re: OT - Any largemouth bass fisherman here?

I'm a fan of fishing with top water lures too and that's mostly what you'll find in my tackle boxes. Part of the reason is as you describe there's nothing like seeing a fish strike the bait as you're working it across the water.

I also fish rivers more than lakes and so I am working the shoreline with a top water lure as I'm floating along and usually mix in a spinning lure or crawfish crank bait. You also don't have to be real knowledgeable of the structure below when you are top water fishing--just work the bait around what you can see above or just below the surface.

I remember seeing a film where it was noted a top water lure is like having a convertible in the South--there are many days throughout the year when you can use it. I also like working a top water lure as opposed to worm fishing and such which is much slower and sometimes downright boring.

As to bass fishing at night I haven't done a lot of it but when I have it usually involves fishing a worm at night because it has gotten too hot to fish during the day. I've had a little success fishing hula poppers, jitterbugs, and other assorted top water lures that are made for fishing after dark but I never got into it that much. If I'm night fishing it is generally going to be cat fishing.

I consider a three plus pound Largemouth to be a good one and you can certainly justify taking a seven plus pounder to the taxidermist.