top water fishing

Hi folks, Spent the early morning and late afternoon chasing smallmouth with clients.  Fished a lake in the morning and the lower Winooski in the afternoon. Early morning water temperature on the surface was 76 degrees.  Dead calm withe heavy haze and humidity.  Top water fishing for smallmouth bass is always good when it is really humid.  My guests cast the same rapalas all morning.  A blue and silver, pumpkinseed, and jointed black and silver.  Text book fishing with patience in allowing the lures to sit after they landed on the water.  Removing slack was important in order to set the hook properly.  The smallmouth were all over the lures on the first couples twitches prior to the retrieve.  We hooked a lot of fish that were holding just off wood into the first significant drop off from the shoreline.  We landed over 10 bass and lost and missed another 20.  Really good morning.  The afternoon was a challenge with the tropical heat wave that we have going on.   Hard on the anglers as well as the fish.  Fished big water that holds a good number of feisty river bass.  Water temperature was 83 degrees in the lower Winooski, Holy #$***!  Certainly not trout fishing the big waters with those type of temperatures.  Fishing was tough, but we managed to catch 7 smallmouth on smaller rapalas.  All of the bass were in big pools fed by heavy riffles.  Lots of boulders and large rocks in the pools for the fish to hide behind and in front of.  Saw a lot crawfish in the water and I have seen many bass in the last few days spit up crawfish as we land them.  Hot for a few more days and then hopefully a break over the weekend.  Off to small stream trout fish in the am and bass in the pm.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy