Baits for Deep NE weeds

[Fritch]

Hi all, weeds are coming in big time in the Northeast (NJ) area. I still struggle fishing >8FT offshore in big lakes. I'm in a kayak with a lowrance elite. When the weeds are starting to fill in, what sorts of baits and techniques do you us in the deeper water? Are you even bothering with something such as deep diving cranks, when it's likely you'll be pulling weeds off frequently? Would love to hear some general guidance from you. Thanks! 

[Mobasser]

When the weeds start coming in big, I'm usually fishing a t rig plastic bait of some sort. 

[Finessegenics]

 That can be tricky to fish. A Texas rig would be good but in my experience you’d either have to go really light, or heavy enough to crash clean through the weeds. My reasoning is if it’s light enough, your presentation can sit on top of the weeds. 1/16 or 1/8 oz bullet weight has been the max for me. That has been somewhat effective for me with something subtle like a 4-6” finesse worm. Easier to do the shallower it is, but definitely doable in 8-12 feet of water depending on the wind that day.
 

Now, you’d equally wanna try a heavy weight to punch through and get to the bottom. Sort of like punching except you’re going extra deep. Might want to use a lighter wire hook so you can get better penetration at distance. 
 

I think retrieving a spinnerbait over the grass would be a good idea too but I suck at gauging where it is in the water column and keeping it there. when I’m fishing one deep. With some practice you can probably really tune that in. 

[WRB]

Faster moving lures like a crank bait try using a lipless and rip it when feel weeds to remove them.

Another good choice is a Scrounger jig with stick boat trailer, the bill tends to protect the hook from snagging.

Slower soft plastics and jigs go to a lighter weight or swim them.

Tom 

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, Fritch said:

Hi all, weeds are coming in big time in the Northeast (NJ) area. I still struggle fishing >8FT offshore in big lakes. I'm in a kayak with a lowrance elite. When the weeds are starting to fill in, what sorts of baits and techniques do you us in the deeper water? Are you even bothering with something such as deep diving cranks, when it's likely you'll be pulling weeds off frequently? Would love to hear some general guidance from you. Thanks! 

Chatter, 3/8 swim jig, spinnerbait and weighted t-rigged plastics including swimbaits. Depending on the grass, cranks and  lipless can be effective, but they require a higher level or experience and precision.

[PhishLI]

The X-factor with heavy weeds is filamentous algae, especially up here in the northeast. If a particular lake is without it, then follow the above suggestions. If this type of algae is part of the equation, then your options become limited depending upon what your tolerance is for picking off green slop from your baits after every single cast.

 

Some type of swinging swim jig, ideally having a vertical line tie, and with or without a skirt, is very effective in veg with or without algae problems. Most will come rigged with an offset EWG hook for skin-hooking plastics for weed less rigging, so no brush guard to snag muck. Any plastic you're in the mood for will work, including worms. 

 

There are plenty out there, but this Strike King shown in the link comes with a skirt using a molded-in rubber collar that slips right off if you prefer no skirt.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Swinging_Swim_Jig/descpage-SJTGSS.html

 

The collar isn't easily removable on this ECO Pro because it's wire tied on, and it has a horizontal line tie, but it has a smaller tungsten head. It happens to come through the junk nicely anyhow. It also gives you the option of hook swaps as it has a split ring connection to the head. The SK does not.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Eco_Pro_Tungsten_Swing_Swim_Jig_/descpage-EPSJ.html

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

another nj guy here. The attached picture was a month ago when it was still 60 degree water. That same place right now will be matted with that same grass and four times as dense. On Thursday the lake I was on was getting there and almost impassible in an electric motor. Not all of it, but it was getting thick. 
 

anything with a treble hook is wasting your time. Even targeting the edges or the cuts you’ll still have grass fouling you on every cast and it’s worse that you can just rip through. A chatterbait can get around the edges and cuts of the lake isn’t solid yet. I caught one Thursday on a chatterbait fishing the shore side of the grass where it breaks up. A swim jig, Texas rigged swim bait, or another Texas rigged plastic is about the only thing that will go through it.  I’ve had success doing that. Otherwise you can over it. Frogs and toads go over well most anywhere. A buzzbait works if it’s patchy mats. I haven’t tried it but a speed worm along the top would work. 
 

If you’re on the deeper lakes, remember that the grass grows about 8’long here. So in 14’ of water you’ll have about 6’ clear on top of it. A dt-6/4 over the top is effective. There aren’t a ton of places to make that work but there are a couple lakes for it. 
 

where in NJ are you?

[Bankbeater]

Weightless plastics, t-rigs with a 1/16 or 1/8 weight, 1/8 or 3/16 oz jigs, and topwater baits.  I stay with straight worms, Senko type baits, and trailers that keep a low profile on the jig.