Northwest Fishing Reports

The lake I fish for bass on has the problem of getting extremely choked out with lily pads and milfoil. This makes is difficult to try out all the new fangled bassing techniques. I've been limiting myself to spinners, buzzbaits, frogs, and senkos to keep from having to pick tons of salad off the end of my line. I just got a few weedless spoons also. Can a shaky head be used in weeds and pads without a high level of frustration? Does it even make sense?

In addition, what techniques lend themselves to lily pads?

noclothes1 wrote:Can a shaky head be used in weeds and pads without a high level of frustration? Does it even make sense?

Yes! Rig it Texas Style or Tex-Skin On Top and it'll be a weedless wonder. With all the fish you'll be catching, It'll be like Christmas in Juneuary!

The only problem I have been having is light lines don't have too much strength and I'm scared of getting lost in the tangles. Maybe heavy line, possibly braid is the next step for me. We'll see.....

flipn N pitchn!!!!:cheers:

thanks, Casey

noclothes1 wrote:The lake I fish for bass on has the problem of getting extremely choked out with lily pads and milfoil. This makes is difficult to try out all the new fangled bassing techniques. I've been limiting myself to spinners, buzzbaits, frogs, and senkos to keep from having to pick tons of salad off the end of my line. I just got a few weedless spoons also. Can a shaky head be used in weeds and pads without a high level of frustration? Does it even make sense?

In addition, what techniques lend themselves to lily pads?

spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs and plastics are probably the best tools for that location. besides senkos you should look into using worms, lizards, beavers, craws and creature baits.

if you opt for a jig or a shakey head you will still run into picking vegetation off your lure. the better you choose your spots, the less vegetation you will get.

if you want to stay on top, the buzz and the frog are your best bets.

if you want to get sub surface, stick to the spinnerbait.

the latter 3 lure should produce quality fish.

If milfoil is a problem, and the garbage grows tall enough that it starts to lay over on top, there another method, but............

I use 50 to 80 LB braid, a once and a half weedless jig, long but thin tail, and punch through the millfoil. The millfoil is thin below the canopy it developes, and a bass just can't resist a jig worked that way, but you always bring in enough garbabe that you need the line.

Now that I mention it, I don't do this often, it is just work, plain old hard work. But it is better than not catching fish.

fishnislife wrote:Be sure to use heavy line or braid to cut threw the cabbage. I like to toss a jig into holes in the lily pads. Like SilverLakeBoy said, flipn N pitchn. Your looking for the hit on the fall. Pegged T-Rigged will get you down into lily pads as well. If there is a ton of milfoil and weeds around I like to toss weightless plastics or very light weight T-Rig. If the cabbage is just coming up off the bottom and a jig or T-rigged plastic is burying itself into it, try Carolina Riggn. This should keep you just above the crap.



fishnislife

So, would you recommend using a floating worm on the carolina rig? And, when pegging the t-rig, do you peg the weight right up to the nose of the worm or a few inches away?

Thanks guys

noclothes1 wrote:

fishnislife wrote:Be sure to use heavy line or braid to cut threw the cabbage. I like to toss a jig into holes in the lily pads. Like SilverLakeBoy said, flipn N pitchn. Your looking for the hit on the fall. Pegged T-Rigged will get you down into lily pads as well. If there is a ton of milfoil and weeds around I like to toss weightless plastics or very light weight T-Rig. If the cabbage is just coming up off the bottom and a jig or T-rigged plastic is burying itself into it, try Carolina Riggn. This should keep you just above the crap.



fishnislife

So, would you recommend using a floating worm on the carolina rig? And, when pegging the t-rig, do you peg the weight right up to the nose of the worm or a few inches away?

Thanks guys

I usually use a senko, brushhog or craw imitation on the C-Rig with a 1/8oz or 3/16oz weight. When I peg a T-Rig I use a broken toothpick and peg it close to the hook eye. I use this to punch through lilies if I don't feel a jig is working.


fishnislife

I'm just at a loss on how to target these darned bass. The weather is not cooperating, and I'm a float tube guy with no electronics :( I think I might start targeting bluegill or sunfish so I can break the skunk. thanks for the tips. One question, should I even bother with frogs or buzzbaits right now?

noclothes1 wrote:I'm just at a loss on how to target these darned bass. The weather is not cooperating, and I'm a float tube guy with no electronics :( I think I might start targeting bluegill or sunfish so I can break the skunk. thanks for the tips. One question, should I even bother with frogs or buzzbaits right now?

YES - try to work them in the early/late hours to up your % but they will hit all day sometimes.

Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Lack of fish has got my confidence down. I'm second guessing everything I do.

A easy producer/confidence booster should be a small spinnerbait worked over weedbeds in a lake like you describe. Something like a strike king mini-king. If you aren't catching a fish on those then there is something wrong or the fish in that lake dont like spinnerbaits at all. Try to work them close to the top of the weeds and think about your angles when making your casts. (where would this bass ambush this spinnerbait from?)

I wouldn't be messing with shaky heads and that kind of stuff in heavy weeds and salad.

Great stuff. I'm gonna try the mini-king next time out. I have a weightless flappin hog, a C-rig with a zoom lizard and a frog tied on right now. I'll be replacing one of those with a mini-king or pond magic. Hopefully that will do the trick. With this nice weather I can't wait to go get 'em

Thanks! I'm feeling less stressed/obsessed now.

Stick with the T-Rig/C-Rig when your in the salad,..just place your hook correctly to keep it weedless,..also make sure your worm/creature is straight up and down and continue checking that before each cast,..then just work your bait,..it's alot of work but it's worth it when you get a strike or land a fish for that matter,..also remember,.."Hook sets are free",..so don't be too concerned with yankin on that pole,..definately get some braided line,..besides your cuttin through salad,..have fun and get ready for a little work out,..lol.