When I am pre fishing or fun fishing I will always try the slop.
When the sun is high and no clouds I have caught some nice fish and I think that the sun drives them into the cover.
I have caught them on cloudy days and they seem to be a little bigger bass at these times.
But the best slop days that I have ever had is when there is a slight drizzle or even a little rain. Most of the guys I fish aginst say that they won’t even try it in the rain but I have caught some monsters in the drizzle.
It may sound funny but my uncle taught me 10 years ago that if you are by the pads and the sunnies are popping the surface, it is a great day for topwater. That has worked for me more times than not.
Watch your surroundings.