I just got back from a trip to northern Minnesota where the smallmouth were feeding on bugs on the surface. They were just sipping the bugs like stream trout would. I didn't have any conventional topwater lures that were finesse enough to get them to bite, so I created my own. I used a finesse TRD and the only weightless hook I had to rig it wacky style. Keeping my rod tip high and constantly twitching it, I could keep it on the surface and the smallies smashed it! Thought it'd share this technique as I can't find it anywhere else online.  

 

PS. The hook was from a slow death rip so that's why there's a bend in the shank. 

Pretty cool! That'll be memorable day for you. Good job thinking outside the box. 

 

Very cool!  Sounds like a really fun night.  

If they are going to be hitting like that, you should give the OSP HP Bug a try. Great bait. It will sink slowly even fished weightless and fish will smash them. The hook I like for them is the Ryugi Infini Hobbit. These hooks are outstanding for BFS size plastic. They have a really thin wire but are stronger than they look. 

 

 

 

Mule Fishing Bluegrass Bug - 2 Inch

Good Fishing