The　spatial　distribution　of　localized　surface　plasmon　resonance　(LSPR)　plays　a　key　role　in　many　plasmonic　applications.　Based　on　the　thermal　stability　of　alumina　templates,　this　work　reports　a　novel　approach　to　manipulate　the　distribution　of　LSPR　and　exhibits　its　significance　for　an　important　plasmonic　application,　the　surface-enhanced　Raman　spectroscopy　(SERS).　A　suitable　thermal　annealing　sharpens　the　edges　in　top　surfaces　(far　from　the　substrates)　of　Ag　nanoparticles,　which　significantly　strengthens　the　distal　mode　(DM)　with　the　LSPR　excited　on　the　top　surfaces.　Because　the　top　surface　is　the　major　place　to　adsorb　probe　molecules,　this　manipulation　greatly　improves　the　detection　sensitivity　of　SERS.　Our　research　provides　a　new　way　to　improve　the　sensitivity　of　SERS,　which　also　indicates　that　great　care　has　to　be　taken　on　special　LSPR　mode　which　is　largely　responsible　for　a　certain　plasmonic　application　(e.g.,　the　DM　for　SERS　although　it　is　not　the　major　mode).