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Not too new to the game, but still learning a lot. What is the best way to catch trophy bass in Texas? The best spot, lure, bait and time are what I am looking for. If anyone has any suggestions

So I'm on day 2 of a Colorado trip after grinding out money on the lower levels lakes, and I've noticed something with the lures I use. Nearly every time I use a lure it's hit or miss...it comes back with nothing or I'll get something hooked. I'm starting to notice with the shad lures I use it's different, I'm getting lots of hits (controller vibrates) and sometimes I even see the tension bar fill 1 or 2 ticks. I'm using a 1/4 oz Jig #2 with both a 1" shad and a 2" shad (nighttime). I rarely catch anything with the shads, even when other lures are hitting at a high rate (yes...I'm checking the fish preferences first). When I have caught things with the shads they are usually pretty big compared to the rest of the catches. But I'm noticing now in Colorado that I'll get 2 or 3 "hits" each cast, but not hooking anything. When you get hits like that, does it mean your tackles is not the right kind, or the hook is too big/small? Or is this just a shad lure thing? Or am I interesting bigger fish and therefore need more luck/more tries? Also, do "nighttime" lures work the same or worse during the daylight?

I am very new to fishing but its always something that i enjoy doing when time allows me to do so. However i was wondering if anyone could recommend a good setup or your fav setup for topwater fishing (rod/reel line & lures) & possibly share why its your go to setup? I live in the Galveston County area, i don't own a boat or have access to one. So i have to fish from the rocks. I have tried bottom fishing and i always end up losing money because my line gets stuck & i have to snap the line and re-setup. Being able to cast further out is also a necessity (im not sure if its all in the technique of the cast or a combination of technique and setup). My apologies for the long post but im just trying to learn as much as i can. Thank you in advance.