Having had the pleasure of fishing with Jim on his home lake a while back, I agree with him completely. I am fortunate to live on a very nice 50-acre lake outside of Atlanta that has a very healthy population of big hungry Bluegill and Redear Sunfish. My go-to pattern has always been an all black leech tied on a size 10 2XL hook. I find that I catch more fish, and certainly larger fish, subsurface than any topwater patterns. While jumbo-size bream can certainly be taken on poppers or other topwater patterns, they are much more inclined to take a subsurface pattern down where they hang out around submerged limbs and stumps. I sure miss Jim Hatch being here on the FAOL boards. I hope that he is doing well and enjoying himself in retirement.

Jim Smith