The topwater bite was on fire as soon as the tide started moving, almost every cast a hook up or a miss hit. It was for all of only 30 or 45 minutes. Caught a big trout, smaller trout, one in-between, and a few under slot in short order, all on topwater. I was also periodically going to DOA shad under a cork and caught a lizard fish and a small sea bass but was mostly throwing the topwater today.
Biting flies were terrible, I always forget something and today it was DEET, goodness. The water surface wasn't glass but a mild wind chop. I always thought the water had to be smooth as glass to use topwater, but the depth seemed to be more key today. The bites definitely slowed as the tide came up around me, when I went back in to about 2.5-3 feet of water, I was getting bites again.
I wouldn't go as far to say that I know what I'm doing yet, but it's coming along.
