Alternate presentations/baits in not sparse but not heavy weeds?

[txchaser]

Situation - weed flats but many of the weeds are reaching the surface. Weeds growing about 8-12" apart. Fish not on weed edges, nor to they appear to be feeding on the bottom. Clear water.

 

So here's the question - What other presentations would have fished well in that kind of grass/weeds? I feel like I forgot to fish something. What else should be on my list in a similar situation?

 

These worked:

3.8 Keitech with an owner willow underspin did surprisingly well 4x4'ing across the tops and between the weeds. Fish would come up from deep enough I couldn't see them (maybe hanging 8' deep, in 12 FOW) and smash it. Running it reasonably fast - 1-2 feet under the surface. This ended up being the pattern for the day. Slow presentation didn't work, except when it was up on top of the weeds like a frog.

Caffeine shad did ok, and caught a few, but they were smaller.

Frog with orange belly - did ok, but not great, a few fish here and there.

 

These didn't:

Chatterbait was tough to fish, weeds were a little too thick, and they weren't biting that today anyway.

Rattletrap - too many weeds.

T-rig and jig - I could get them through but it was slow going and they didn't seem to be feeding in the bottom 1/3 anyway.

Swim jig - just kept coming back with weeds, although I didn't try one with a really pointy head.

6.8 Keitech - no bites. Worked ok though.

Senko - no bites, navigated fine, but without defined spots to throw it at, not very useful as it appeared I needed to cover a lot of water.

 

Didn't try a toad, but it was on my mind.

[JediAmoeba]

Spinnerbait seems pretty obvious to me...

[Black Hawk Basser]

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm

[PhishLI]

Try these. They come through grass nicely. They're heavy, dense, and cast very well. I control depth using belly weighted hooks, or unweighted when I wish to keep it higher. Weightless rigging weights 18 gr. total, weighted is 21 gr.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/keitech_noisy_flapper_frog_5pk/descpage-ketnsyf.html

 

 

[Bankbeater]

If the bass aren't on the edges or on the bottom then they might be up near the surface, or somewhere in the water column, buried in the vegetation.  I would be throwing a buzzbait or a popper.   I would  be working the bait back between those 8" and 12" spaces.  Maybe a crankbait retrieved the same way.

[primetime]

I would also vote for a Zoom ultravibe speed worm, or the paddle tail speed worm...You can fish either like a buzzbait or a crankbait etc..

 

A good way to fish it if not coming to the surface when buzzing it like a paddle tail keitech, is to add a light 1/16-1/8 oz sliding bullet weight. Cast it out and when the weight gets stuck in the grass (Not to deep, so the lightest weight possible), Rip it free & it often triggers strikes like when you rip a swim jig, rattle trap, jerkbait etc.....

 

Swimming worms give them a different look/Profile. Many times you can just go weightless or peg a light weight and simpy buzz it on the surface or just bulge it and kill it in pockets.

 

Flukes also make fanstastic topwater baits....If the caffiene shad is getting smaller fish, then upsise to the magnum size...Flukes catch big fish if you show them a bigger bait...Same with a stick worm, sluggo etc...

 

Plastics are just easier to fish in weeds than most other baits when they are topped out. A swim jig is always a good idea as well if you can get the right weight to rip them out. 

[river-rat]

I'd have to try a 3/4 or 1 ounce jig on braided line to generate a reaction strike. Normally when faced with this type of situation I'm just pitching the bait close to the boat and let it fall on a slack line. 

[txchaser]

I'll add one that I used to fish a lot and for whatever reason don't anymore - swim senko. Could have covered water with it and had a nice drop in the holes too.

[txchaser]

On 4/27/2020 at 12:46 PM, PhishLI said:

Try these. They come through grass nicely. They're heavy, dense, and cast very well. I control depth using belly weighted hooks, or unweighted when I wish to keep it higher. Weightless rigging weights 18 gr. total, weighted is 21 gr.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/keitech_noisy_flapper_frog_5pk/descpage-ketnsyf.html

 

 

Bought a few packs of these as a result of this post. They worked really well, and the ROF with a weighted hook was about like a senko. And they fall head-down. The black and red ones look very much like a craw on the fall. 

Versatile, was pitching them at targets, and using for a good followup bait. Could even followup a missed topwater strike on the toad by just throwing at that spot and letting it sink. 

Like most Keitech baits, they catch fish really well, but they get torn up quickly. !@#$% bluegills eating the legs off mostly. 

 

[Bandersnatch]

On 4/27/2020 at 11:28 AM, Pickle_Power said:

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm

Rigged which way?? 

[Black Hawk Basser]

2 hours ago, Chief250 said:

Rigged which way?? 

I just use a 2/0 EWG worm hook.  Sometimes I pinch on a 1/32 oz Water Gremlin Bull Shot right at the nose of the bait, just to get a little more casting distance, and to give it more of a chance to sink on the pause if I want it to.

[MIbassyaker]

Rage cut-r worm, weightless or light texas rig.

 

Cast, let it drop, give a few jerks with pauses, then slow straight retrieve back. 3 presentations in the same cast.

[LCG]

Swimming a Texas rigged baby brush hog.