"ripping" a treble hook bait thru grass.

[Darth-Baiter]

i tried it with no success.  i cant seem to get the timing or rhythm right.  i can feel the LV500 dip into the grass, and i yank and it comes up covered with the stuff.  am i yanking up, or to the side?  grass is in 8-10 feet water and growing up to about 2 feet below the surface.  i know the bass are in there.

 

tips?

[A-Jay]

Just looking at the bait itself, that LV500 comes in at 3/4 oz and you're essentially fishing in 2 ft of water over the tops of the weeds.

That kind of weight doesn't offer much sink or reaction time before it crashes into the vegetation.

Perhaps look at going with a lighter 1/2 oz bait.

If you're a Lucky Craft fan the LV RTO 150 might just be the ticket.

I usually go for a 1/2 oz RES regular or 2 Tap in that type of deal.

Also a fast action graphite stick, a faster reel and 30lb braid does it for me.

Some days the more times I hang up and then rip it out, the more bites I get.

Other times just reeling at a speed where the bait will run just over the weeds and perhaps 'ticking' the tops as it goes (instead of actually bogging down) gets it done.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

[PhishLI]

13 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i tried it with no success

Totally depends on which type of grass. Certain types, not a chance. Are you using a faster rod with braid? Sometimes this is the only thing that'll work.

[NorthernBasser]

Straight braid makes a world of difference. 

[Deephaven]

Straight braid, nice long MHF, and confidence when you rip and it will get better.  Doesn't work in scum, but in grass normally it works well.  Like A-jay said I would down size a bit if the bait you have falls too fast for you to effectively rip it. 

[Darth-Baiter]

i am running 17 lb flouro.  i like the braid idea.  thanks. 

[LrgmouthShad]

What others suggested and commented on. Also, a “double rip” is usually productive for me to get the bait clear of grass.

[PhishLI]

Just throwing this out there. If you're new to this, and especially when ripping a lipless through grass right under the surface, make sure you and anyone on your boat is wearing eye protection. You should be doing this regardless, but this type of bait is extra dangerous. A lipless casts like a bullet, but it'll come back at you like a bullet with nasty hooks attached. This might happen if you're bit on the rip, but miss, or just from ripping it and breaking free. It's about the scariest thing next to a jig flying back at your face.

[Bankc]

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

Totally depends on which type of grass. Certain types, not a chance. Are you using a faster rod with braid? Sometimes this is the only thing that'll work.

That's exactly what I was thinking.  

[Deeare]

I would switch out the trebles for a single hook on a couple lures.  And use straight braid.   No snap.  

 

[Darth-Baiter]

just as soon as my Stucco repair guy shows up to look and give me an estimate, I am heading out to try out some of your suggestions.

 

added a spinnerbait and a big swimsuit to back up the lipless.  go time!!

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

just as soon as my Stucco repair guy shows up to look and give me an estimate, I am heading out to try out some of your suggestions.

 

added a spinnerbait and a big swimsuit to back up the lipless.  go time!!

Stucco is a pain around here. Mainly because it’s not real stucco , just styrofoam with something called aphis spackled on the outside. I have to fix woodpecker holes in it all the time. 
 

for the trap in grass, use a broomstick of a rod and it will rip it free 

[Darth-Baiter]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Stucco is a pain around here. Mainly because it’s not real stucco , just styrofoam with something called aphis spackled on the outside. I have to fix woodpecker holes in it all the time. 
 

for the trap in grass, use a broomstick of a rod and it will rip it free 

yikes.  I have real stucco.  the guy gave me a favorable estimate and he is starting tomorrow.   messed up my fishing day.  argh!  oh well, wife will be happy its getting done.

 

I got a fish today!!  LV500 in the grass.  a smaller fish.  I had a giant hit it and it fought and fought and I lost it, pushing it too hard.  haha..so fun.  

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

yikes.  I have real stucco.  the guy gave me a favorable estimate and he is starting tomorrow.   messed up my fishing day.  argh!  oh well, wife will be happy its getting done.

 

I got a fish today!!  LV500 in the grass.  a smaller fish.  I had a giant hit it and it fought and fought and I lost it, pushing it too hard.  haha..so fun.  

Real stucco is much better, although rare in my neck of the woods. People have the styrofoam chimneys rising way above a steep roof and want me to fly up there and fix it. Luckily my coworker Tim can indeed fly (thread hijack alert)