed to a different colored top water of the same model he used for the last kaku and landed a 17″ kaku.  Then the bite really shut down.

Out of desperation I changed to the fuller bodied top water that was always good for a boil and didn’t get a sniff.

I guess it is true, fish don’t rise to top water lures after the sun is high in the sky.  Some believe the fish can see the lures better and don’t hit them. Others believe the sun is too bright for their eyelid-less eyes.  This is the first time my top water lures didn’t even generate a follow.  Note to self, don’t fish top waters on sunny days after 10am. And don’t be married to one style of lure.  I should’ve thrown the sub-surface Waxwing but I’ve become addicted to the surface explosions top water lures generate.

Once again, Clay, the Top Water Master, caught and tagged fish under challenging conditions.