I just got back from a river fishing trip where we caught a bunch smallies. I did not have much luck with topwater with the exception of a Zoom Fluke jerkbait fished weightless. Some of the fish flew completely out of the water chasing it but they were usually the smaller ones. Not a traditional top water lure but that is how I was fishing it.
The huddlebug was an absolute killer for the smallies. First time I have used them and I was amazed how much it irritated fish that would have nothing to do with any other lure or even live worms.