On a couple of the ponds I fish up here in Amherst, as fall approaches, the lilly pads become practically a solid mat under which the fish hide. For the most part I've been throwing just rubber worms in there and hoping they will fall through the holes in the lilly pads. Is there a better system to get through the weeds?
I was thinking about a jig or throwing a weight on with the worm...
If any of you have experienced this situation and have had success I'd love to hear about it.
I was thinking about a jig or throwing a weight on with the worm...
If any of you have experienced this situation and have had success I'd love to hear about it.
heavy jigs would be your best bet imo.another thing to try is making your own holes.when your done fishing get out in the pads and literally rip patches of pads out.next time you go,probably even sooner,bass under the pad cover should start focusing on those holes as an ambush spot.imo you should fish the edges of the pads first,that way if you catch something you will be less likely to blow the other fish out,like fishing the head of a laydown first and working back to the base at shore.
I was watching a Bill Dance show yesterday, and he was using some frog lures. He ripped a pad out from the lake he was fishing and placed the frog on top of the pad and held it up to the sun. I was surprised how well you could see the silhouette on top of the pad. He then said to toss it on top of the pads and the bass will watch the silhouette and when the lure goes off the edge of the pad into the more open water is when they'll hit it. I don't have that much experience with frogs, but that seemed reasonable. Obviously, this would work better on a sunny day...
On the warmer months, throwing the weedless rigged Ribbit Frog over the top of lilly pads is like my most favorite thing to do. Sometimes they'll strike it right on top of the pad... 80% of the time they'll miss it on the first strike because the pad is in the way... but they will hit it a second time usually because they're excited now. Sometimes it can be pretty dicey getting the fish out of the weeds and the slop.
absolutley.you guys are right on with the obvious frog/rat choice.I picked one of the two lures I thought he "wanted" to use lol but ya pads definately say frog time.I guess I assumed that would of been the first thing he tried and didnt like the hookup issues lol.Its still frog time,I can go walk the banks right now around here and you wouldnt believe how many 2-4" frogs will jump of the bank
The other option is to "punch" the pads: Stick as big a bullet weight on there as you need to crack through the pads, and rig a slender-ish soft plastic bait on there. Brush hogs, beaver-style creatures, things like that. Put it on your favorite frog rod and fish it on braid or heavy fluoro, so you stand a chance of getting the fish out again.
You want to try and aim for small holes or seams between the pads, both because you can then get through and because the fish tend to congregate around those things. If there's other structure mixed with the pads, like a log or a stump, try around those too.
When you get through the mat, you have three "phases": On the fall, where you will get hit most of the time; Once on the bottom, give the lure a bit of action and see if it got followed down. If you have not yet gotten bit, bring it up until you feel the pad mat, then jig it around just under there. Retrieve and repeat.
Getting bit will most often just feel like there's extra weight on the line. Whenever you feel something out of the ordinary, swing for the fences. Hooksets are free, after all =) Most of the time, the pads will ensure that you do not nail yourself with your 1oz weight, but it never hurts to assume the worst! Getting beaned with a 1oz lead sinker is not a good time.
Once you have a fish on, you need to lay on him as hard as you can to get him up and out of the pads. This is where heavy line, a stout rod, and heavy-gauge hooks come in. If you let the fish muck around under the pads too much, you will lose it most of the time.
You can also combine the two: Fish a frog over the pads to locate fish. Once you get a blowup but the fish misses, follow it up once more with the frog. If it's still no good, drop your punching lure through and give the fish a different option. You know it's there and it's active, at least.
You want to try and aim for small holes or seams between the pads, both because you can then get through and because the fish tend to congregate around those things. If there's other structure mixed with the pads, like a log or a stump, try around those too.
When you get through the mat, you have three "phases": On the fall, where you will get hit most of the time; Once on the bottom, give the lure a bit of action and see if it got followed down. If you have not yet gotten bit, bring it up until you feel the pad mat, then jig it around just under there. Retrieve and repeat.
Getting bit will most often just feel like there's extra weight on the line. Whenever you feel something out of the ordinary, swing for the fences. Hooksets are free, after all =) Most of the time, the pads will ensure that you do not nail yourself with your 1oz weight, but it never hurts to assume the worst! Getting beaned with a 1oz lead sinker is not a good time.
Once you have a fish on, you need to lay on him as hard as you can to get him up and out of the pads. This is where heavy line, a stout rod, and heavy-gauge hooks come in. If you let the fish muck around under the pads too much, you will lose it most of the time.
You can also combine the two: Fish a frog over the pads to locate fish. Once you get a blowup but the fish misses, follow it up once more with the frog. If it's still no good, drop your punching lure through and give the fish a different option. You know it's there and it's active, at least.
during peak fishing times, dropping a jig or senko in open spots in cover works pretty well as bass tend to wait there to ambush. once it gets warmer and sunnier they tend to go into the thick stuff and punching works pretty well here. i like texas rigging with the bullet weight or throwing a heavy jig on that will cut through the stuff. here's where flipping and pitching will shine. pick your spots that should hold fish and you can often drop it right on their faces and get a reaction strike.
I was watching a Bill Dance show yesterday, and he was using some frog lures. He ripped a pad out from the lake he was fishing and placed the frog on top of the pad and held it up to the sun. I was surprised how well you could see the silhouette on top of the pad. He then said to toss it on top of the pads and the bass will watch the silhouette and when the lure goes off the edge of the pad into the more open water is when they'll hit it. I don't have that much experience with frogs, but that seemed reasonable. Obviously, this would work better on a sunny day...
I was watchin the same show. Gotta love that top water bite!!
I have used the Strike King Rage Tail Toads & they work very well for pads. Use a 5/0 or 6/0 ewg hook T-Rigged & braided line if you have it is a plus. Wait til you feel fish take bait, then let'm have it!!
for you plastic frog guys, here's a tip I recently learned. When your frogs get used up, cut them in half lengthwise and they become pretty good swimbaits. Cut from the head down the middle of the body so you have two halves with a paddle leg on each half and rig it like you would a soft swimbait. Works just as well and you can extend the life of your frogs. Good luck.
for you plastic frog guys, here's a tip I recently learned. When your frogs get used up, cut them in half lengthwise and they become pretty good swimbaits. Cut from the head down the middle of the body so you have two halves with a paddle leg on each half and rig it like you would a soft swimbait. Works just as well and you can extend the life of your frogs. Good luck.
Good stuff! Would have never thought of it, but the more use you can get out of those plastics the better, especially at 6-8$ a pop!
spot on michael, i have been doing just that for years and i love nothing more than those pigs that come and clear out a five by five foot section of pads. my god it is awesome. the only thing i do different is after i bump the bottom of the pads on the way up, i try to gauge the depth from bottom of pad to the floor and jig a few times like you say only not hitting the bottom of the pads. also what you said about the bill dance show, i use a number 4 or 5 colorado blade on a 3/4 oz spinnerbait and try to cast just on the other side of pad structure if i can, if not just try to lay it on top of the structure and do the same thing. i slowly bring the bait over the top of the pads and let it flutter either in between openings or on the edge coming out. i use a trailer split tail and bury the hook tip and barb to make it somewhat weedless. oh god i'm excited now and must go....