How would you fish this area?

[paully]

This spot looks like a great area for horny toads and senkos but i've used em with little success. I'm wondering what you guys would do in this area and what would you do in the morning and afternoon?

thanks a bunch guys have a nice day

paul

[RobDar]

surface bait...a spook...popr...outside the lilies...

maybe a purple passion french fry in the lillies

[BassKing813]

In the morning this time of year I'd throw a topwater frog, popper, walk-the-dog type bait, or a buzzbait. In the afternoon I'd throw a T-rigged plastic. You might want to also try a crankbait under that bridge and try to bounce it off one of the pilings either in the morning or afternoon.

[Peter E.]

I would work the outside edges tith a spinner bait or a buzz bait. Then work in a little further with a deep dive then attack the main body with a fluke and a t-rigged lizard and or craw worm like a zoom speed craw.

Peter

[RLinNH]

I'd work the edges of the lilly pads with a slow sinking plastic, then try a surface frog right into the lillies. After that, I'd concentrate on those sexy columns by casting about 10-20 feet beyond them with a Crank Bait and swim it right by the base of the column. I'd do this to all the columns and on every side of the columns.

[paully]

great advice! might i add that i will be fishing from shore. should i bounce the cranks off of the "sexy" pillars? Do you think there are bass hanging by there? would a jig work well here and if so where?

thanks and sorry for so many questions

[j-bass]

Use the pilons to your advantage.  Do these things attract bass? Not necessarily....it grows moss, or other veigation, which in turn attracts baitfish.....this is what attracts the bass.  Plasitcs will work, but I would start by bumping cranks (lippless and lipped) allong the columns.

[Panamoka_Bassin]

Boy, that looks like a great spot!  Lots of cover, and I would think there'd be some structure under that bridge.  I'd try throwing a crank along the entire length of the bridge and see what happens.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if fish were holding in the deeper water under the bridge or the middle of the stream where the fall off rate would be greatest.  Let us know how you make out!

[paully]

well I do know that they have sunken christmas trees at the bottom that i've snagged tons of jigs and t-rigs on. Thanks for the advice everyone! I'llt ryi t out whenever i go there Should I use shallow diving or deep diving cranks?

[Whopper-Stopper]

The reason that you aren't catching any is because the fish are dead. ;D (Bottom pic towards the left.)

But seriously, you have got to pitch some jigs and spinnerbaits up against those bridge pilings. Punch a jig through that grass and lilies. Maybe you could also try a scum frog on that moss.

[mudcatwilly]

Morning = Buzzbait along the edges of the weeds/lily pads, frog on top of the lily pads and over the weeds.  Zara spook out in the open water if it's overcast.

Afternoon = Weightless senko on top of the lily pads, letting it fall through the openings, crankbait bounced off the bridge pilings.  Slow rolling spinner with a trailer along the weed edges.  If you can fish from the bridge, dropshot with a worm near the pilings.  I would use a glass bead and a ticker above the dropshot sinker.

[Peter E.]

As to your question on which type of crank bait you should use, well it depends on what part of the water collumn you want to work and where the weeds will let you. I would work both types of crank baits to find the part of the water column the fish are actively feeding in. I would also like to suggest a straight back Rapala floater on the edges of the weeds.

Peter

[paully]

thanks guys! appreciate it. For the frogs, would I be better off using a spro bronzeye frog or a horny toad?

[KenDammit28]

do you have any idea how deep the water is around those pilings?  Tossing a soft plastic out there like a senko or even a finesse worm wacky rigged could be a pretty big hit.  The crankbaits are a good idea.  For all the scum, I'd be throwing horny toads all around it..especially fishing them UNDER the surface along the edges of the stuff.  I've never met a bass hanging out under the slop that didn't think it was a good idea to come out and eat the toad.

[fishingrulz]

the only thing i can think of that hasn't been mentioned is a YUM Vibra King Finesse Tube weightless. rig it on a 1or2/0 EWG Gammy and tie a rubber band around the hook and slide it right up to the bend in the hook...because they are very salty and will slide down the hook as soon as they touch the water. also squirt the bait with some sent to hole the salt on it. these tubes realy do hold all that sent. they work great.

[cart7t]

well I do know that they have sunken christmas trees at the bottom that i've snagged tons of jigs and t-rigs on. Thanks for the advice everyone! I'llt ryi t out whenever i go there Should I use shallow diving or deep diving cranks?

Make sure you peg your sinker when fishing those brushpiles, you'll hang up far less often.

Not mentioned:  I'd start out early in the morning fishing from the bank to the inside edge of the weeds.  Cast a floating frog or rat bait, weightless senko or worm onto the bank or the very edge of the cattails and work it out.  Be prepared for an instant strike the second the lure hits the water. I would attempt to cast across the body of water, you can easily spook those fish along the bank by your movement.

As the morning wears on, start pitching into the thicker cover or work a buzzbait through it.