How far back?

[Swamp Girl]

One of my favorite bogs in Maine for largemouth has open to somewhat open water for half of it. Then there's about another 200 yards of reeds, those stiff, thick reeds. Will there be bass all the way back, through all two hundred yards of reeds? I know you can't say for certain, but what's your best guess and why?

[GreenPig]

200 yards? I'd say for sure there's bass in 33%(66 yards) of the 200. Up to you to find them.? 

[GRiver]

They say that’s where the big ones hang out. 

[Deleted account]

67 feet 6 1/4 inches. 

[Swamp Girl]

Okay, I'm going to give it a go. Thanks, Mr. Account, for the precision! Mr. River, I did catch a 19-incher at the beginning of all those reeds yesterday, so you might be right. 

[Bluebasser86]

If they can swim through it, they'll get back there. 

[LrgmouthShad]

7 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Thanks, Mr. Account, for the precision!

Don't worry he enjoyed giving it to you

[T-Billy]

Start at the edge and fish your way back in until you quit catching them. If there's a creek channel coming out through them, that's where I'd start. Then again, who am I to give advice. You're catching more and bigger bass than me so......

[LrgmouthShad]

8 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Mr. Account,

Also, he doesn't have an account, so calling him Mr. Account seems a bit contradictory

[Basser2021]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

If they can swim through it, they'll get back there. 

What he said

[WRB]

Reeds usually have areas where there is a pathway to the inside or near open water a few feet from shore. If the inside water is deep enough for a big bass to swim easily it will hunt the inside weed edge.

Tom

[jbmaine]

As a fellow Mainer I believe I speak with some experience when I say 50% of the time bass will be right where you think they should be, and 50% of the time where you'd never think to look for them.

 We've caught some very nice bass in the most unexpected places, mostly by accident.

[T-Billy]

34 minutes ago, WRB said:

Reeds usually have areas where there is a pathway to the inside or near open water a few feet from shore. If the inside water is deep enough for a big bass to swim easily it will hunt the inside weed edge.

Tom

Roger that. Cattails on my lakes don't normally have enough water on the backside, but anytime the lakes get a couple feet high, that's one of the first places I go looking.

[king fisher]

They will be one yard further back than you can present a lure

Why?  Because bass enjoy watching you work hard getting your boat stuck, water over your waders, and your lures hung.  Just the way it is.

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Start at the edge and fish your way back in until you quit catching them. If there's a creek channel coming out through them, that's where I'd start. Then again, who am I to give advice. You're catching more and bigger bass than me so......

T-Billy, I have no delusion about why I catch good numbers of thick fish: I'm simply catching bass that aren't pressured because most human beings don't like to sweat.

 

As I wrote in another thread, I avoid water with boat ramps. I like where the approach to the lake is uneven terrain. I like where there are weeds and rocks to snare motors. I avoid lakes with houses and docks. And I love to fish on rainy days. Luckily, Maine has plenty of ponds and rivers that are lonely and lovely and a blessing of rainy days to chase folks away. 

 

However, it is clear that I don't know as much about fishing as most of you guys. You reference all kinds of lures and techniques that I don't know, but I wanna know, so I ask and you guys are kind enough to teach. I try to use a new lure or technique every time I go fishing. I'm still lousy at frog fishing, but I sure do love it. Next time I go, I'll be Super Fluking, which were explained to me in another thread, as I just ordered some from Cabela's. And I'll be plunging into those reeds.

 

I did try to stand in my canoe on the edge of them to see if there was open water, but my balance just isn't what it was, so I quit that attempt when it became clear I was about to join the bass in their home. I also tried to scout openings from the shore, but the mud just about swallowed my sandal.

 

I do think I'll find open pockets. Even a pocket a couple feet wide might hold a big ol' gal, I'm thinking. Well, I'm hoping. I'll see and I'll let you know.

[Skunkmaster-k]

13 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Maine has plenty of ponds and rivers that are lonely and lovely and a blessing of rainy days to chase folks away. 

Maine sounds nice. 

[Swamp Girl]

35 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Maine sounds nice. 

Heck, yeah! And I love in a populated part of the state. Go up north and there are hundreds of ponds/lakes that they don't even bother naming and they're full of smallmouth, salmon, and brook trout. To reach them, you bounce down logging roads and then portage to the water. Then you're casting to fish that are seeing a lure for likely the first time.  

[1984isNOW]

@ol'cricketyI can't add anything because I think the other answers make it seem worth trying at least once, but do you know any good spots up in Maine between Oxford and Raymond or around there worth hitting up?

 

Much love

[Swamp Girl]

Dear Mr. Mouth, I am ashamed to say that I don't even know where Oxford and Raymond are. I am a hick and only know the little bogs and ponds near me. However, it seems that nearly every pond in Maine is good. I would focus on ponds that don't have ramps, if you have a canoe or kayak. They get MUCH less pressure. 

 

Here's what I do: I use Google maps to find the ponds in the area. I zoom in to find ponds with no or few camps/cabins. Then I Google the name of the pond, adding "Maine" to the search, and click on the Maine Fisheries and Wildlife PDF document. You'll see a map of lake depths, a list of the species, and a summary of the pond. However, the proliferation of largemouth bass nonofficial stockings means many of the bass have largemouth even if they're not listed. Many of the Fish and Wildlife docs also tell you have to access the pond.