Pitchin' / Flippin' Milfoil Not Matted Up On Top

[n8cas4]

I'm not having great success pitching the milfoil this year. Up in CT where I fish, the milfoil / grass is not matted up most of the time. In some lakes and places its growing to just under a foot or two of the surface in up to 10-11 FOW. So the rig doesn't have difficulty getting to the bottom most of the time with 1/2 -3/4 ounce pegged bullet sinker. Some fish are reacting before it hits the bottom, but my buddy is getting more fish working it on the bottom. I don't think my problems lie with the setup I use or the way I'm pitching, but rather with the action I'm using when working the bait after it hits the bottom. So, my question is: what type of action should I be using once it's on the bottom? How long should be 'working' it? If I can get away with not pegging, should I let the weight slip freely to impart better action if the fish are taking it off the bottom as opposed to grabbing it on the initial fall?

My main stays:

SHIMANO crc76xmhf pitching rod (cork not new Eva foam)

SHIMANO CURADO 201e7

50lb suffix performance low vis green

Bobber stopper or EZ peg rubber to peg

1/2 ounce to 3/4 ounce tungsten green pumpkin bullet weight

3/0 gammy straight shank flippin hook for beaver style baits

4/0-5/0 gammy straight shank flippin hook for brushog

Snell knot

[The Young Gun]

I know the feeling. Milfoil is killing me here in wisconsin

[Catt]

I seldom peg even in matted grass

If the bass are hitting on the way down drop the rod, reel the slack, set the hook!

This the hardest bite for most anglers to master!

[mikey5string]

What lake? I am in CT and the grass in the lake I fish most isn't nearly as dense as it usually is this time of year. Its still there, just submerged. I like to fish flukes over the top and pegged texas rigged worms in the grass. 

 

You dont have to flip and pitch jigs in grass.  The reason for flipping and pitching is to be able to get the bait to a very specific target like a small hole in a grass mat. If you are just generally fishing a grassy bank, there is no real need to flip of pitch. If the grass isnt matted, there is nothing to "punch".

 

Try hopping a texas rigged worm along the bottom. A pegged 1/2oz weight will let the bait get through weeds. If you get hung up just pop the bait with a sharp jerk of the rod, then let the bait fall back to the bottom. 

 

Until this season, I rarely used jigs and I almost always fish grassy banks since  I have no electronics. I cant remember the last time I got skunked. 

[n8cas4]

Lotta northwest CT lakes and of course Candlewood (amongst others).

Yeah, I have a few other techniques / lures to use in the grass, but I'm having trouble getting the kicker fish / bigger bites that come from pitching / flipping to good grass. I want to make sure i'm using the right action / presentation once the bait enters the water. I'm very curious to see how other members pitch and flip once the bait hits the bottom - how long they keep it down there and what action do they give the bait, etc...

[ww2farmer]

Seemingly every day is different. Some days they want it deadsticked, some times they hit it on the fall, or after it hits the bottom, or they grab it as your reeling in for another pitch. Mix it up till you get a bite, then do what you were doing when you got bit for a while to see if that's what they want. Big fish in mifoil turn on and off at the flip of a switch. It would make you sick if you ever knew how many big ones your bait was in front of that didn't bite it. I'll switch presentations to see what they want, there is more than one way to fish grass than with jigs and t-rigged plastics.

[BassAddict1911]

Seemingly every day is different. Some days they want it deadsticked, some times they hit it on the fall, or after it hits the bottom, or they grab it as your reeling in for another pitch. Mix it up till you get a bite, then do what you were doing when you got bit for a while to see if that's what they want. Big fish in mifoil turn on and off at the flip of a switch. It would make you sick if you ever knew how many big ones your bait was in front of that didn't bite it. I'll switch presentations to see what they want, there is more than one way to fish grass than with jigs and t-rigged plastics.

yup yup yup