What lure should I use?

[EGbassing]

I'm going to a new pond tomorrow that's on the edge of some woods. I stopped by it on the way home from playing soccer today and I noticed that there's a lot of shoreline cover. There's about 5 - 10 feet of thick grass/vegetation growing away from the bank around most of the pond. I want to fish the cover because I think that's where the fish will be, but I feel like the fish are just going to get wrapped up in the vegetation after I hook them and I'll probably end up getting snagged in the cover if I tried to fish right in it, but I think it's my only option. Any suggestions for lures and/or techniques in this situation? I have only 12 lb. flouro right now so I'm concerned about breaking off with a frog, but it's probably strong enough to fish a small flipping jig.

[Paul Roberts]

I'd first walk that shoreline, looking for openings. They may not have to be large openings; Just large enough to pull a fish through. If there's brush (woody), or really coarse vegetation, and you are at risk of losing lures, you may have to cast short. Otherwise, the only risk is losing fish buried in the weeds.

 

What you'll need though are fish in that shallow cover. There will likely be some searching involved, esp since it's pre-spawn there and your fish may not be well distributed through shallows yet. I'd walk first, before you even cast, looking for bass and prey fishes. This could save you a bunch of time.

 

Lures? T-rigged creatures and worms would be a good choice. They are inexpensive, about as weedless as you can get, and they catch bass in cover.

 

Eventually, a heavier rig can be added to your arsenal. I tend to use heavy spinning gear, rather than casting gear, for fishing from shore along shorelines with heavy cover, esp when there is tall on-the-shore cover such as brush and trees.

 

Good luck with it. Let us know what you find. Quite a few of us are iced up, and would love to hear what you find out.

 

[Glaucus]

A stout rod, braid, and Texas rigged Senko.

[EGbassing]

3 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

A stout rod, braid, and Texas rigged Senko.

Problem is, I'm going tomorrow and I don't have any of those things.

46 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

I'd first walk that shoreline, looking for openings. They may not have to be large openings; Just large enough to pull a fish through. If there's brush (woody), or really coarse vegetation, and you are at risk of losing lures, you may have to cast short. Otherwise, the only risk is losing fish buried in the weeds.

 

What you'll need though are fish in that shallow cover. There will likely be some searching involved, esp since it's pre-spawn there and your fish may not be well distributed through shallows yet. I'd walk first, before you even cast, looking for bass and prey fishes. This could save you a bunch of time.

 

Lures? T-rigged creatures and worms would be a good choice. They are inexpensive, about as weedless as you can get, and they catch bass in cover.

 

Eventually, a heavier rig can be added to your arsenal. I tend to use heavy spinning gear, rather than casting gear, for fishing from shore along shorelines with heavy cover, esp when there is tall on-the-shore cover such as brush and trees.

 

Good luck with it. Let us know what you find. Quite a few of us are iced up, and would love to hear what you find out.

 

Thanks! Do you think a jig work as a substitute for the T-rig? Because the heaviest weights I have are 3/16th oz. but I have 1/2 oz. jigs. I'll let you know how it goes.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

A stout rod, braid, and Texas rigged Senko.

 

Just now, EGbassing said:

Problem is, I'm going tomorrow and I don't have any of those things.

 

1 hour ago, EGbassing said:

There's about 5 - 10 feet of thick grass/vegetation growing away from the bank around most of the pond.

Wait until you have them?  Massed vegetation like that is going to snap that FC so much that by the time you catch anything good, you'll have paid for a good, stout combo loaded with braid in lost lures.

[EGbassing]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

 

 

Wait until you have them?  Massed vegetation like that is going to snap that FC so much that by the time you catch anything good, you'll have paid for a good, stout combo loaded with braid in lost lures.

I've landed 5+ pound bass in heavy cover with that line and it's never failed me.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, EGbassing said:

I've landed 5+ pound bass in heavy cover with that line and it's never failed me.

Well, good luck then.

[EGbassing]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Well, good luck then.

Thank you. I'll probably try to get some braid soon.

[scaleface]

You could toss a spinnerbait around and over the weeds .  

[EGbassing]

26 minutes ago, scaleface said:

You could toss a spinnerbait around and over the weeds .  

Might work. Is this a good time of year for spinnerbaits?

[Glaucus]

4 hours ago, EGbassing said:

Problem is, I'm going tomorrow and I don't have any of those things.

Thanks! Do you think a jig work as a substitute for the T-rig? Because the heaviest weights I have are 3/16th oz. but I have 1/2 oz. jigs. I'll let you know how it goes.

If you don't have the strong rod nor the strong line to fish such a mess, it doesn't matter what lure you use, it's going to be a pain. 

[scaleface]

8 hours ago, EGbassing said:

Might work. Is this a good time of year for spinnerbaits?

In Alabama I would  say yes . 

[primetime]

Chuck, skip, cast a plastic worm under bushes, close to any structure and breaklines, and try to cover water...To keep it simple...You can never go wrong fishing a Paddle tail swimbait, Fluke, Senko weightless, pegged, wacky, and basically any soft plastic will produce and keep you from getting snagged fishing structure.

 

Skipping a tube is often a good bet since most guys forget about tubes, give fish a different look. Another good option is a Speed worm for topwater or really fish it any way, have a finesse worm, then a bait like the Rage Menace, Structure bug with a weighted hook is a good option, skip it under bushes etc..Hop it and swim it and it will get bit.

 

I actually prefer Split shot rigging or light carolina rigging plastics as often as possible. If weeds then peg the weight, but you can simply put a weight sliding free, but something about a split shot rig and a 6" Ribbon tail worm or small fluke that just flat out works. All you need is 1/8 weight, bead, or a split shot which can double as a weighted hook if needed. Just crimp a small shot on the hook shank of a texas rig.

 

I think you will have most fun not getting snagged and throwing weedless plastics...weightless if possible since they are easiest to fish imo....But if not, just crimp on a split shot and fish. You will catch them if you put the bait in the right place.

 

Good luck.  I would also suggest a tiny torpedo or some type of prop bait for topwater this time of year if I was to pick one. You can reel it to cover water, or fish it really slow in good looking areas. They produce quality fish and lots of guys forget about them for some reason....

[EGbassing]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

In Alabama I would  say yes . 

Alright, I'm going to try a jig first but I'll definitely take along a spinnerbait and try that out while I'm there. Thanks for the suggestion.

8 hours ago, Glaucus said:

If you don't have the strong rod nor the strong line to fish such a mess, it doesn't matter what lure you use, it's going to be a pain. 

Yeah. I fished fairly heavy cover with a ned rig all summer on my finesse rig. 6# - 8# line and I only broke off once when I made a bad cast right back into the weeds and something bit it while I was tangled in the weeds. That was probably stretching my luck though. (and my line to the point of breaking)

 

So that's mainly why I have confidence in lighter line than I used to.

[EGbassing]

Actually, what does everyone think about a swimjig? I got a custom made one from @cadman that looks really nice but I haven't gotten to try it yet. I forgot I even had it but I just rediscovered it a few days ago and this seems like a good situation to use it.

[Bankbeater]

I would try a weightless fluke.  You might be able to work it through the thin spots in the vegetation and across the top of the thicker vegetation like a topwater bait.

[Largies4Life]

My recommendation was going to be a swim jig for you. I fished swim jigs quite heavily this past summer and whenever I got around some thicker vegetation, out came the swim jig. Do you have a MH rod to throw it on? I use 15lb. fluoro so I'm sure your 12lb will be just fine!

[EGbassing]

Thanks for all the answers. I didn't end up going to that pond because I ran out of time, but I went to my regular pond and caught this one: 

[Paul Roberts]

21 hours ago, EGbassing said:

Do you think a jig work as a substitute for the T-rig? Because the heaviest weights I have are 3/16th oz. but I have 1/2 oz. jigs.

Possibly. I guess I'm picturing dense shoreline trees and brush. If it's veges only, then I see two good jig options:

-A heavy jig to root around the bottom of those weeds. If it's really dense, you'll need to look for holes, and be patient. Shake and wait. The bass may need some time to check out the disturbance. Movement will attract them, but too much may put them off when they get close.

-Swim Jig, as you asked about. These do not have to be heavy as they are often fished higher in the water column. My favorite for heavy cover, both veges and wood, is the Mango Jig by Nichols. I use the 1/8oz (even though it's a full sized jig) in shallow cover a lot. It is so snagless it doubles as a slop bait.

[primetime]

My favorite Finesse Swim jig for light line, spinning tackle is easy...Strike King Bitsy bug, not the bitsy flip, weed guard to stiff, but take a 1/8-3/16 bitsy bug in green or brown, brown orange and if cold....Put a small Zoom critter craw on back, if warming up, the little bass pro tournament finesse craws work fantastic. I just chuck and wind, hop it, sometimes wake it with a double tail grub or small 3" grub.

 

You hook more fish with the bitsy bug than with most swim jigs and casting jigs if using light line since the hook is thin, weedguard collapses easy so you hook fish, and it just flat out gets bites which keeps you focused.

 

Best $2.29 you can spend at dicks. Grab a pack of 3" power grubs if they don't have any small craws, or double tails etc....You can always just take a piece of a curly tail worm, speed worm, ribbon tail etc....sometimes a wacky rigged 3" senko on a light jig is pretty good.....even on a heavy jig.....

 

I would go swim jig over spinnerbait....You can fish it more ways, and if water is clear it is money, if stained, go with a paddle tail or maybe small menace or devil spear type trailer to give it more action.

 

If nothing else is working...Just tie on a Floating Rapala and fish it over the weeds. Hard to beat a Rapala period, especially on spinning gear. You only need a few inches of water over the weeds and it produces big fish.

 

Keep it simple and fish the way you always do and what you enjoy and have confidence in. If you like to throw spinnerbaits, then do what you do....A jig is good since it can cover all water columns, and a bait like the rapala is a topwater/ wake bait, and can also dive a few feet if needed. For ponds, I would think those are the 2 best baits next to a plastic worm or fluke.

[EGbassing]

42 minutes ago, primetime said:

My favorite Finesse Swim jig for light line, spinning tackle is easy...Strike King Bitsy bug, not the bitsy flip, weed guard to stiff, but take a 1/8-3/16 bitsy bug in green or brown, brown orange and if cold....Put a small Zoom critter craw on back, if warming up, the little bass pro tournament finesse craws work fantastic. I just chuck and wind, hop it, sometimes wake it with a double tail grub or small 3" grub.

 

You hook more fish with the bitsy bug than with most swim jigs and casting jigs if using light line since the hook is thin, weedguard collapses easy so you hook fish, and it just flat out gets bites which keeps you focused.

 

Best $2.29 you can spend at dicks. Grab a pack of 3" power grubs if they don't have any small craws, or double tails etc....You can always just take a piece of a curly tail worm, speed worm, ribbon tail etc....sometimes a wacky rigged 3" senko on a light jig is pretty good.....even on a heavy jig.....

 

I would go swim jig over spinnerbait....You can fish it more ways, and if water is clear it is money, if stained, go with a paddle tail or maybe small menace or devil spear type trailer to give it more action.

 

If nothing else is working...Just tie on a Floating Rapala and fish it over the weeds. Hard to beat a Rapala period, especially on spinning gear. You only need a few inches of water over the weeds and it produces big fish.

 

Keep it simple and fish the way you always do and what you enjoy and have confidence in. If you like to throw spinnerbaits, then do what you do....A jig is good since it can cover all water columns, and a bait like the rapala is a topwater/ wake bait, and can also dive a few feet if needed. For ponds, I would think those are the 2 best baits next to a plastic worm or fluke.

Thank you. I used to have a rapala but the paint started peeling off for some reason, so I’ll need to get another one.