bank fishing grass mats growing near the shore

[fishhugger]

i fish a 10 acre lake nearby, in the bay area, california. now that it's almost september, there's a four to six foot wide mat of weed along the shore. very few, if any breaks.  idk what kind of weed -- an example is a longish, reddish stemmed one, with small leaves. there's another with smaller leaves, but also with long stems. if you pull on the mat, everything comes up - especially if you're under the mat, of course.

 

so if i fish beyond the mat into clear water, and get a fish, how do i get it past that mat, and to me, on the bank? clearing out the mat is difficult. all i can think of would be pulling the fish so he's on top of the water, and pulling him along the top of the mat. i haven't tried this yet. i have gotten a fish who got into the mat. that was a mess.... i think he survived, though.

 

i'd like to fish right on the other side of the mat, from me --- but again, if a fish gets into the matt - i don't look forward to that.

 

i'm currently fishing very light tackle, ned rigs, worms, etc... i'm guessing this technique might not work around these mats, and i might need some heavy tackle.

 

thanks so much. 

[ATA]

Welcome to summer fishing in Cali, I use 1oz to 2oz to punch that, Also I use frog over it and use few small splitshot weights to make that frog heavier(put them inside from the little hole, it will make some sound also make it easier to effect the grass and make the bass to recognize it.

also heavy jigs 1oz plus with very compact trailer.

 

Thats three way I do it over here.

[WRB]

Small boat.

Tom

[jimmyjoe]

25 minutes ago, fishhugger said:

i'm currently fishing very light tackle, ned rigs, worms, etc... i'm guessing this technique might not work around these mats, and i might need some heavy tackle.

 

Correct.

 

Daiwa Fuego casting rod, H/F, with a Shimano Cardiff reel and 50 lb. braid of choice. Or go more expensive if you wish.       jj

[QED]

This is with 4 lb test at grant lake.  But I don't recommend it.  Heavier gear or be prepared to possibly go wading.

[Bankbeater]

I fish a couple of small lakes with coontail and water willows growing out from the bank about 10'.  A lot of the time the bass are right on the outside edge and hit the bait as it is approaching the vegetation. 

The lightest tackle I will use in this stuff is m/f.  Most of my rods are 6'6", but the longer the better.  When the bait gets hit I set the hook and then back up away from the water.  I basically drag the fish out of the vegetation. It's faster and more forceful than reeling.  You want to get that fish up on top of the weeds as fast as possible before it can dive and get buried.

[fishhugger]

um,,, ok... thanks for the replies... ok, so 30# or stronger line, get the fish on top, out of the weeds... and pull....  try to keep him up top... but, yeah, i guess you need strong line simply for the weeds, not the fish, and i guess the occasional snag.

 

and if the fish gets under the weeds -- and you're on the bank --- you're going to have to clear out quite a bit of weed to get the fish, heaving and maybe poking at it, unless you can just (luckily) pop the fish out.  so i get that this is what you want to avoid....!

 

if you're fishing in the weeds with 1 to 2 oz weights -- is the line even heavier??? like 50#? i'm going to have to start lifting some dumb bells.... 

 

happy landscaping!

[RenzokukenFisher]

Strong and heavy gear is the way to go. I've fished many bank spots with massive weed mats and occasionally its a gamble whether or not you'll get the fish out. To put the odds in your favor opt for a MH and up rod with a good backbone paired with a sturdy reel. When I've been in those situations I hit the fish hard on the hookset and get them coming up and towards me with no stopping. It may be a little less sportsman like but you have to do what you have to do. I've winched in some 4-6 pounders this way, they usually eat near the edge of the weed mat, you hit them hard and get their head coming towards the surface, then its about just holding the rod tip high and pumping them up and over the mats. No need to break the fishes jaw but keep them coming and don't give them the chance to dig.

[the reel ess]

Heavier rod, braided line, faster reel. I walk and fish a place that's all lilies around the edge. The idea with a long, heavy rod is to get the fish to the top of a mat and drag them in. Doesn't always work that way though. Actually, I fish the mat with a frog more than I cast out from it. 

[BlakeMolone]

Get a float tube, super cheap way to get on the water. I can fish places that are hard to even fish in a kayak and it has been paying off for me this year.

[fishhugger]

k..

 

well, i'm thinking of a daiwa tatula 100, with a kastking perigee 2, 7' fast/h 14-25 lb line, 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz lure, 2 piece rod...  unsure about the line at this point. i'd guess 30 to 50#? how does that sound for fishing around these grass mats?

 

ty blake --- i'm a little old for the tube route, but sounds like fun....

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, fishhugger said:

unsure about the line at this point. i'd guess 30 to 50#?

40lb 8 strand minimum. Hard hooksets with heavy weights and appropriate hooks can shock the knot of 30lb braid. Throw in a mop of weeds and you might break off easily.

[schplurg]

This is the Bay Area, most lakes don't allow float tubes or boats right now. Ten acre pond, forget it.

 

I fish over junk like that all the time and unless you're catching large fish, just drag them over the top of it. I use M/F 10# mono and have never broken off due doing this, or even draging them through it. I always try and bring fish over the top of a mat.

[fishhugger]

so, i figure i'll be in between @schplurg (10# MF) and @PhishLI (40# braid min) and start from somewhere in there.

 

for rods, i understand lure weight, but only now maybe understand line weight. i figure if you're using #50 braid, your rod should support that amount of weight. i see BC rods that list this on them. but most BC reels seem to go around 12# or less drag --- i found one with around #20 drag. 50# line would be way over this.....

 

i've never used a baitcaster - so what am i missing here? thanks --- i been watching various videos and forums, maybe i'm totally missing something really basic...