Tips for fishing a lake with little to no contour lines or structure

[losslakelunkers]

I frequently fish a small lake in southern minnesota that has some good largemouth in it. I usually have no problem catching them in the spawn and the end of prespawn. However when the heat kicks in, it becomes difficult to catch them consistently.

 

This lake is basically a bowl that has very fast weed growth and by early june, weeds are grown to the surface. There is not much of a weed line because they just taper as depth increases. Most of my success on the hot days come from throwing frogs in the early morning. When it gets later in the day, I have tried to go out deeper and throw carolina rigs and 5 xds where the biggest depth changes are, but no luck. Deepest part of the lake is 18ft. There are no points and the lake is pretty much round.

 

Any tips on fishing this lake? Let me know about any needed clarifications. 

 

Thanks 

[Bluebasser86]

Look for changes in bottom composition. If you can find hard bottom, or rock piles, mixed in with the weeds, you'll find productive areas.

 

You've tried punching the weeds I assume?

[losslakelunkers]

14 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Look for changes in bottom composition. If you can find hard bottom, or rock piles, mixed in with the weeds, you'll find productive areas.

 

You've tried punching the weeds I assume?

There is not much of a hard bottom that I know of but I’ll try next season. I have done very little of punching in the past but maybe if I slow down and find and the little holes in the weeds, there might be some fish hanging out in those areas.

[Bluebasser86]

You don't punch holes in the weeds, you make the holes with your weight. That's why such a heavy weight is required.

 

I promise if there's any kind of canopy below those weeds, there's fish under them.

[losslakelunkers]

25 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

You don't punch holes in the weeds, you make the holes with your weight. That's why such a heavy weight is required.

 

I promise if there's any kind of canopy below those weeds, there's fish under them.

The reason I said holes was because it’s not much of a mat, it’s more of just tall weed stalks that reach the surface. But I will keep what you said in mind.

[Bluebasser86]

7 minutes ago, losslakelunkers said:

The reason I said holes was because it’s not much of a mat, it’s more of just tall weed stalks that reach the surface. But I will keep what you said in mind.

I get what you're saying. I fish a lake similar to that where there's just huge areas of stringy grass that grows to the surface but doesn't really mat, but there's dark spots (holes), in between the long strands. I just go around flipping into the dark spots and yank them back out. It's a lot work because I catch grass EVERY flip, but I catch a lot fish too so it's a trade I'm willing to make.

[Squarebillsamurai]

 

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Look for changes in bottom composition. If you can find hard bottom, or rock piles, mixed in with the weeds, you'll find productive areas.

 

You've tried punching the weeds I assume?

Agreed, definitely try to find something that's different on the bottom. Might be a small area that's got some sand, gravel, (depending where you are maybe clay) or it could some sort of hard object like rock piles, a boulder, a brush pile, etc. I fish a lot of small shape less ponds that are completely choked out with vegetation like this a lot, though most not as deep. What's the water clarity like when the vegetation grows in? What are you fishing from? Do you happen to know what kind of vegetation it mostly is? Sounds like maybe hydrilla, or coon tail to me. Do you know if the vegetation grows from bottom to surface everywhere or are there mats with "caves" underneath? Or is there some open water above the tops of the vegetation (even an inch or a few inches)? Sorry lots of questions but I can give you more specific suggestions with more information

[losslakelunkers]

15 minutes ago, Squarebillsamurai said:

 

Agreed, definitely try to find something that's different on the bottom. Might be a small area that's got some sand, gravel, (depending where you are maybe clay) or it could some sort of hard object like rock piles, a boulder, a brush pile, etc. I fish a lot of small shape less ponds that are completely choked out with vegetation like this a lot, though most not as deep. What's the water clarity like when the vegetation grows in? What are you fishing from? Do you happen to know what kind of vegetation it mostly is? Sounds like maybe hydrilla, or coon tail to me. Do you know if the vegetation grows from bottom to surface everywhere or are there mats with "caves" underneath? Or is there some open water above the tops of the vegetation (even an inch or a few inches)? Sorry lots of questions but I can give you more specific suggestions with more information

When the weeds are mostly grown to the top, the water clarity is very good and almost 10ft vis. I fish from a 17 1/2 ft Lund. The vegetation is mainly milfoil and some coontail. The weeds grow from the bottom up but will form a mat when they are fully grown and very thick. There are some spots where there is about an inch of water in between. The water does get dirtier as the weeds start to die. It is tougher for me to find hard bottom being that I do not have a very good graph. Thanks for your interest in helping me

[Squarebillsamurai]

 When I can't use a fish finder, because there's to much vegetation in the way, I look for a change in plant type. So in places where I have milfoil or hydrilla everywhere, maybe there's an area that has lily pads there or grass sticking up instead. I find many times if there is a solid canopy of lily pads in an area, they will concentrate in those areas. The lily pads create a pocket for them to sit in shade and ambush prey swimming by through the milfoil/hydrilla etc. My best spots in the hot sunny summer days are "islands"of lily pads surrounded in milfoil with a few feet of water underneath. The same thing can happen when the plants mat up on the surface, look for the mats with less tangle underneath and create the best shade underneath on sunny days. Punch through them, frog over them and use a weedless paddletail swimbait on braid to swim through the tangle of hydrilla/milfoil around them. I usually catch several off of one area. Highly recommend the paddletail on a springlock weedless hook, use the lightest weighted hook you can get away with and you'll tangle less. Good bait for searching through the tangle but use a rod that will let you fight them in that mess. If there are holes in the jungle of vegetation then fish those, sometimes bass are sitting just outside looking in. When it's not growing right up to the surface, maybe use crank baits or a bladed jig right over the top of the veg. My lakes aren't as deep as yours, but when they get choked out like that, it's going to be subtle differences that make the difference. You have the right idea checking areas with the "quickest" depth change even if it's not drastic. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Sounds like a good place to do some blind casting with a weightless wacky rig.

[The Budget Angler]

I assume there are no docks/wood.  If there is, big fish love wood.  I always look for some type of change, whether it be a different colored sand, or a different type of weed, even.  I always look for the oddities.

[Michigander]

One thing to do is get out as early as possible in the year before the vegetation grows in and try to find rocks, logs, picnic tables, tires, or anything like that in the water and remember them when the grass comes in.

[losslakelunkers]

17 minutes ago, TheLastBestFish said:

I assume there are no docks/wood.  If there is, big fish love wood.  I always look for some type of change, whether it be a different colored sand, or a different type of weed, even.  I always look for the oddities.

There aren’t any docks and not much for laydowns or wood. I think that from what I have read and what you just said, looking for different vegetation and punching through the mats towards the edge would be my best bet. 

[avidone1]

I have a similar situation   I mainly fish a 22 acre lake that is bordered by reds and has a weed covered bottom   fWC recently stocked 25O grass carp to control the vegetation    There are some really nice bass in this lake   My best luck has come with swimming jigs over the top of the weeds  the best area is where some of the taller grasses are reaching to the surface   The lake  averages 4-6 feet deep   Good luck 

[The Budget Angler]

57 minutes ago, losslakelunkers said:

There aren’t any docks and not much for laydowns or wood. I think that from what I have read and what you just said, looking for different vegetation and punching through the mats towards the edge would be my best bet. 

That sounds like a plan to me!

[Bankbeater]

You might try fishing the water column around one of those mats.  Around here the bass get in those surface mats and wait for something to float or swim by.

[Quarry Man]

On 2/12/2021 at 12:11 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

You don't punch holes in the weeds, you make the holes with your weight. That's why such a heavy weight is required.

 

I promise if there's any kind of canopy below those weeds, there's fish under them.

not to hijack at all, but I took a trip up to lake Bomoseen in Vermont in august. The lake is 10' vis and covered in milfoil the whole way up to exactly 14'. most of the milfoil comes up to 2 feet below the surface. There are little holes maybe a foot wide. first time I tried punching wad 3 straight days for like 6 hours at a time. don't think I caught a single fish that way. Its one of the best lakes in the east. any advice?

[Fishin Dad]

21 hours ago, Michigander said:

One thing to do is get out as early as possible in the year before the vegetation grows in and try to find rocks, logs, picnic tables, tires, or anything like that in the water and remember them when the grass comes in.

I also live in Southern Minnesota and without good sidescan, this ^^^^ is the best idea.  You can see a lot right after ice out.  Even when using sidescan in the Spring, I am always looking in the water to get a good visual.   Look for high spots, bottom transitions (from mud to sand, gravel to rock, etc).  Also, look for anything on the bottom they can use for cover.  Actually, with a lake that is featureless, the person who finds the subtle features usually catches fish as that is the most logical place they have to be. 

I hear you trying to figure out the bowls we often have to fish down here.  Everything you read online basically talks about river channels, ledges, points, brush piles, rock piles, etc.   It frustrates when none of that exists.   

Good luck in your search.

[padon]

yes you need to get our early before the weeds get up and find hard sand or rock. set a way point and come back. also of you can find rock right where the weed line ends it can be a gold mine. as for punching or any grass fishing look for points pockets turns etc in the weed line or maybe where the depth drops quicker 

[Catt]

On 2/11/2021 at 9:45 PM, losslakelunkers said:

There is not much of a weed line because they just taper as depth increases.

 

A weedline isn't necessarily the one you visibly see but the one you find with your electronics.

 

Try targeting the area from the outer weedline back to the solid wall.

 

Is all your vegetation one type or multiple types?

 

Where there's are multiple types indicate bottom composition changes. Again areas to target!

 

Subtleties become major ?

[Paul Roberts]

Most concise thing I can say is that bass, LM's in particular, are "object oriented". Doesn't mean they can't traverse open water, but objects act like magnets. Second, follow the food. That's what the bass are doing.

[2tall79]

Most of the lakes I fish are cereal bowls.  I've been known to collect a few of my neighbors Xmas trees and make my own structure.  Just make sure you remember where you put them....    And that it's legal of course.  ?

[WRB]

Sounds like a typical northern aging natural lake.

You need to study weed types and breaks or tunnels created by the aquatic grow. 

Tom

[Mr. Aquarium]

Go night fishing!  I have a similar pond, shallow, tons tons of weeds. The shore line has structure, trees and some pads but it’s very shallow.  Tough fishing during the day. You can get bit there during the day. Night fishing is a different animal.  Night fishing the fish get active and chase baits

[Sphynx]

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to get out butt early in the spring and leave the rods at home, or if you do take them, drag a nice big c rig or something along the bottom before it gets choked looking for anything different, it can be a 6 inch drop, if it's what's there it's what the fish will use, alternatively you can always fish the top, frogs, buzzbaits and other topwater lures work well in these situations, I'd avoid the treble hook baits unless you have room between the surface and the salad, but my experiences fishing in Minnesota do not lead me to believe this is the normal summer conditions, once things start dying off and matting up you can find a bunch of fish under those mats if there is no other hard structure to relate to, just plunk a beaver or craw through the mat and hang on tight.