Clear pond with grass?

[Captain Obvious]

Ok so I've been fishing a local pond lately and been doing pretty well with an Elgrande 4.5in rattlesanke rigged weightless. Most of the fish seem to be pretty shallow since most of them have been caught right next to the bank. The water is gin clear and there is an abundance of submerged grass.

Because of the grass most crankbaits are out and a C-rig is also pretty hard to use. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reaction type presentation that might work under these conditions??

Thanks

Capt.O

[tholmes]

How far below the surface is the top of the grass?

If there's some water above the grass, I'd try burnin' a spinnerbait or a buzz bait over the top of the grass.

Tom

[J-B]

Jig, T-rig worm, beaver, weightless senko jerked over the top of the grass and let it drop in any holes. Also toss the senko just at the outer edge of the grass, let it sink and give it a small twitch or two and let it sit for a bit.

[Captain Obvious]

How far below the surface is the top of the grass?

I would say for the most part the grass is about 1ft to .5ft under the surface

[Alex77]

How far below the surface is the top of the grass?

If there's some water above the grass, I'd try burnin' a spinnerbait or a buzz bait over the top of the grass.

Tom

+1

[basspro215]

try a wake bait or i was watching a show on cranks he was reeling them down into really thick grass and kinda letting it float up out or just slowly pulling it through

[zach t]

Swimbait. Yum Money Minnow.

If you can't get them to hit, downsize to a Shadalicious in 3.5'

[Captain Obvious]

I normally use wake baits on this pond but they haven't been hitting those or shallow cranks

[Capt Ray]

For clear grassy lakes and ponds my go to bait is a watermelon Fluke.  If the grass is a bit deep I will add a nail weight.

[The Bassinator]

Try a fluke or a lipless crank bait.  You can stop the fluke in likely places if the bass are finicky and just let it sit or you can bring the lipless crank over the grass and then kill it and once it touches the grass rip it back out.  KVD explained the second in a video at basspro.com

[hatrix]

I agree with a fluke. You can twitch it over the grass or let it fall into holes. I usually use white or green pumpkin.

[D4u2s0t]

Try a fluke or a lipless crank bait. You can stop the fluke in likely places if the bass are finicky and just let it sit or you can bring the lipless crank over the grass and then kill it and once it touches the grass rip it back out. KVD explained the second in a video at basspro.com

that was going to be my suggestion, try ripping a crankbait through the grass, you may be surprised at the results. Just make sure you have heavy enough line and rod to pull it out. You want to really rip it out, so the grass falls off the bait. A fish won't nail a clump of swimming grass so much lol. If it's just too thick to try that, like already said, go over the top, and try to hit any holes that are there.

Or, you can try a weedless plastic and try to get it through.  I love the money minnow, which has already been suggested, if you rig it weightless and put the hook point in the back a little bit, it will be easy to pull it through some nasty cover.

[Captain Obvious]

A fluke!!! That is the winner, the fish are killing them

Thanks guys

Cap.to

[D4u2s0t]

If you're going to use a fluke, maybe try it on a jig head as well.  That way you can get it to fall right in any holes in the grass.

[SkeetyCCTX]

You definately need to go with a weightless senko!  You can fish it either TX rigged or Wacky style, both are deadly.  This is one of the best baits for clear water and grass!

Also you would probably do good with a fluke, weightless of course!

All topwater would be good out there, especially ones that you can throw far.  This way the fish dont see you in that clear water.  I would stick with spooks, buzzbaits, plugs, and those little chrom torpedo prop baits.  My second biggest bass ever came off of a torpedo prop bait in a small pond, 10.5 lbs!

As for cranking lures, dont rule them out!  They can be great fished in the grass. But, you got to get the right ones and fish them right.  First lipless cranks:  go with the Red Eye Shade by Stike King.  It is like a rattle trap but has a deeper and narrower body, which helps it stay a little higher and produces a wobble that rips out of grass much better!  Then you got your billed crankbaits:  Again, go with a crankbait that has a deep and narrow body for that tight fast wobble that rips free easy.  Also, find a crankbait that has a squar shaped bill, which deflects easier than the round!

Use the grass to your advantage when cranking.  When you touch the grass shlow down a little and try to deflect off or just touch it!  It you get caught you can do two things.  First, stop reeling; this may cause your bait to float loose!  Or, you can rip it free.  If ripping free it is impairitve to have the right body design that I mentioned.  Either way, this is when you are most likely to get your strikes.  Get it free, then pause and you will get your hits.. 

It takes practice but once you learn how to do it, it will be an effective weapon to your arsenal!

[BASSMAN757]

a senko will slay um

[central_fl_fishin]

The spawn has started so try using t-rigged plastics like lizards and worms in the afternoon, dragging across the bottoms from the grass to the sand across the beds if you can find them.  In the early mornings and evenings try topwaters or spinners. The key is to find the beds during this part of the year.  That's where the action will be.