Fishing Lily Pad Covered Waters?

[walker2713]

I was out this morning on a lake where they have a wooden pier/walkway over part of the water…for fishing as well as for just casual walking.  Many years ago I caught my PB largemouth on this lake, but no longer have or use a boat.  For about an hour I fished a “frog” style Strike King Popping Perch, which worked pretty well amongst all of the surface growth. I was able to move it around pretty well….but go no strikes or other signs of fish like.

 

I’m wondering if the almost complete lack of sunlight and/or oxygen levels make this a likely un-productive area?

 

Your thoughts?

 

Thanks, George

 

[gim]

I feel like @Catt could help here.  That is some pretty gnarly stuff.

 

How deep is it under the field of pads?  Any idea?

[Catt]

I fish an area very similar, it's doesn't have that much "grass", our marshes definitely do.

 

The biggest problem with "bank" fish is you have no way of knowing if the bass are there.

 

Throw a frog, swimjig, Fluke or Senko in the openings or a punch rig.

[walker2713]

I’m not sure about the depth…..good question, though….I’ll stop by and check that…it’s not all that far from the house.

 

I’ve been getting up to speed about the “punch rig” and will try that. I tried a 

Texas rig but it was just too thick…..more weight and a stouter setup may work.

 

George

[casts_by_fly]

There will be fish there if there is water under it.  Like catt said, work the openings with all of those things.  You can also punch down through the thicker parts.  However, make sure you go armed for bear.  Without the boat to go to the fish, you have to bring the fish and any pads he's wrapped in to you.  I'd be looking 65-80lb braid minimum.

[OmegaDPW]

I hate pads like that. I probably wouldn't fish there at all. 

 

If I absolutely had to, I'd probably look for holes right near the bridge and drop a weightless stickbait or lizard in the hole (like ice fishing I guess). Jig it a couple times and move on. I don't normally fish any heavy gear, so casting into that stuff would just ruin my day.

[river-rat]

In addition to what Catt mentioned I would include a Johnson Silver Minnow. But you very well could be correct in stating that it has become an unproductive area.

 

 

[geo g]

That is about as tough and thick an area as it gets.  I don't like massive loads of pads like that.  I look for isolated patches of pads because they draw fish from the open areas.  There is no way of telling if any are in there.  It would depend on how much water is below and the water quality.  Remember large amounts of decaying veggies deplete O2 levels.  That area might be void of bass numbers!

[Swamp Girl]

I love weeds, but that looks unfishable...to me, at least. I think you'd need a crane to get a bass out of there. 

[DaubsNU1]

Local lake here is known for big LMB's...and has a few large pad areas like that.

 

I have never been able to land even one fish in or near the pads.

 

All of the fish seem to be on rip-rap, or under docks.

 

Good luck! 

[Bankbeater]

I hate fishing lilypads.  If your hook gets stuck in one of the roots, then your done.

[Choporoz]

On 8/26/2024 at 3:15 PM, walker2713 said:

I’m wondering if the almost complete lack of sunlight and/or oxygen levels mak

Pads actually make oxygen.   Oxygen plus shade is perfect combination. 

 

Might be time for a kayak.  Kayak is fantastic for fishing pad fields.

 

 

4 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I hate fishing lilypads.  

I love fishing lily pads.

 

 

[Zcoker]

Areas like this out in the Glades are productive so I can’t see why the area you posted wouldn’t be. Bass luv the thick stuff! 

 

[Swamp Girl]

On 9/2/2024 at 3:14 PM, Choporoz said:

On 9/2/2024 at 10:24 AM, Bankbeater said:

I hate fishing lilypads.  

I love fishing lily pads.

 

Whereas I love and hate fishing lily pads.

[Mike L]

Even tho it looks intimidating, it isn’t.
In addition to pitching into any hole you can as @Catt said, don’t let that be the only way to fish that stuff. 
 

First, no need to make a silent entry into those holes as you normally would when fishing vegetation. 
It’s stuff like this that you can “punch” right through as @Zcoker mentioned making as much noise as you can. 
But you gotta have the equipment to handle it. 
I’d grab the big stick with 80# braid keeping in mind you won’t need any weight heavier than an 1/2oz and cover as much water as you can fan casting right into it. 
 

You may be surprised 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

 

[gim]

13 minutes ago, Mike L said:

But you gotta have the equipment to handle it. 
I’d grab the big stick with 80# braid keeping in mind you won’t need any weight heavier than an 1/2oz and cover as much water as you can fan casting right into it. 

 

That's the key.  You need a broom stick spooled with rope to pull fish from that.  Its no place for spinning gear.

[crypt]

use a good stiff flipping stick....50-80 lb. braid....swim a Gambler Burner Worm and hang on.........

[Catt]

Getting fish out of pads has it's own set of problems.

 

Getting fish out of pads while on the bank comes with additional problems.

 

Getting fish up & over a handrail adds even more problems.

 

Bubba bass fishing at its finest! 

[fishhugger]

if you're stationary, do you need to cast not that far from where you are? i'd imagine slogging a fish through 60 to 80 feet of vegetation would be awful.... or impossible, no matter the strength of the line???

[gim]

It can be done with the right gear.  As previously mentioned, you need serious bait casting tackle spooled with serious braided line.

 

The casting distance will be dictated by how stealthily you approach the target.  Go in quiet and gradually sneak up there.  The more noise you make, the longer the cast needed.

[crypt]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

Getting fish out of pads has it's own set of problems.

 

Getting fish out of pads while on the bank comes with additional problems.

 

Getting fish up & over a handrail adds even more problems.

 

Bubba bass fishing at its finest! 

this is the best kind of fishing......Bubba Bassin.....