What To Use In Heavy Vegetation?

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

My parents' neighborhood has a community pond about the size of a football field.  The last few months I was getting bass like crazy fishing it from the banks on minnow swim baits.  I have not been there in about 2 weeks and just went back the other day.  All along the entire bank around the pond, the vegetation grew under the water to right at surface level.  If I cast anywhere with the minnow, I pull out a salad.  What is the best to use?  My friend said to use any rattle trap and "tear through" the grass.  He said the dual treble hooks will pick up some of the grass but it won't be much.  Top water is always an option, however it doesn't really produce.  I was thinking a Senko worm with a small weight on top of the hook (just so it is weightless, but actually has a small weight to help it get down through the grass).  Also maybe a jig?  I REALLY love swim baits and was wondering if there was any way to make a minnow weedless or as close to weedless as possible.  Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

 

Joe

[A-Jay]

 

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Here you go - this is what I fish in that type environment - A Texas Rigged Skirt & Plastic.

What I do like about this rig over a Standard Fixed hook jig:
First and fore most, the fish eat it.
The hook-up ratio is the same as a standard Jig or maybe even a bit better.
It comes through cover better.
I can modify / customize the rig any way I want. By switching the weight, the skirt color or type, the hook size or type and the plastic trailer of my choosing - the options are endless.

With very little chance of hanging up, I Fish it over and through lily pad fields, milfoil patches, cabbage patches, stump/log jams, and open water ~ All on One Cast !

So, instead of carrying a ton of different color and size jigs, I can be ready for anything (including punching through the slop) with a hand full of weights, skirts, hooks and a small assortment of plastics. Beavers, Beasts, Grubs, Craws and creature baits have all taken fish.

Here's the rig, from the main line to the hook:

-A stopper knot (I use a double uni-knot made from left over braided line)
- A small bead to keep the knot from slipping through the weight.
- A 1/2 oz tungsten weight
- a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar
- The skirt of your choice
- A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook)
- A 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook)
- Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast

Hope this helps

A-Jay

[Fishing Rhino]

Try a fluke on these types of hooks. 

 

 

 

You may prefer a different variation, but you can rig these with a fluke, and they are pretty near weedless, even when dragged through the worst kind of gunk, except for filamentous algae.

 

Skin hook the point, and you're good to go.

 

You can also try Rage Tail craws, or similar, and fish them top water, just below the surface and if visibility allows, let it drop into any open pockets.

[A-Jay]

Also look up the Sebile Magic Swimmer Soft Pro

 

It's a weedless soft plastic swimbait that might be what you're looking for.

 

A-Jay

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Thanks for the detail A Jay! That does help. ;-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Fishing Rhino,

I have a Senko rigged just like the one in your pic. Gonna try it out! :-)

[rockchalk06]

Anything weedless will work. In thick grass like that, when I can find it, I will throw a North Star flip n swim jig. It comes through the grass really well. If you get hung up, give it a quick snap to come loose. The most violent strikes I've had using them, come when you pop it out of the weeds

[BrettD]

Soft plastic swim bait like a skinny dipper or big ez rigged weedless with a 1/8-1/4 oz belly weighted screw lock hook. Swim it just above the grass slower the better.

[MrSwimJig]

Anything weedless will work. In thick grass like that, when I can find it, I will throw a North Star flip n swim jig. It comes through the grass really well. If you get hung up, give it a quick snap to come loose. The most violent strikes I've had using them, come when you pop it out of the weeds

I agree with this. I use the NorthStar Original swim jig.

Just swim it thru and when it hangs pop it and hold on. Because they will attack it when it pops free.

[Bankbeater]

Weightless fluke and dead stick it through the weeds.