Finesse fishing around grass...

[DitchPanda]

So I have a series of very clear ponds near me that also receive a fair amount of pressure. Because of that finesse seems to shine. In the spring and again in fall i after the weeds die back I do well on a Ned rig but this time of year the weeds make the Ned a pain. Any recommendations on what to throw finesse wise around weeds? Not super thick weeds btw

 

[QED]

4" wacky rigged senko with weedless hook.  I use the O-rings.

[JustJames]

If not super thick weed, I like weightless worm that not too heavy to sink down too much and buried into the weed. Zoom trick worm, Roboworm 6” straight tail fat are good, drag on top of weed finding pocket holes and let them sink down. Another method that work for me is dropshot around weed edge or holes. I always go small on the hook size to get is as low profile as possible, roboworm rebarb #1 1/0 or Gamakatsu ewg #2 work for me.

[islandbass]

15 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

If not super thick weed, I like weightless worm that not too heavy to sink down too much and buried into the weed. Zoom trick worm, Roboworm 6” straight tail fat are good, drag on top of weed finding pocket holes and let them sink down. Another method that work for me is dropshot around weed edge or holes. I always go small on the hook size to get is as low profile as possible, roboworm rebarb #1 1/0 or Gamakatsu ewg #2 work for me.

I’m liking that! The smaller ewg allows a more weed less set up vs an exposed nose hook up or weedless. I do this too. 
 

Given the OP’s described scenario, I give smaller rattle traps and smaller spinnerbaits along the edges or just above/kissing the grass. I’d also use the thinnest line I could get away with. 
 

Even floating and suspending rapala minnow types and and poppers in the finesse class in the same places. I think they still make them, but I’d also love to try the rebel bumble bug. 

[GreenPig]

3" BPS Sticko weightless on a 1/0 EWG Gamakatsu and I'll make short pitches with a Ned 1/10 TRD or 1/16 Missile Bait Micro jig/Zoom Trickworm tail trailer.

[PressuredFishing]

3 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

So I have a series of very clear ponds near me that also receive a fair amount of pressure. Because of that finesse seems to shine. In the spring and again in fall i after the weeds die back I do well on a Ned rig but this time of year the weeds make the Ned a pain. Any recommendations on what to throw finesse wise around weeds? Not super thick weeds btw

 

My specialty, small and slow, or fast moving baits. Go based on weather, go based on Time of day, long casts. Nqtural colors 

[MIbassyaker]

?

 

[JustJames]

17 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

?

 

This is what I plan to use on my next day off.

[ATA]

I did follow this video from glenn and now I feel I am tube expert :)

in where you describing, I would go with weedless tube rig(3.5"). you can use no weight or use weighted tube jigs.

https://youtu.be/EibSWhI6nbM

[Bankbeater]

What type of growth is it?  Around water willows and coontail I like to fish with a 4" straight worm. If the bass are short striking I will fish with a 3" Stik-o.

 

[Holetail]

I have been having some luck with 1/16 and 1/8 oz slider heads rigged weedless. Mostly using a ribbon tail or straight worm. Let it settle on the bottom and slowly reel until you bump into weeds then a small pop to clear it and repeat. Seem to get hit after the pop a lot. 
Also been tossing a Tokyo rig with a trick worm right into the weeds. Shake it a little or hop it. Seems to keep the bait clean even when the weights collect some junk. 

[TOXIC]

Dropshot with the bait rigged Texas on a #1 ewg hook.  

[Krux5506]

Usually I'll drop shot into the pockets but I will say it's not the most fun method of fishing.

[Choporoz]

3 hours ago, Holetail said:

I have been having some luck with 1/16 and 1/8 oz slider heads rigged weedless. Mostly using a ribbon tail or straight worm. 

Agreed...1/16 Spider head with finesse-y worm comes through all but the worst snot grass.  T-rigged small worms with1/16 cylinder weights also work well in most grass

[rtwvumtneer6]

Finesse jigs.  Lighter wire hook, compact profile, and a weed guard.  I can get away with throwing them on a M power spinning rod and 8# line.  

[Finessegenics]

 

A personal favorite of mine around grass

[J Francho]

16 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

Any recommendations on what to throw finesse wise around weeds?

My favorite is a wacky jig with a single wire guard and a Jackall Flick-shake worm.

[bowhunter63]

Rage cutter worm weightless . Great  bait in the weeds 

[Bass Rutten]

A good approach to fishing pressured waters is showing them something they don't see much or at all, shun the trends and step outside of that box. Everything old becomes new again... I haven't seen anyone throwing a mojo or split-shot rig with a small finesse tube where I live in decades, ymmv. My second choice would be a worm on a slider style head, good ol' charlie brewer sliders are still around as well as some modern takes on them, I use owner ultraheads and z-man bulletz with 5-6" straight tail or cut tail worms. A neko rig might be worth trying too.

[CrankFate]

T-Rigs or C-Rigs. All kinds until something works.

[MGF]

7 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

 

A personal favorite of mine around grass

This (above) and a splitshot rig is what's been working for me through the late summer.

[padon]

depending on the type of weeds i fish a ned rig on exposed head all the time. in healthy green, crisp milfoil or hydrilla you throw a light( 1/16 or 3/32) ned rig into the grass. now im not talking about topped out grass like you would flip but the submerged grass down to the weed line. anyway throw it in let it sink. it will hang in the grass but not bury because of the light weight. jiggle or snaap it free then let it sink again. repeat the process. this is nothing new northern anglers have been doing this with a light head and a 6 or 7 inch worm since the 70s probably longer.( google jig worm) i will say i like the big trd a little better for this. you can also swim a regular or big trd on a light head slightly above the grass ticking it once in a while. the bite usually comes as you free the jig and it sinks back.

[HaydenS]

Swimming the ned rig.  Light Texas rig.  Dropshot.

[txchaser]

1/15 oz ned, with a proper tiny hook. No need for the EWG style - while the hook is exposed it is tiny so doesnt catch on much and when it does it pops out easily. 

 

Swim senko on a weighted swimbait hook. It won't dig in the way a texas rig would, it'll just lay on top of the grass. Easy to shorten op if you think 5" isn't finessy enough. 

 

[Mobasser]

Many may disagree, but a basic T Rig would be my choice. In thick grass, a straight tail worm may come through the grass better. But don't overlook a curly tail style also. A curl tail worm hooked around a grass stalk, and pulled away, can be a trigger for a strike.