Accessing the Situation: The Pads

[Dean]

Ok guys, heres the scenario. Water is 5' deep in and around the pads. Water temp is 70 degrees. There is a slight breeze. Air temp is 85. Clarity of the water is clear.So guys, how would you fish it?

[RoLo]

I normally begin by trying to appeal to any aggressive bass that might be vulnerable (get them out of the way).

Since there's a fair ripple along the front face, I'd probably start by running a cane toad over the pockets and holes in the pads.

If that were fruitless, I might go deeper by cherry-picking the same pockets and holes using a zoom super fluke.

Finally I'd probably go to the bottom with a T-rigged worm, working as close to the weed line as possible and into every weed line pocket

(straight worm, paddletail worm, ribbontail worm or stick worm).

That's such a nice picture you submitted, that I'm going to sieze the opportunty

to mention the "cover". Although many would call them lily pads that is in fact

"spatterdock". Unlike water lilies which produces white, open-petaled lilies, spatterdock produces yellow globe-like blooms that never fully open.

Roger

[maxke01]

cant go wrong with a t-rig senko right there. If that didnt work i'd sit on the bank and just enjoy that wonder scenery.   :) :o :o :o :o :o Sorry I love me some fishing but when it comes to scenery sometimes you just have to enjoy it

***Edit***

Not to ruin your thread but although every situation is different I think there should be more type of threads like this in the future. may help us newbs learn different techniques for situations of similar values

[Dean]

Not to ruin your thread but although every situation is different I think there should be more type of threads like this in the future. may help us newbs learn different techniques for situations of similar values

Your not ruining it one bit. Threads like this one are good learning tools.

[Guest muddy]

7 INCH *** RIPPER WORMS , T RIGGED/WEIGHTLESS FROM THE BSACK OF THE PADS, OVER THE PADS AND DROPPED IN FRONT OF THE PADS

[Catt]

I would throw a Spoon & Chunk, Ribbit Frog, with a Texas Rig for back-up; if a bass misses the spoon or frog immediately drop your rod & throw a T-rig to the exact spot where the bass missed the spoon/frog.

[Alpster]

I would be landing a 7 1/2" culprit ribbon tail worm on a Charlie Brewer Slider on top of the pads and drag it ever so gently off the edge of the pads. Very nice picture BTW

Ronnie

[Sam]

Plan of attrack

1.  Throw a spinnerbait right along the weedline. Catches feeding bass.

2.  Flip a jig or a tube into any pockets.

3.  Pull a frog, trick worm or a Zoom finesse worm across the top of the pads, allowing it to fall in any open areas within the pads.

May consider a buzzbait over the top of the pads early in the AM or along the pad line.

The active bass will be on the pad line, feeding or looking for a nice meal.

And I would look for any wood within the pads.  There should be an opeing adjacent to the wood and you can drop your bait into that opening.

[Cujo]

I would start with a weedless worm (usually a ribbontail), and work it over the tops of the pads, then I would work a Super Fluke, then a T-rigged worm (ribbontail or straight tail).

[Popeye]

Great picture. The bass hiding under those pads are itching to destroy a weedless frog or large popper! Put one of those in there and WATCH OUT!! IMO:o)

[Tin]

1st a jig to the edge of the pads.

2nd a jig burned over the top.

3rd a jig pitched to pockets in the pads.

4th a jig thorwn to the back of the pads if there are any laydowns or cover behind them.

[Guest muddy]

1st a jig to the edge of the pads.

2nd a jig burned over the top.

3rd a jig pitched to pockets in the pads.

4th a jig thorwn to the back of the pads if there are any laydowns or cover behind them.

THE TIN MAN IS GETTIN JIGGY WITH IT 8-)

[roadwarrior]

Another suggestion:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1180909581

8-)

[Hooked_On_Bass]

I think I would start by running a spinnerbait along side of the pads to target the aggressive bass. Then, I would slow it down and maybe pitch a jig to open pockets or near any wood or rocks. If that didn't produce, I would toss a T-rigged worm in there and work it real slow/methodical.

By the way, great picture and good luck! 8-)

[Tin]

1st a jig to the edge of the pads.

2nd a jig burned over the top.

3rd a jig pitched to pockets in the pads.

4th a jig thorwn to the back of the pads if there are any laydowns or cover behind them.

THE TIN MAN IS GETTIN JIGGY WITH IT 8-)

It's the only bait you need. 8-)

I also find by just burning the bait over the pads instead of stop and go with a Kermit you get a more commited reaction strike. And 8/10 if they miss they come back for more, and I think the hook up ratio's are much better.

[gatrboy53]

it looks like what im fishin on the suwannee river right now.to cover alot of area i fish a producto buzz tail shad or a zoom ultravibe speed worm.if i catch a fish i'll slow down and pitch WEIGHTLESS trick worms,senkos,small jigs or even tubes into the pockets.if i know a area holds fish but they arent in the pads i'll move out in front of them and c-rig or run a crankbait parralell to them.once the water gets warm enough i'll always throw a toad in there.

[RKS3]

1. Spro frog tree frog green worked across the enitre field of pads and pasued in open holes.

2. Tiki Stick Smoke shad weightless pitched to the edge.

2. Tiki Stik Smoke shad weightless pitched to open Holes

3. Matt Lures baby bass casted along the edge killed and allowed to sink to bottom then slow rolled back to the boat.

[BassFishingMachine]

First thing I'd do is pitch a jig directly into the pads/around the pads/in the back of the pads, like Tin stated.

If the jig didn't work I'd try a creature bait pegged with a bullet weight (3/16-1/4ounce), by creatures I mean either a Yum WoolyHawgtail, Zoom Baby Brush Hog, GYCB Kreature, Reaction Innovation Sweet Beaver.

If the jig/creature approach didn't work I'd try a soft plastic frog (if the pads were spread out enough to fish it), if they weren't spread out enough for the soft plastic frog to work properly I'd throw a hollow frog, particularly a scumfrog.

Another thing I'd try is a spinnerbait worked either directly in the more less compact pads, or around the edges, probably a white/chart color wise.

And the last thing that would be on my mind to try is a 5inch Zoom Super Fluke, rigged weedless/weightless with a size 4/0, jerked all throughout the pads, I'd try a fast approach and then a slow approach. Super flukes can get in/around the lillypads perfectly, snagging the pads very rarely, so there always a good choice to try, for colors I'd rercommend white or baby bass.

[JCrzy4Bass]

1st a jig to the edge of the pads.

2nd a jig burned over the top.

3rd a jig pitched to pockets in the pads.

4th a jig thorwn to the back of the pads if there are any laydowns or cover behind them.

THE TIN MAN IS GETTIN JIGGY WITH IT 8-)

It's the only bait you need. 8-)

I also find by just burning the bait over the pads instead of stop and go with a Kermit you get a more commited reaction strike. And 8/10 if they miss they come back for more, and I think the hook up ratio's are much better.

I was wondering why the jig was left out of this thread. I'd run a buzzbait over the outside edges of the pads (had good luck with this in situations with spatterdock, time of day permitting), then I would tie on a shallow diving crank like a Mann's Minus One or a Orinigal Rapala (twitching) and stay on the edge a bit more to get it a little further down the water column pulling the bass up, last I'd tie on that jig and hit the holes on the outside edges working my way into the thick stuff. Every single hole is a possibility, there are so many ways to work this situation. But some great advice all around.

The jig is also versatile in the way that muddy stated.  If you change out the trailer to a more action based one with more weight you could get those claws flapping and trigger reaction strikes.  Or you could tie on a double tail grub and use a lighter jig with bait fish color imitators and quickly swim it back around the outside edges.

[Ryan_Johnson]

I'd cover the open water first with a Mattlures Ultimate Bluegill or baby bass.  Then switch to a Rebel Pop R and run that down the weedline.   Then burn a jig or Hardnose Frog over the pads. Finish off with a weightless 6" sluggo twitched throught the pads with drops in the open areas.  Might tuck in tighter and pitch to those tree roots if there's enough water to cover their backs.

[GitRDoneIke23]

I'd be Walkin my little froggy all over the place!! I like Yum and Zoom the best. White or Chart.

[FishTank]

I have great success with the Fat Ika rigged weedless.  I just pitch it in there and let it fall.  

[dumb_dog11]

throw a jig in there

btw i wish we had pads that nice in california

[RoLo]

I was wondering why the jig was left out of this thread.

Actually there are a few.

By itself, a "jig" is just a hook that's bonded to a hunk of metal needed to sink the lure.

The actual "lure" generally alludes to the soft-plastic, silicone skirt, pork rind or cut bait that's attached to the jighead.

In the very first reply I mentioned a T-rigged worm, which may be rigged with a bullet sinker and hook or may be rigged on a leadhead jig

(I use both). The only difference is that the jig allows no movement between the weight and hook, and behaves like a pegged sinker

Roger

[Bankbeater]

I would start with a buzzbait or a spinnerbait.  If the bass didn't like fast I would slow it down with a t-rigged worm or a jig.