Heavy Cover From Shore

[BuffaloBass716]

The river I fish in has become very clear lately, allowing alot of weeds and grass to really grow thick, also growing further out where it is deeper. I get a lot of weeds on my hook while reeling in and im not sure what to use for smallies in this type of water. I was thinking maybe a heavy drop shot with a fluke or goby bait? I need to get my bait very far from shore to try to get out of the cover.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

There are probably fish lurking in the weeds between where you're standing and the area you're trying to cast into. Any chance of wading through the grassy area into a better position to get at the moving water?

 

Not sure what kind of weeds you are fishing through. Is it grass, hydrilla, etc?

 

Texas rig, shakey head, regular bass jigs with a weed guard, etc. should all work. I like to throw a craw imitation on a shakey head texas rigged. You should try throwing a buzzbait earlier and later in the day, although sometimes you can catch smallies on a buzzbait at high noon. Use one without a trailer hook if you are picking up salad. If the weeds are really thick then maybe a frog. 

[BuffaloBass716]

There are probably fish lurking in the weeds between where you're standing and the area you're trying to cast into. Any chance of wading through the grassy area into a better position to get at the moving water?

 

Not sure what kind of weeds you are fishing through. Is it grass, hydrilla, etc?

 

Texas rig, shakey head, regular bass jigs with a weed guard, etc. should all work. I like to throw a craw imitation on a shakey head texas rigged. You should try throwing a buzzbait earlier and later in the day, although sometimes you can catch smallies on a buzzbait at high noon. Use one without a trailer hook if you are picking up salad. If the weeds are really thick then maybe a frog. 

No chance at going into the water. its a pretty fast current and its heavy boat activity. (you can see the river in my profile pic). While using a texas rig, should I reel over the weeds or let it fall to the bottom and pull through them? I dont know what the grass is called but there is multiple types too.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

No chance at going into the water. its a pretty fast current and its heavy boat activity. (you can see the river in my profile pic). While using a texas rig, should I reel over the weeds or let it fall to the bottom and pull through them? I dont know what the grass is called but there is multiple types too.

You can fish it either way. A worm makes a decent topwater bait, but I was thinking more of a punching technique or something you can cast over the grass and drag through it with a heavier weight. 

 

One of my favorite presentations for river smallies is a Slider Spider jig head with a 3-4" senko or grub. I usually fish this texposed because the hookup ratio is better, but the hooks can be bent slightly to accommodate a non-exposed hook point into the plastic. A bullet weight and an ewg hook will make a similar rig, as will a shakey head. Who knows, you might hook up with some walleye on this rig in the grass too.

[THE_Vue's]

from your picture with grassy area you say.  i would try carolina rig.  

[Crestliner2008]

Try a Fat Ika on a non-weighted EWG worm hook. Plenty of compact weight to get down and plenty of triggering qualities besides. Smallies love them!

[tjc76]

chatterbaits penetrate weeds very well.  They also drive fish hog wild.

[duckmaster55]

You should try a punch rid or a texas rigged KVD Game Hawg with a bullet weight. Im not sure what your lake is like but it is possible that the majority of the smallies have already moved out of the shallows but not all fish spawn at once, they come in waves so it wont be impossible to catch them from shore. As summer porgresses though it will get harder and harder to catch them from shore. Another thing is that if you can find the place with the most rocks right off of shore you should be able to dropshot by casting out and you will catch smallmouth.