Outdoors: Lure of a strike from freshwater bass is tough to top

In fishing, top-water action reigns as tops in pleasure - and not just on the Chesapeake and its tributaries where surfacing bluefish, rockfish and in some tidal rivers, Spanish mackerel, have been the target of light tackle buffs for weeks.

As waters begin to cool, many fish no longer need to stay deep where temperatures are more comfortable as in the dog days of summer. Often, their pursuit of baitfish take them to the surface where sharp-eyed gulls are hovering in wait for bite size fish to ripple or pop out of the water as they try to flee bigger fish.

Then, things get exciting; the poor baitfish whether silversides,...