Best way to fish trees

[Jonas Staggs]

When I say trees I don't mean like standing dead timber, I mean trees that are alive with all kinds of leaves etc. More like a giant bush really. Like at lake Perris with all submerged trees and bushes. I'm thinking maybe a weightless soft plastic t rigged, so you can toss it in there and still get it back? Let it slowly sink before it gets too deep/tangled. How deep down the tree can/should you fish it? It seems to me trying to drop a heavy t rig to the bottom I'll never get it back, specifically if I hooked into a fish.

 

Most the information I can find online is about either punching mats, thick grass, or wood/timber, not trees/bushes.

[T-Billy]

I vote T rig. Flippin stick, flippin hook, 40 or 50 pound braid, compact bait with enough meat to it to securely hold the hook point, and whatever size tungsten sinker it takes to penetrate into the heart of the cover.  Lock that drag down and get in there after 'em. 

Edit to add: Peg that sinker.

[GRiver]

I fish around cypresses, if there is a current, they will lie on the backside. I throw up current and let it drift around the side where they are wait to ambush my bait. Like T-Billy suggested 40-50 braid …. Be ready to set the hook

[WRB]

Are You asking about recently flooded live trees with green leaves underwater?

The freshly flooded trees attract smaller fish looking for bugs, larvae etc and that attracts bass!

Spinner baits around the perimeter and weedless wacky Senko in and around the trees. 

Tom

PS, Owner size 1 Weedless Wacky Jungle hook with 5” #301.

Tom

[Jonas Staggs]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Are You asking about recently flooded live trees with green leaves underwater?

The freshly flooded trees attract smaller fish looking for bugs, larvae etc and that attracts bass!

Spinner baits around the perimeter and weedless wacky Senko in and around the trees. 

Tom

PS, Owner size 1 Weedless Wacky Jungle hook with 5” #301.

Tom

 

Thanks man and yup I saw just that, smaller fish blowing up on tiny insects. 

[BrianMDTX]

It’s hard to beat a weightless Senko TR for that. I have a lot of partially submerged brush where I fish, and that (or a Zoom Trick) are top choices. I give the nod to the Senko as a stickbait goes through branches easier than a true worm on the cast (the worm itself can get wrapped around branches and twigs whereas the Senko tends to pass through). I Texpose baits a lot, but in those situations, I keep the hook point buried. 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

Best way to fish trees?  Cast too far.?

[T-Billy]

2 hours ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

Best way to fish trees?  Cast too far.?

My wife has mastered this technique. ?

[Woody B]

For me texas rig, spinnerbait or devils horse.  (topwater).

[Bird]

Jigs and T - rigged worm.

[RDB]

First thing I would do is figure out how they are relating to the tree.  Everyone always wants to go straight to the center but they will often relate to the outside edges, top, etc.  If they are relating to the edges, you have many options.  If I had a nickel for every fish I have caught ticking the top of a brush pile.

[Revival]

Couple weeks ago I fished a similar situation in a different state.  It was one of the rare occasions I fished off a boat and also that type of cover.  Some trees/branches were clearly visible and some were submerged.

 

I ran a spinnerbait and swimjig on the outsides with no luck.  Finally caught one using a jig.  

 

My friend who fishes there often used a Texas rigged creature bait with 1/4 oz weight pegged. He was dragging it all over the place and was able to catch a few.  He also got hung up a lot.

 

As a bank guy, it was a learning experience for me for sure.

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, Revival said:

He also got hung up a lot.

 

What type of hook was he using? This is no place for skin hooking with an ewg or offset hook. Snelled Flippin hook with the point buried inside the plastic is the only way to go into thick cover IMO.

[BlakeMolone]

Fished some flooded bushes/trees last week and caught several good fish on a white fluke, when you twitch it it will sometimes dart deeper into the bush and it drives the bass crazy.