I am in a Bass Tourny on the 11th and the lake is full of Largemouth and weeds! TONS AND TONS curling over the water surface. basically, i am just looking for any tips on weedless lures or techniques anyone would use for such a scenario. i can't stress enough the the weeds are a problem because they are so plenty. great for fishing hard to get something underneath that won't get tangled though.
I need some advice!
- Thread starter serkul
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diggyj
Rice Lake Master
You can Texas rig various things weedless like Senkos, tubes. Drop-shotting and dunking in holes can be successful. You can use a jig and pig with a weed gaurd. Works well, I tried all of the above methods in heavy weeds yesterday.
Dirk.
Dirk.
I just got back from fishing a place where there were weeds just about everywhere - some on top of the water and some just under the surface - caught a mess of largemouths using spinnerbaits - I cast out over the water and quickly start reeling the spinnerbait before it has a chance to go under the surface - I keep my rod high up in the air and the spinnerbait comes along just under the surface - the bass come up and nail it - if I get into a spot where the weeds are all over the surface then I switch to either a rubber frog, or worm - yes weeds can be a challenge but that's where the largemouth are - no matter how you fish you'll be pulling weeds off you lure - oh, I was using a white and chartruse colored spinnerbait - good luck - JoePa
reefrunner
Well-Known Member
I cottage on an extremely weedy lake, so I know what challenges your facing. All the above posters gave great suggestions, methods I regularly use in those conditions, which I shall not repeat but emphasize their value.
I have two lures that I also employ in addition to the above:
1) Bucktail Jigs
Most use it for enticing walleye out of weedbeds, "ripping" it from the bottom and letting it sink. This method can also be very successful for bass. In weedy lakes, most fish use the foliage as cover and ambush prey from within it's hiding - bass are no different. A bucktail jig gets you to those spots, the base of the plant. You can also drop pockets with accuracy.
2) Jointed Floating Rapala (J7)
For those areas where there is a little column of fishable, "weedless" water - even if it's just under the surface, a Jointed Floating Rapala is a bass killer. I suggest something small like a J7 as it rides higher and for some reason doesnt really get hung up on weeds, you can even burn it right through some thick stuff. The tight wobble of the J7 is irresistable to bass. Firetiger is my favourite and bass kryptonite 8)
But let the fish porn do the talking; top was taken and released on a 3/8 ounce bucktail green/black, bottom on a firetiger J7 Jointed Floating Rapala, both in thick, thick weeds:
Good luck in the tourney!
reefrunner
I have two lures that I also employ in addition to the above:
1) Bucktail Jigs
Most use it for enticing walleye out of weedbeds, "ripping" it from the bottom and letting it sink. This method can also be very successful for bass. In weedy lakes, most fish use the foliage as cover and ambush prey from within it's hiding - bass are no different. A bucktail jig gets you to those spots, the base of the plant. You can also drop pockets with accuracy.
2) Jointed Floating Rapala (J7)
For those areas where there is a little column of fishable, "weedless" water - even if it's just under the surface, a Jointed Floating Rapala is a bass killer. I suggest something small like a J7 as it rides higher and for some reason doesnt really get hung up on weeds, you can even burn it right through some thick stuff. The tight wobble of the J7 is irresistable to bass. Firetiger is my favourite and bass kryptonite 8)
But let the fish porn do the talking; top was taken and released on a 3/8 ounce bucktail green/black, bottom on a firetiger J7 Jointed Floating Rapala, both in thick, thick weeds:
Good luck in the tourney!
reefrunner
frozenfire
Moderator
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Totally agree 100% with the J7....definite bass killer for me.
reefrunner
Well-Known Member
serkul said:
Generally, I would say no; the fish may still be holding in shallow pockets or slop even though they got many other places to hide. More specifically, I would say try and figure out a pattern on that particular lake. In weedy lakes, generalities are thrown out the window because of of all the good hiding places for fish to hide. But just because a proven technique on say a clear, kettle-type lake worked for bass in the past, it doesn't mean it won't work on a weedy lake.
If you are pre-fishing the tourney that would be your best time for figuring out a pattern. When you catch a bass note what conditions were present at the time. How deep? Windblown shore? structure? Vegetation? Lure? Technique? If you can duplicate the result using the same method at a different location but similar conditions you got yourself a pattern- I would let the fish dictate to you what they want.
oh, another tip that just came to mind. You want to fish where the weeds are green and healthy. You'll note more fish caught by healthy weeds rather than the darker greens or even reds you may see; reason being is they provide for better oxygen qualtiy in the water than the bad weeds described above for forage and game fish.
frozenfire
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reefrunner, do you ever throw weedless plastic frogs like ec1 mentioned?
I tend to chuck them into heavy/thick weeds at the surface and get lots of hits, but the hookset percentage is poor. Waiting for a few seconds before setting the hook will help a bit but I still tend to lose a lot of fish.
I tend to chuck them into heavy/thick weeds at the surface and get lots of hits, but the hookset percentage is poor. Waiting for a few seconds before setting the hook will help a bit but I still tend to lose a lot of fish.
reefrunner
Well-Known Member
frozenfire said:
You know what, I don't! It is a shame really, I've heard good things about them from ec1 amongst others. I tried my cousin's once with no luck. It just never crosses my mind to pick one up when I walk into the tackle store. Also, I figure the one or two hook on it can't be that great for hook up ratio. But I won't knock it until I try it. I may pick up a frog next time I go for a refill on Yum Dingers. Is it worth the (I dunno the exact price) $8-15 if you own an assortment of topwaters already?
I can't take credit for this tip, someone else gave it up on another thread on this board, just can't remember who to credit, I apologize to the original poster: When you get a hit on top water (or even plastics for that matter), look at your line where it makes contact with the water, if you see it moving sideways it's a good indicator that the fish has it in it's mouth and is on the move; set the hook rather as soon as you bserve this rather than waiting and feeling the fish's weight as that may be too late for a hook up.
tournament went well! didn't win place or show, but i did come in 4th along with about 5 others. caught a nice 4 punder on powerbair (purple and pink) I love powerbait, always a good choice! thanks for the hell all! i will post my picture when i get it developed!
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