Spatterdock Fishing

[John Haggerty]

How do you guys fish the spatterdock?  I've been Texas rigging Senkos.  Looking for another method.  Thanks!

[Buzzbaiter]

A heavy flipping jig or swim jig also works well. Since the head designs are so similar, you can use one for both purposes. As you’ve already found, the weightless senko also produces well. Buzzbaits work well around the edges, whereas toads and frogs do well for fishing in the clusters. If you want to fish around the edges, a dropshot can get bites when they’re being difficult. However, I use that approach carefully since it’s really easy for a big bass to run your rig into the spatterdocks. Typically, I turn to a senko for tight-lipped bass

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, John Haggerty said:

How do you guys fish the spatterdock?

Depending on the time of year, and how the growth is I like a combination of snaking things through, or pseudo punching it. In the summer frogs are great, and sometimes just plowing something obnoxious through there can be the ticket. A jig, chatter, t-rig, swimbait, buzzbait, and at times a crank or wakebait will make it happen. 

[Matt Hoo]

Spinner baits were effective early in the year before they got back to full bloom. Frogs on the edges worked well too. If they are spread out a little a frog or spinner bait right through them worked well. In my area carp will load up on them and make it seem like there’s lots of movement in them. 

[Ski]

https://www.bassmaster.com/how/power-pads

[Grim_Reaver]

I started fishing a spook with inline hooks (instead of trebles) through them like a frog last year. Cast up into the thickest patch and work it through or fish it along the edge, they'll hammer it. The inline hooks don't seem to get hung up very much, if they do at all.

[LootyDjibouti]

Thread resurrection as the pads here in South Jersey are starting to grow clear out of the water.

I had lots of success on a frog earlier in the summer, but now it's impossible to walk anything across them. 

I guess this calls for punching, although the pads are typically in such shallow water (w/ soft bottom) that I wonder if too heavy a weight will work effectively once it clears beneath the spatterdock. 

I've worked a swim jig around the edges but need to figure out a setup for getting in the thick of it. 

[Junger]

A weightless fluke with a big glass bead in front of the hook eye to deflect off the stalks. When it hits water, dangle/jig it, and go slow. The vibrations in the water, and on the spatterdock themselves will attract fish to it.

[LootyDjibouti]

15 minutes ago, Junger said:

A weightless fluke with a big glass bead in front of the hook eye to deflect off the stalks. When it hits water, dangle/jig it, and go slow. The vibrations in the water, and on the spatterdock themselves will attract fish to it.

Nice. Curious if you fish that on straight braid due to the pads? 

[Junger]

Yep, min 40lb, I use suffix 832.