Bass In The Grass

[beast]

All the lakes in my area are small natural lakes, and the only form of cover besides docks is vegetation. All the lakes are ringed by weeds, with many different types including milfoil, hydrilla, cabbage, lilly pads, arrowheads, and reeds. How do I know which type of vegetation to fish on any given day? I have tried all the different kinds and in different depths, but I usually have the best success on the deep weed edge of the milfoil, in 8-15 feet. Are there certain days when fishing a different type of vegetation would be more effective?

[Gatorbassman]

There's not rule book about what grass to fish when. I'm sure if there was one the bass wouldn't read it.

You've got to let the bass tell you what they want and where they prefer to be. With that said I usually spend a lot of time on the outside edge of any grass bed. I also pay particular attention to where two different types of grass meet. On very sunny days I may start looking for weeds that offer the most shade. I stay away from dead or dying weed and prefer the greenest stuff there is. Hope this helps.

[Fishing Rhino]

That seems to be the depth I'm catching fish here in my section of Mass. Most of the aquatic plants I've been fishing are less than a foot tall, but quite thick on the bottom. You've got a pattern that is working well for you. For the most part, stick with it, but don't hesitate to do a little prospecting in the different types of vegetation.

You won't learn anything new by fishing the same way, in the same places day after day. Allot a portion of your time to trying something different, and focus on that for your prospecting time. Spend an hour exploring, and three hours fishing what you have found to be productive. That's just an example. The point is to make a concerted effort at learning something new. Keep in mind, what you may learn is that your explorations just don't produce fish. That doesn't mean those areas will never produce fish. It means they aren't working for you today. A week from now, or a month ago it might have produced fish.

The main thing is to have fun. Learning can be as much fun as catching.

One final thought. Gut instinct. What we call gut instinct may not really be a gut instinct at all. Our brain is a computer, and it often does its work without us even thinking about or paying attention to it. So the next time you get a yen to fish a particular bait on a particular bottom, do it. That computer between your ears may be providing good information.

[Bassn Blvd]

I think the weather would dictate which area of the "jungle" (haha) to fish. I would concentrate in deeper water/deep submerged grass beds or fishing under thick weed beds on hot, bright, sunny days. I'd probably use a pegged soft creature bait of some sort.

I would concentrate on shallower water and less dense areas on cooler, overcast days or early morning and late evening. I would throw some sort of swimbat (lake fork majic shad or simular), rubber worms/senkos (weighted and unweighted).

[ww2farmer]

Your lakes, sound just like the lakes (at least the ones I like to fish) here in WNY. I catch more bass out of grass (milfoil mostly) than just about any other type of cover. I can tell you how I fish it in my home lake, but I fish that place 150+ times a year, and have a way of doing things there that works for me, it may not work for you, or it may not work on lake x,y, or z. BUT, if I were to go to a new lake with lots of grass, the first thing I would do is look for an area where the deepest edge of the weeds has some sort of change to it. For example, where it makes a point, or cuts in close to shore, inside and outside bends, etc... I would work the the outside edge of those areas with a lure or bait YOU have confidence in, if you can't pick up any fish on the outside edge, don't pack up and leave the area, start looking for holes and pockets in the weeds, and put a bait in those places. Fish the weeds at multiple water depths, till you find a depth in them that seems to be holding fish, and then concentrate on that depth for a while to see if it's a pattern. Try a couple different things before you determine they are not there. I have had days where you could flip every weed pocket in the lake with a jig, or T-rigged bait and haul water, but drop a senko that falls slow into those same holes and load the boat.........and vice versa. But back to looking for fish............if fishing the outside edge or holes/pockets in the middle of the weed beds are not working, I do one of two things, either go to the bank and fish wood, boat docks, thick matted grass, and any other shore line cover, or go deeper and fish hard cover, like rock piles outside the weedsor, any kind of man made cover, etc.. If your not catching a few in any of these areas, I would question whether or not there are bass in that lake LOL. Grass lake fish can turn on and off with the flick of a switch, alot of whacking them good, or struggling for bites is nothing more than a timing thing. Don't get discouraged if your not plucking them off one after another out of every hole. Fish when the odds are in your favor, during low light times (am, pm, weather changes, windy days) outside or inside edges, or even over the top on reaction baits should (but not always) be a good starting point. And on sunny clam days, the holes, pockets, or matted stuff is the place to be looking first.

[.ghoti.]

You've discovered one of the real truths of bass fishing. Happy bass live in grass. An outside weed edge with nearby deep water is a prime location.

[Nitrofreak]

Man, I did not know bass could read, I am going to start writing "EAT ME" on my lures LOL !! or you think that might be a not so good idea?

Lots of great advice from all, I would like to suggest the same, A deep water edge along a grass line will prove to be your best areas to fish, I have found this to be productive no matter the plant life, grass, lilly's or otherwise, as long as it can provide nutrients the fish require, they will most always be there.