Let's Talk Weed Lines.

[S_Miketa6]

I feel pretty ashamed of myself for this being from Ohio because some of the lakes I fish have a lot of grass but I'm not very experienced with fishing weed lines. I've caught fish on them and usually my main baits have been crankbaits, I've also had success on texas-rigged Rage Craws. But my question is what sets one line apart from another? I know fish tend to stack up and when you find one its common to catch another. For this time of year especially which weed lines would you guys mainly approach? Clear or dirty water? in which depth ranges? And what have you guys had success using? Any info would help!

 

Thanks

[OroBass]

I live in northern cali a lot of clear water. All our bass are in there summer patterns. Big bass are rarely on the weedy bank lines... lots of drinks there. Larger bass on deeper structure like points and sunken islands with deeper weed lines. I also look for what I call road ways which look like underwater roads through the weeds.

[OroBass]

Oh and I like to heavily fish inside and outside weed edges. I use a lot of t rigged finesse worms and shakey heads.

[papajoe222]

For me, a prime weedline would be one situated on a drop off. Often, on natural lakes, this is a common occurance as the weeds will only grow to the depth of light penetration and a quick drop in depth results in the edge where the weeds end. Another common reason for an edge is a change in bottom composition. The weeds need a certain type of bottom to grow and an edge is created where that ends, this is often the reason for inside weedlines.The third type of weedline is one that is overlooked and that is where one type of weed ends and another begins.

During the summer, I prefer a deep water edge. The availability of deeper water along with the ease of parallel casting along the edge allows me to cover water quickly and it has great fish holding potential. Another plus is the fact that one section of the line can give up multiple fish.

My second choice would be a weedline formed because of a change in bottom composition. These are rarely straight weedlines and more often than not contain many points and pockets.  These are the high percentage points and although it takes more time and effort to cover a long weedline like this, your chances of contacting fish are much higher than a long, featureless edge. The only downside is the fish here tend to be loners and your approach is more perpendicular to the edge making boat positioning a little more difficult.  Rarely will you pick up more than one fish from a pocket or point of weeds unless it is fairly large.

The last type of edge I mentioned is one many overlook for an obvious reason, it's difficult to present most lures to this area.  Junk fishing is a term that's often associated with this type of edge and it requires stout gear, determination and hard work. It's also not a very good time management approach.

As for lures/presentations, the type of edge will dictate what shouldn't be used. A crank is a poor choice for all but a straigter edge, but a jig or worm isn't a bad choice for a straighter edge either.

The other edge I often forget and many rarely consider is the top edge of the weeds.  Submergent weeds can be fished with any number of baits depending on the depth they top out at. This is a great edge for a  topwater approach and my favorite for weightless worms under cold front conditions.

[RoLo]

There are several types of weedlines, but the two major forms are the Outer Weedline (deep weedline)

and the Inner Weedline (shallow weedline). An inner weedline is not always present, but where it exists

it's typically the result of competition from shallow shoreline vegetation. For instance, a broad cabbage bed

may form an inner weedline at a depth of about 4 ft, after which it becomes overwhelmed by a variety

of shoreline grasses (littoral plants). The 'outer weedline' is a bit more complex, where the depth of the weedline

depends primarily on Plant Species and secondarily on Water Clarity. For instance, bulrushes may form

a deep weed-edge at the 4-foot contour line, while cabbage (in the same waterbody) may form an outer weedline

in 12 ft of water. 'Water clarity' governs the maximum depth of photosynthesis and therefore the maximum depth

of all plant life. For example, hydrilla in a murky lake might stop growing at a depth of only 6 feet, but in gin-clear water

hydrilla might form a weedline that's 18 ft deep. Third in importance is 'nutrition' (soil nutrients & water nutrients),

where low fertility can suppress the weedline depth regardless of the water clarity, but again, nutrition is tertiary.

 

The inner weedline is usually more important during the spawning season (staging cows may also be found on the deep weedline)

The outer weedline is generally more important during the rest of the year (barring an oxygen-debit in summer).

Generally speaking, the steeper the bottom gradient the more defined the weedline, where an abrupt drop-off

tends to produce a wall-of-weeds. In contrast, a sloping bottom produces a more ragged weedline with more weed clumps

and patchy growth, but this is normally a preferable situation as it provides more weedline lineage and hidey-holes. 

 

Roger

[roadwarrior]

pappajoe222 & RoLo

 

GREAT posts!

 

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

There is no question that Roger knows his weed.

[Mike L]

You think you understand something until you realize you dont know as much as you thought !!

Great posts guy's!

Mike

[FrogFreak]

Wow, great posts. I will add just a couple things.

 

X2 on two different types of weeds. Not sure why but bass dig this but then do.

 

Inner weed edges are often overlooked and are pretty productive up north. Not sure why but whenever I'm fishing an outer weed edge, I always throw a couple casts to the inner edge and I've had success.

 

I also see that weed points and other areas of focus along weed edges typically have loner fish on them. But again, I see this a lot regarding any ambush points (outside of the spawn/post spawn times). 

 

I will add that any deeper pockets within a weedy area can be dynamite! I have found these deep within weedy areas most often when I'm in my Kayak.

 

One last item, up north I avoid dead weeds right after spawn. If the weeds are bright green, they seem to hold more fish. I think it's the O2 levels. Dead weeds eat O2. Live weeds produce O2.

[S_Miketa6]

Wow great posts guys!! I got more than I expected thats for sure!!