NOW is the time for topwater bass!

The end of August and early September has always been my favorite time to target largemouth bass. During this time, bass move into shore during low light periods (especially at dusk) and begin to feed on a variety of prey. The topwater bite can be phenomenal if you hit it just right. Unfortunately, most anglers don't have the patience to be effective when it comes to topwater. If you like to go out and chunk crank and spinner-baits all day, then topwater probably isn't for you. But if you can put up with some longer periods of "down time", then you'll be rewarded with some incredible, story-worthy topwater action.
Nothing is more exciting than seeing a nice "bucket-mouth" execute what angler's have termed "the toilet flush" (i.e., a big bass displacing about 5 to 7 gallons as it explodes into a topwater lure).
What to use: I prefer dark colors- dark greens, blacks, reds and blues. Try the Rebel Pop-R (shown at right), the Zoom Horny Toad, or (my favorite) the classic floating rapala (pictured below).
How to rig: Make sure you tie the line directly to the lure. Don't use a swivel snap as it will hang down and pull your line down as well. Also, use low-visibility line if possible. I prefer Berkley Trilene XT low-vis green 10lb test for topwater. Remember, this is a sight and sound presentation, so you don't want anything else out in the water that will alert a wary largemouth.
The presentation: I call it the "pop-and-stop". Pop the lure by jerking the rod tip 6 to 12 inches. Then stop and allow the ripples to settle. Oftentimes, bass will strike after the lure has come to a complete stop, so be patient. Once you are convinced that you will not get a strike, wait another 10 seconds before popping again. Note: some lures such as the horny toad and jitterbug are made for faster retrieves but should also be occassionally "stopped" to entice a trailing bass to strike.
The hookset: Okay, so you've been totally patient as you pop-and-stop your lure thru the cattails- then suddenly SMACK! a bass rips into your lure, in your excitement you set the hook, only jerk the bait out of the fish's mouth and send it flying past your head and into the back of the boat. When a bass strikes on topwater, they often have an odd handle on their prey, thus they swim down then readjust the prey in their mouth. To ensure that the fish has the lure, do a two count (one-one thousand, two one-thousand) before setting the hook. And don't worry if you miss a fish. Just cast back to the same spot. A surface feeding bass is much more likely to strike a topwater a second time in my experience.
Where to fish: Look for shallow water areas with dark bottoms in 3-5 feet of water. Also, target areas close to deeper water as fish will be swimming in to feed around dusk.
Good luck, and post any pictures of topwater largemouth!