Fishing the gunk along the shoreline

[piranha]

What are some ways to fish the fat layer of gunk that builds up on top of the water along the shoreline?

I fished on top of it yesterday, dragging the worm across the top and caught two fish, but I knew there were more there.

Should I simply work along the edge of where the gunk meets the water? The holes are few and far between and when you find a 6 inch hole and cast into it, you bring back, five or more pounds, yes pounds, of gunk. And the stuff doesn't come off easily. I kept fishing it anyway, figuring the bass were in there somewhere, but I wasn't very successful.

Any tactics for this stuff? And does the stuff have a name? Oh, and how does the stuff go from nonexistant to ten feed wide in three days?

Thanks.

Rick

[JUST_ONE_MORE_CAST]

What you were doing works. But you may have better luck with a snag-proof frog. (most wal-marts have them for a couple bucks) Try to cast it onto the bank, then just hop it off onto the scum. This way you won't make a big splash. After it sits a few seconds, (you may very well get a hit during this time) if not, jump it along about 6 inches each hop and hold on! Once you're off the scum go ahead and reel it in for another cast.

Now the thing about a frog is, the way it's built the fish has to crunch down on it good to expose the hooks. When they hit it, wait till you feel him pulling on the rod and then set the hook good and hard.

Good luck!

Randy

[Will]

Yes, the scum frog would be a great choice, and it sounds like the gunk is thick enough I wouldn't worry about what the frog looks like since the fish will only sense something is up on top of the gunk. Be sure to have a follow up bait prepared to stick in the holes after you get a strike. Another option for fishing the gunk would be to texas rig a soft plastic with a pegged weight 1/4 oz. or bigger that doesn't have alot of legs or arms which will penetrate the gunk easily. If needed you may want to cast the lure upward and then let the lure gain momentum on the fall to punch through the gunk.

[Muddpuppy]

If you fish the spot often get a rake or a hook and a rope. You won't get rid of the crap if it's like the stuff here but it might help create more pockets later. I think some of it is an accumulation of floating stuff from the top of the lake and sometime a good rain will help to disperes it. I also try to fish along the inside edge and pockets with a weightless lizard or worm. Maybe try useing a topwater bait like a jitter bug or a buzzbait if you can get where you can fish along the edge. And try dragging babybushhogs or like baits off the top into holes and off the edge and let the sink then jig them a few times. Often I have problems useing weights down here since the stuff collects in thick weeds and creates a mass as far line is concerned. The unweighted plastics skim over the really bad places instead of though them. One pond that gets that pretty bad here in the summer. I have noticed I catch most of the fish in the same places, and frequently there will be a twig or different type plant sticking up in the spots. So I suppose there may be a difference in the bottom structure. Also remember that you still have to pull the fish through the muck too. A 1lb. drags like 8 just no fight.