LILLY PADS

[largemouthslayer]

HELP!

Started fishing a lake that the lilly pads are getting out of control. What are you guys using and how are you fishing it.

[L-Train]

I am a fan of fishin frogs in thick lilly pads.  either the horny toad type or the plastic hollow frogs.   plastic worms/lizards, etc are good when dropped in holes and pockets/openings.  if the pads are thin enough try a buzzbait.  The herbs dilly is my fav. buzzbait type lure to throw in pads.  

also, if you know where I can pick up some herbs dilly's, let me know.  they quit making them and I am out.  

[Avalonjohn44]

There's 1 on Ebay - looks kinda in rough shape though:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Herbs-Dilly-Gold-Metal-Spinning-Lure_W0QQitemZ160109619196QQihZ006QQcategoryZ794QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[c17Lat]

last summer was my first summer bass fishing, and i got most of my stirkes on a hollow body scumfrog but only about 1/3 of those strikes resulted in a caught fish. i thought it was amazing how i could reel in the frog over some pads and a bass will still eat it even though the pads are extremely thick.

[tbone31]

Try a Manns Hard nose frog, these baits stay on the hook very well without sliding down. Plus It sinks so I can stop it in the holes and let it flutter down.

[justfishin]

One of my favorite ways to fish is flipping pads. On the Lower Potomac in the creeks like Mattawoman it can be a gold mine of good fish. Some of these pad fields are huge and it used to be intimidating. I started going early in the year before the pads came up and looked for deeper areas such as creek channels and ditches. I posted these places in my head. Later in the hot summer you can get back into these places, sometimes I have to pole in. Example: One field is a average 2-3 ft deep but, right through the center is a old creek channel about 5-8 ft deep. I follow this channel when the tide is low and flip big black or green pumpkin tubes or a Zoom Ultra Vibe in Junebug on a 4/0 Gammy G-Lock hook and a 1/4oz pegged bullet sinker. I use a All Star 7' H, Abu Garcia 5601 C3 and #25 test Trilene XT. You cannot give these fish a inch. They will surge on you and it is over. Its great fun and I have caught some very virgin fish doing this as I don't see many guys that far back in the pads. The occasional Gar or Big Buffalo is interesting as well. Good luck.

[Guest avid]

Lilly pads are usually a pretty reliable spot so I fish them throughly.

I'll start on the out side edges with a spinnerbait or jerk bait.

Then I'll pick spots and toss in a jig.

Then I'll swim a toad or worm right thorgh em.  I love it when the worm hangs up on a pad and part of it is dangling in the water.  I picture a bass sitting under it going crazy with anticipation.

[jomatty]

i fish a lake in va that is almost completely ringed with dollar pads.  frogs (both types) are usually the first thing i try to get going, as i enjoy that type of fishing about as much as anything imaginable.  i also fish the edge of the pads with a spinnerbait, and weightless plastic.  then its time to start pitching or flipping.  i like a bait like a sweet beaver but also use craws or straight tail worms, or tubes.  i look for any difference in the pads and key on that.  holes in the pads can be a rockpile, so i always make sure i fish that thoroughly.  make sure you use braid, as there is no other application where i think that line is as important than when your in pads.

matt

[Catt]

Johnson Minnow Spoon Gold ¼ oz with a Chartreuse skirt slipped over the hook & glued in place.  

[Mak]

when the water is cool ill throw in a jig or soft plastic most of the time.  

try buzz baits along the weedlines, and i try fishing spinnerbaits like i fish jigs when its miserably hot for the fish.  on normal temerature days ill use any type of texas rigged plastic (worm, lizard, craw).  im starting to like fishing frogs around the lily pads too.  but with frogs you have to fish them real slow.  like make alot of noise with them and then let them sit on the top for a while while giving them a few twitches. most bites will come while theyre just sitting there.  

for fishing in the pads look for holes, patches that stick out further that the rest of the pads, gaps that go into the group of pads or if theres a small group away from the big group, thats where most of the bass will be waiting to ambush prey.

[nebass]

I am a fan of fishin frogs in thick lilly pads. either the horny toad type or the plastic hollow frogs. plastic worms/lizards, etc are good when dropped in holes and pockets/openings. if the pads are thin enough try a buzzbait. The herbs dilly is my fav. buzzbait type lure to throw in pads.

also, if you know where I can pick up some herbs dilly's, let me know. they quit making them and I am out.

;)Hey L-Train, have you thought of trying the Nemire Buzz-n spoons to replace your herbs dilly? Just a thought.

[LCpointerKILLA]

Take a bubble gum or white trick worm weedless and weightless. Cast right into the pads, retrieve slowly, weaving it around and in-between pads, and jiggle it here & there...   WHAM-O!!! you might get a nice hit right on the topwater. Make sure to use stronger line than usual so you can pull 'em through the pads.

Peace, GolfCoursePondMan

[Panamoka_Bassin]

I like to run a buzz bait along the edges of pads when I can, or I'll just go with the frog across the tops when I'm in the thick of them.  The best part is seeing those bass explode through the pads, even though more than half the time I fail to hook 'em.  As I understand it, when using a frog across the tops, you need to be patient when setting the hook.  Let the bass have a good 3 seconds before setting the hook and you'll have better success at landing them...

[Mak]

when using a frog across the tops, you need to be patient when setting the hook.  Let the bass have a good 3 seconds before setting the hook and you'll have better success at landing them...

took me about 15 missed hooksets last year to figure that out.  as soon as the surface broke or my frog went under id "set" my hook and pull it away before the bass had even gotten it in its mouth.