A Jiging Question.

[hookedahawg]

I have recently found a group of ponds that have some really decent fish in them, I can see them but have yet to catch any. The main reason is these ponds are very slimy and have a lot of malfoil on top. I want to throw a jig in the pockets but when I do all I get back is a ton of slime. The bottom looks to be made up of soil and thick grass. I am currently throwing a 1/2 ounce football jig with trailer. Is that what you would throw? I've also Been throwing a hollow frog but no luck their either. I really feel like I could get a good jig bite if I knew what to use. Any ideas?

[hooah212002]

Football jigs are (mainly) for rocks. Throw a http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/index.php/brush-jig'>brush jig or http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/index.php/grass-jig'>grass jig. Brush jigs, imo, are more universal. Grass jigs tend to get stuff caught up on the eye (in my experience, which is limited).

[hookedahawg]

Ok gotcha, that makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

[lmoore]

You could try punching if there were holes under the mats also

[hookedahawg]

True, BTW since the ponds aren't huge I just bank fish them, how accurate can you be without spooking the fish by flipping?

[Mr_Scrogg]

If the Milfoil goes all the way to the surface, it just SCREAMS Hollow Belly Frog.  Stopping the frog over the open pockets would be killer.  Even a buzzfrog (aka Horny Toad, Rage Toad, Stanley Ribbit) would work well for that slop. 

[senile1]

True, BTW since the ponds aren't huge I just bank fish them, how accurate can you be without spooking the fish by flipping?

 

The mats of milfoil should help you in this regard if that is where the fish are.  If they are under the mats that may help to conceal you though I would still take precautions and sneak up to the bank, standing back as far as possible to avoid detection.  I would probably try pitching rather than flipping the mats, if possible.  Keep in mind that the vibrations of your steps can tip off the fish as well.  Walk softly and carry a sensitive stick. 

 

Also, when fishing the jig, stay in touch with your bait as it falls by keeping just enough slack to let it fall straight down, but still not so much that you can't feel and see what is going on with your line.  Maybe some of these fish will bite it on the fall before it gets down in the slime.

[cajunpapi]

In this situation I would use frog, horny toad,wtless trickworm, or wtless fluke.

[MarkH024]

Get a swimg jig and slow roll it through. Bluegill/perch patterns are killer. Add a nice paddle tail trailer or even a Rage craw and hang on. You'll get them.

[hookedahawg]

Thanks for the advice and encouragment guys. THIS is why we fish. Lol

[PABASS]

Use a tube type bait small profile, no weight, Texas rigged simply pull it over the scum and game on.  Have another rod with a stick-bait weedless no weight and when a bass misses just toss that guy in the hole the bass makes and hang on.

[bassfisherman3]

i would try a texas rigged tube to cut down on  picking up so much slime

[LakeTravisAngler]

A weight fluke would be good, let it sink in the open pockets.

[fishking247]

i would throw a soft plastic due to the amount of weed and scum

[gripnrip]

Frog, Frog, Frog! 

[Bankbeater]

I would try a smaller size jig.  Maybe a 1/8 or 1/4 size.  The smaller sizes tend to pull through the muck easier than the larger jigs.

[WRB]

There is jig water and water conditions not suited for jigs or any bottom contact lure. Moss, the green slimy moss, not aquatic weeds, is nearly impossible to fish anything through, the advice to fish over the slim with a frog is good.

You can try a grass jig designed to go through weeds in the more open water areas where the slim moss isn't a problem. Stay away from creature type trailers with appendages, a single tail grub would be a good choice.

1/8 to 31/6 oz bullet head grass jig may work, better off using a Florida rigged straight tail worm.

Tom

[CPBassFishing]

Frogs don't necessarily catch fish just because there is matted grass.

Try throwing a swim jig in a color matching the local forage. I like a jig ranging from 3/8 to 3/4 oz. depending on how deep the fish are. Use a small 3.5-4" swimbait as a trailer and slow roll it over the bottom. The bass will usually hit it either right before it enters the grass line near the shore, or after you pop it off a few weeds.

I actually just made a video on fishing jigs in grass! You might learn a bit if you watch it.

[JT Bagwell]

You could also try a 7" Texas rigged Yamamoto Senko.

 

The reason I suggest Texas rigging it vs Whacky rigging it is because the Whacky rig (even with a weed guard) it way more likely to grab a hold of grass and the slime.

 

I also prefer the 7" Senko vs the 5" Senko because the big fish love it. The small guys will still eat it but the Bluegills don't mess with it much.

[MSPbass]

Listen to that guy ^^^

[coldsud]

I fish on a small lake that gets Devastated with milfoil! I find the best way to pull fish from it is throwing a weedless jig with skirt and trailer. My technique is too start running it through the milfoil till it starts to get hung then let it drop and then you can start again usually when it drops it'll pull through clear at that section till it starts to get hung up again further in. Try that. It worked wonders for me last year. Good Luck!!!!

[Teal]

Topwater lures. If you got slime, then you have more than milfoil, you probably have a filimentous algae which can be a bear.

Zoom ultra vibe speed worm, GYCB kut tail, Rage Shad, Rage Toad, buzz bait, your favorite hollow frog, or a weedless swimbait and any other topwater with a weedless hook.

If you can get the angle, try to paralell the bank or weedline with a soft jerk bait, (ITS WEEDLESS)

Good luck to ya, all pretty good advice above

[ColdSVT]

frog or a jig to punch

if that fails get some 1/4 sticks lol

[hookedahawg]

Thanks guys, have had a hard time getting anything out of that pond. BUT, the pond right next to it gave me my new PB of 6.56 it was amazing UNTIL I noticed my camera was dead. Lol that's part of it I guess.

[hookedahawg]

Typo....6.5 I meant lol