Squarebillsamurai

When I can't use a fish finder, because there's to much vegetation in the way, I look for a change in plant type. So in places where I have milfoil or hydrilla everywhere, maybe there's an area that has lily pads there or grass sticking up instead. I find many times if there is a solid canopy of lily pads in an area, they will concentrate in those areas. The lily pads create a pocket for them to sit in shade and ambush prey swimming by through the milfoil/hydrilla etc. My best spots in the hot sunny summer days are "islands"of lily pads surrounded in milfoil with a few feet of water underneath. The same thing can happen when the plants mat up on the surface, look for the mats with less tangle underneath and create the best shade underneath on sunny days. Punch through them, frog over them and use a weedless paddletail swimbait on braid to swim through the tangle of hydrilla/milfoil around them. I usually catch several off of one area. Highly recommend the paddletail on a springlock weedless hook, use the lightest weighted hook you can get away with and you'll tangle less. Good bait for searching through the tangle but use a rod that will let you fight them in that mess. If there are holes in the jungle of vegetation then fish those, sometimes bass are sitting just outside looking in. When it's not growing right up to the surface, maybe use crank baits or a bladed jig right over the top of the veg. My lakes aren't as deep as yours, but when they get choked out like that, it's going to be subtle differences that make the difference. You have the right idea checking areas with the "quickest" depth change even if it's not drastic.

Lots of really great advice already given. I also recommend a senko style bait wacky or weightless texas rigged on spinning equipment. A simple bait that's cheap, gets bit everywhere and is a visual and pronounced bite most of the time. If you haven't felt a bite at all yet I can understand your concern, but honestly you'll know it when you feel it (or see it when the line jumps). Like others have said here, it's like a sized up crappie or bluegill bite. But instead of a pop it's more of a WOMP feeling. But it heavily depends what you are fishing with as far as gear and lure. I've had some bites that throw slack in the line and others I didn't realize were there until i tried to "unsnag" my lure. Yes sometimes the bite can be very subtle and hard to pick up on, but don't worry about those bites at first. Keep at it and you'll get bit and know it, and like most people here you'll be addicted. As far as lures, I think you should fish whatever you think will suit your style the best and interests you the most. If you are drawn to soft plastics and want to learn how to use them, do that. If you want to learn it, you'll enjoy it that much more than something you're forcing yourself to try. Some people are finesse guys, some are power anglers and some are a mix of both. Find what you like to do and the fish will follow, Tight lines and good luck!

Agreed, definitely try to find something that's different on the bottom. Might be a small area that's got some sand, gravel, (depending where you are maybe clay) or it could some sort of hard object like rock piles, a boulder, a brush pile, etc. I fish a lot of small shape less ponds that are completely choked out with vegetation like this a lot, though most not as deep. What's the water clarity like when the vegetation grows in? What are you fishing from? Do you happen to know what kind of vegetation it mostly is? Sounds like maybe hydrilla, or coon tail to me. Do you know if the vegetation grows from bottom to surface everywhere or are there mats with "caves" underneath? Or is there some open water above the tops of the vegetation (even an inch or a few inches)? Sorry lots of questions but I can give you more specific suggestions with more information