Your Weapon When Fishing Pads

[BassFishingMachine]

Ok, I fish a lake that has alot of small patches of pads, now I don't mean theres just pads all over the place, I mean 4-6pads clumped here, another 4-6 clumped there, spread out all over the place. The fish tend to hang out in these pads along with the stickpiles and other cover in the lake.

My question is, what is your go-to bait when fishing patches of pads like this? Currently mine are pegged creature baits and trying my best to bring spinnerbaits through them or directly along side them to a point where the spinnerbait bumps the end of the pad as its going by.

[smallieking]

i like using smaller finess worms like zoom finesse worms, but if i think there is a big one in the small patch i throw a jig or rat-l trap next to it     when the fish is really sluggish a wacky rig worm will work  

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Buzzbait/buzz frog, or if I want to go slower a senko with a nail weight.

[Big-O]

BFM, I agree with the above comments and I always start around the outside edges first then go in after 'em with frogs first then finesse type jigs, tx rigged craws or creature baits that are just heavy enough to slip down between the pads. The fish will soon tell you which they prefer the most that day and it'll be On with a big O

Let us know what you get figured out.

Big O

[BassFishingMachine]

BFM, I agree with the above comments and I always start around the outside edges first then go in after 'em with frogs first then finesse type jigs, tx rigged craws or creature baits that are just heavy enough to slip down between the pads. The fish will soon tell you which they prefer the most that day and it'll be On with a big O

Let us know what you get figured out.

Big O

Hmm, maybe the best bet then would be to start out visiting each lillypad patch with a spinnerbait along the sides of them and even through them if possible, and then on the way walking back fish the same pad patches with a slower approach such as a jig/pegged creature.

[Al Wolbach]

Something you may want to try that has worked for me, after working the outside edges. Flip or pitch a 1/4 oz jig(or some type of bait) onto the leaf itself and wiggle your line to make the leaf itself move slightly. Do this for a few seconds to get the fishes attention and allow it time to reposition under the leaf. Then pull your lure off the leaf and allow to sink. Offen this will trigger a strike from a non aggressive fish just because they are curious.........................Al

[The Next KVD]

Frog over the top of the pads. If that doesn't work try flipping a tube into the middle of the pads and gradually work your way out.  Remember most of the time the biggest fish is in the thickest part of the cover.  

[gatrboy53]

ultravibe speed worm.1st cast buzz on top,2nd cast swim it under the surface and 3 rd cast drop it to the base of every pad root.

[basser89]

My game plan would be one of 3 choices. I'd start off with a spinnerbait working around the edges, then through the middle. Next would be a buzzbait or buzzfrog, fishing it the same way. Finally, I'd opt for a t-rigged tube with the lightest weight I could get away with (pegged weight). Those 3 would cover me for my style of fishing.

[SoCalRob]

Buzzbait, frog, spinnerbait. In no particular order.

[BirdNestBen]

A buzzbait seems to do real well in the pads........

Texas rig weightless a plastic worm will bust some hawgs as well!!!!!!

A little deeper you might try a texas rigged powerworm....

Still, I'd start with a zoom super fluke or a senko.... they are my 2 favorites so I've got to stick with em.....

[AKFerzy7]

drag a finesse or trick worm t-rigged (pegged) with either a 3/16 or 1/4 weight. use braided line. i think fish around pads see way too many frogs during the course of the day. but i will fish a buzzbait through open lanes trying to come as close to patches of pads as i can.

[thetr20one]

A t-rigged ribbontail powerworm, no weight.

[wisturkeyhunter]

Senko,fluke,worm or whatever plastic you like rigged texas but weightless tossed on top of a pad then slowly pull off and let it fall to the bottom slowing working it back to you letting it sit alot.