Spadderdock/ Lily Pad Help!

[Idahobassin]

Hey guys I've been fishing dense fields of lilies mixed in with spadderdock that is 6-8" out of the water with senko a in the holes and pockets, and a jig and pig around the edges with not much success... It was a killer tactic post spawn/ early summer but now it's died. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Ozark_Basser]

I've been in the same situation this year. The only thing that has seemed to work really well for me is weightless soft plastics since it has gotten hot. They won't even touch a frog where I'm at which is funny because it produced so well during what seemed to be post spawn.

[HoosierHawgs]

Fish from sundown to sun up, and get that frog out!

[Montanaro]

If it is dense get a 3/4 punch weight and creature bait then punch them in the head.

[Megastink]

Is the whole lake like that? I have a theory I follow: if there is an over-abundance of cover, I ignore most of it. I find hard lines, or areas where there isn't much of said cover. In your case, try and find areas of those pads with depressions in the bottom. It doesn't have to be much: only 8" can make a difference. They should stack in those areas.

[papajoe222]

I'd venture to say the area is the problem, not the cover or the baits you use.  During the summer period, a percentage of fish will stay shallow rather than abandon the shallows for deep water haunts.  They won't, however, use shallow cover that does not have quick access to deeper water. The only exceptions to that general rule is when there isn't any deeper water as is the situation in many retention ponds, or they have followed some form of forage into the area and are actively feeding.

Look for areas that have a defined drop in depth close to the pads, not a slow taper. That quick drop may only be a couple of feet in depth, but it can be the difference maker. The other thing you must consider is what the fish are feeding on.  During the post spawn, bluegill and minnows are spawning and the bass will move in to feed on them. Once the forage has moved away, there is little reason for the bass to be there.

[Dogmatic]

Some good advice here, as always. I just want to add, and it kind of ties in with the new LT hollow body sunfish thread. Yesterday I was fishing a pad line, pads ended,then water depth dropped off quickly to 15', nothing was happening on top, so I was using a Hudd Gill running parallel to the pad line with only minor success, when an errant cast put the bait 8' deep into the pads, I quickly reeled it off the pads, then let it sink at the edge, and BAM! Strike after strike. Went back with a frog,figuring they were under the pads along the edge, nothing. I figured they weren't under the pads, but on that ledge in depth, waiting to move up.

[Idahobassin]

Thanks guys, I'll look for depressions and drop offs!

[noah3d]

I don't know where you are located, but there are a few things that I do that haven't been mentioned. In addition to the frog, I'd fish a zoom ultravibe speed worm on an eighth ounce weight or smaller (preferably around a sixteenth ounce). Do not peg the weight. You can fish the very edge, toss it a few feet into the pads, or throw it into the holes. You can do the same thing with a ten inch worm, but stick to an eighth or quarter ounce weight. Someone mentioned punching, but I usually use a half or three eighths ounce weight since most pads aren't thick enough to punch. Also, try pegging an eighth ounce or smaller weight to a swimbait like a missile baits shockwave. Toss it into the pads and just reel slowly and pause it occasionally. The bait will usually pull to the surface as it crawls over a pad, but that is no big deal. I think it actually helps. You can do the same thing along the edge of the pads.

[dead end canal]

RoLo had a very good post on this subject... page 3 of this thread:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/159859-most-favorite-and-least-favorite-techniques/?hl=spatterdock