It’s getting hot, and it’s peak season for recreational traffic on Lake Martin, but there’s still a good opportunity for bass anglers to get some exciting action before the first midmorning crowd hits the water. A personal favorite technique to catch bass is always going to be a topwater bite. Get up early enough, and there’s a sobering quietness on the lake before most have even had their morning coffee. Often, it’s just you, a few birds chirping and the sound of your favorite topwater making music across the surface in search of an explosion from a bass.

Expectations are important this time of year. A good morning can be just three to five bites, but to me, one bite on top is like getting five doing anything else. The two most important factors for getting some hot summer topwater action are to get there early and be prepared.