I personally have done better on slivers. A buddy caught 5 last weekend on top without any fish busting & said there wasn't any shad coming up either. I just haven't been able to get on them right for the top water bite myself, but some are catching them alright according to what i've heard. Just speaking for myself, but I've had a lot better years for striper then this year. There is a lot of shad in some areas & others not so much.