Flipping pads problem

[Tracker22]

On occasion while flipping thick pads the fish wraps around a pad and gets stuck. The pads I fish are thick and tough. Most of the time when I try to dig them out their gone. How do you handle it when they get stuck? Do you let them run? Apply equal pressure? Pull harder?

[Choporoz]

What rod and line are you using?

[bagofdonuts]

65 lb braid will usually slice right through the pad stems.

[DINK WHISPERER]

1 minute ago, bagofdonuts said:

65 lb braid will usually slice right through the pad stems.

This^ plus a heavy 8' punching rod is all I use for heavy pads. You lose very few if you detect the bite before they bury themselves too deep. 

[Tracker22]

38 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

What rod and line are you using?

8:3.1 Lews, 7’6” heavy/fast Lews, 50lb. Smackdown

It should be noted that I’m in a kayak so I’m already at a disadvantage. If I get stuck it’s usually because I didn’t detect the bite. 

[Gundog]

7 minutes ago, Tracker22 said:

 If I get stuck it’s usually because I didn’t detect the bite. 

Gotta say, that's the problem. By the time you detect the bite they are wrapped around a lot of lily pads. Stick'em hard and fast and as early as possible. That is how you get the advantage on heavy pad fish. If they get in deep I keep pressure on them and try to get a hand on them quick before they get off. Warning!!! Don't do this if you live in gator country unless you like people calling you Lefty.

[Choporoz]

I'm in a kayak, too.  Rod and line should be fine.  I never let them run out when in pads, or wood.  Even if I'm using something more finesse-y (I've pulled big ones out of pads with spinning gear and 12# braid), I try to turn them or even lock them down 

-I try to avoid wind/current moving my jig/frog/worm too much left to right before I get bit - a straight line back to me is usually best, if possible

-I generally try to get them turned towards me fast.  As you said, late bite detection is a killer, especially if they get more than a few feet before you try to set

-I can often cut stems with 40+ braid, and sometimes with the really fine 12-18

-If she gets wrapped quick, and braid isn't cutting, I go to her

 

Nature of the beast, I'm afraid, is that kayaks and heavy cover means losing some

[Catt]

41 minutes ago, bagofdonuts said:

65 lb braid will usually slice right through the pad stems.

 

Don't know what kinda pads y'all fishing but no it doesn't!

 

Very seldom if ever does a bass wrap me around a single stem.

 

Lew’s Speed Spool LFS SS1HA 6.8:1 

 

Quantum Vapor 7' 10" Heavy Extra Fast 

 

TUF-Line XP Braided Line 65#

[J Francho]

Use a lift and separate hookset.  Get them up and their head turned, and get them out the pads quick as possible.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Use a lift and separate hookset.  Get them up and their head turned, and get them out the pads quick as possible.

 

And be prepared to go get em if necessary

 

There's going to be times regardless of our best efforts they'll still wrap ya up.

 

The problem with pads is they are located in shallow water which allows the bass to do one thing...run!

[Tracker22]

38 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

The problem with pads is they are located in shallow water which allows the bass to do one thing...run!

Yeah, I’m amazed at how fast they can go before you even have time to react. I’ve only been flipping for a year and I’m still having difficulty distinguishing a bite at times. I even find myself questioning whether I felt a bite or I was just wishing a bite.?

[Catt]

27 minutes ago, Tracker22 said:

Yeah, I’m amazed at how fast they can go before you even have time to react. I’ve only been flipping for a year and I’m still having difficulty distinguishing a bite at times. I even find myself questioning whether I felt a bite or I was just wishing a bite.?

 

Set hook anyway! 

 

If ya fishing vegetation, brush, or wood they gonna wrap ya up!

 

Like what's been mentioned, set hook fast, turn that head, get em coming towards you but be prepared to go after em.

 

I've been known to exit the boat ?

[Angry John]

I have gone with using a 4 carrier and lower lb test braid as i think it cuts a lot better.  I like 832 a lot but in thick pads when frogging and punching i have gone down to 4 carrier pp in 50.  It seems to cut a lot better so far, and that extra noise through the guides is the price to pay for that sawing action. In wood it seems to work against you, but were not talking wood right now.

[Tracker22]

4 hours ago, Angry John said:

I have gone with using a 4 carrier and lower lb test braid as i think it cuts a lot better.  I like 832 a lot but in thick pads when frogging and punching i have gone down to 4 carrier pp in 50.  It seems to cut a lot better so far, and that extra noise through the guides is the price to pay for that sawing action. In wood it seems to work against you, but were not talking wood right now.

Interesting ?

[Bankbeater]

If a bass tangles me in pads I go and get the fish.  My worry is that the pads could be hiding something like stump that I could run into.

[DINK WHISPERER]

13 hours ago, Angry John said:

I have gone with using a 4 carrier and lower lb test braid as i think it cuts a lot better.  I like 832 a lot but in thick pads when frogging and punching i have gone down to 4 carrier pp in 50.  It seems to cut a lot better so far, and that extra noise through the guides is the price to pay for that sawing action. In wood it seems to work against you, but were not talking wood right now.

Exactly what I did. Went back to 4 carrier for all my heavy cover fishing. Kept the 832 on my scattered cover and deep setups. 

[flbassmaster]

I use 65lb braided line and a heavy hack attack jig seems to do the job. The braid will generally slice through the vegetation.

[Catt]

On 9/5/2018 at 5:02 PM, Angry John said:

I have gone with using a 4 carrier and lower lb test braid as i think it cuts a lot better.  I like 832 a lot but in thick pads when frogging and punching i have gone down to 4 carrier pp in 50.  It seems to cut a lot better so far, and that extra noise through the guides is the price to pay for that sawing action. In wood it seems to work against you, but were not talking wood right now.

 

You need to quit all that talk...I don't need to buy more braid!

[WRB]

Are you standing in the kayak? Can't flip sitting down.

Tom

[Angry John]

40 minutes ago, WRB said:

Are you standing in the kayak? Can't flip sitting down.

Tom

I can pitch and that took tons of practice.  Range is a lot less than standing.  I have never truly flipped and have never seen it in person.  Be interesting to see a fellow yacker doing it.

[CassLaw]

I haven’t thought of the 4 vs 8 braid...all of my braid is 832 in either 30 or 65 for flipping. I try to pin the fish to the pads then go get them. And yes, I have reached down to a 10 pound pad stem more than I care to count!

 

I have fished out a kayak a lot so I know the hookset can be hard in weeds that thick but I chalk that up to getting to places others can’t. 

 

I have noticed at times times if I give them room to move they will occasionally swim out and start the fight over. Can’t say I do it the same way every time. 

 

Good luck 

[Tracker22]

57 minutes ago, WRB said:

Are you standing in the kayak? Can't flip sitting down.

Tom

Both but I’d say if I get stuck it’s usually while sitting.

[flyfisher]

46 minutes ago, Tracker22 said:

Both but I’d say if I get stuck it’s usually while sitting.

in a kayak you have to think about the angle the line is in the water.  When sitting it is much flatter and has more opportunity to wrap up.  When standing it isn't going to get hung up as often.

I do a lot of pitching into pads sitting down in my kayak (raised seat) and when i find myself losing fish as you mentioned, I start standing and it goes away the majority of the time.

Set the hook hard and fast and get them moving towards you.

[Smalls]

Keep pressure on them. They’ll usually work themselves out. The more you let em run, the more pad stems they’ll wrap around. 

[WRB]

My guess is you are pitching in lieu of flipping, the different is no line leaves the reel when flipping and nearly impossible to flip sitting low to the water. Dee Thomas flipped sitting down on a plank across the bow of a aluminum boat, a high sitting position using long powerful rod to lift the bass straight up out of the cover.

The lower to the water surface you are and the longer the cast the bass has the advantage to wrap your line and will unless you can control it.

Tom