Fat Ika for pads or something else?

[@reelChris]

A few days ago I was working a large field of pads in about 1-1.5' FOW during fairly steady drizzle.  At first I was using a toad over the top with no luck.  Then I moved on to skipping a wacky senko to the holes between the pads .  It was catching fish here and there (the bite overall was lousy) but getting snagged a lot.  So, I switched to a texas rigged super fluke.  That skipped well but I've never caught anything on a fluke so Imoved on after a few casts without a bite.  I thought about pitching a texas rigged worm, which I have plenty of confidence in, but some of the best spots between the pads were really far away and it was much easier to skip.  I got the idea that a Fat Ika texas rigged "backwards" (skirt up) would skip well, have decent action on the fall and wouldn't get hung up.  I was right, but I still got no hits.  Was there a better plastic I should have used for this application?  

[casts_by_fly]

what would have been wrong with a weightless texas rigged senko?  Still get the same wobble action of the wacky rig, same skipping.  fully weedless.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I like a free rig for shallow water over a t rig.  Looks a little more natural to me and fishes isolated cover a little more efficiently IMO.  

[RRocket]

16 minutes ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

I like a free rig for shallow water over a t rig.  Looks a little more natural to me and fishes isolated cover a little more efficiently IMO.  

But in 1 foot of water you're not really going to try much separation between bait and weight IMO.

[Bird]

If the pads have some separation and your confident with your casting abilities, a spinnerbait can be very effective. Imo

 

Surprised the fluke wasn't more productive, love them in grass and pads.

[TOXIC]

I’m with @Bird on the fluke, more specifically a Yamamoto DShad.  On my trip to St Clair last week, we were in a bay packed with pencil reeds throughout in addition to pads and arrowheads closer to shore.  I rig them Texas style on a 4.0 EWG Gamakatsu hook and spinning gear with 6lb test mono.  We got largemouth, smallmouth, rock bass and pike.  They are heavier than your average fluke/super fluke and I can cast them a mile.  

[BrianMDTX]

Try a Neko Macho. They are a heavy soft plastic with great action. I rig it as a weightless TR with a 4/0 EWG hook. It casts far, sinks great and has great action on the fall and while working it. It skips great, too. 

[softwateronly]

6 hours ago, @reelChris said:

A few days ago I was working a large field of pads in about 1-1.5' FOW during fairly steady drizzle.  At first I was using a toad over the top with no luck.  Then I moved on to skipping a wacky senko to the holes between the pads .  It was catching fish here and there (the bite overall was lousy) but getting snagged a lot.  So, I switched to a texas rigged super fluke.  That skipped well but I've never caught anything on a fluke so Imoved on after a few casts without a bite.  I thought about pitching a texas rigged worm, which I have plenty of confidence in, but some of the best spots between the pads were really far away and it was much easier to skip.  I got the idea that a Fat Ika texas rigged "backwards" (skirt up) would skip well, have decent action on the fall and wouldn't get hung up.  I was right, but I still got no hits.  Was there a better plastic I should have used for this application?  

 

I think the fat ika is worth trying, reverse rigging your fluke might be nice to backslide in and poop style and bull flat baits should work as well.  But I think what you did would have been fine, I think there just weren't many active fish.

 

scott

3 hours ago, RRocket said:

But in 1 foot of water you're not really going to try much separation between bait and weight IMO.

 

The free rig is really coming alive for me the last year and a half.  I think the separation, any separation, allows for the speed change.  I think that is the trigger, fast down, then that deceleration to a little slow glide to the bottom.  In my mind, that's what gets them to come over and investigate.

 

scott

[RRocket]

54 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

I think the fat ika is worth trying, reverse rigging your fluke might be nice to backslide in and poop style and bull flat baits should work as well.  But I think what you did would have been fine, I think there just weren't many active fish.

 

scott

 

The free rig is really coming alive for me the last year and a half.  I think the separation, any separation, allows for the speed change.  I think that is the trigger, fast down, then that deceleration to a little slow glide to the bottom.  In my mind, that's what gets them to come over and investigate.

 

scott

Oh you don't need to sell me on it...the Free Rig is my primary.

 

While it's good in all depths, the greater separation in even slightly deeper water really allows some baits to come into the own with an incredible presentation.

 

Yea...such a great technique.