Reed fishing

[texanbassangler]

I fish this little pond every now and then that has a big clump of reeds in the middle. Half of it is in lily pads and the other half is in open water. It's around 5 or 8 feet deep. How would yall fish it?

[Avalonjohn44]

With frogs.

[BASSclary]

Frogs

[texanbassangler]

In 5 feet of water? It's HOT here, do you think they'd be that active?

[BASSclary]

Won't know till you try it I suppose.

[SCangler91]

Definately frogs or trick worms for the lilypads and I would throw a t-rigged weedless worm along the edge of the reeds/lily pads to try and lure the fish out from under there

[Lund Explorer]

For the reeds, short casts directly downwind into the reed bed at isolated clumps or pockets with some type of T-Rigged soft plastics.  Other baits that work sometimes include spinnerbaits, and the Ol' Johnson Silver Minnow with a grub.

The key to making reed fishing easier is to always cast in the direction the reeds are bent by the wind.  Crosswind or Upwind casts tend to keep popping the bait out on the retrieve, and can be a bear trying to horse a fish out.  Horsing the fish out of the reeds is the second key which calls for shorter casts while using heavy action rods and fairly stout line.

Also work the transition area where reeds and pads join together.  This usually means a rapid change in bottom content, and this edge attracts fish.

[OHIO]

A frog or even buzzbait should do the trick

[bigtimfish]

I would throw a 5"hollow body swimbait all in and around the pads and reeds. As weedless as possible (no stinger hook). Try starting off slow swimming just off the bottom then maybe a little higher in the middle. If that doesn't work hit the reeds with a jig or punch bait setup. And last but not least try a slug go, fluke, or senko around the pads.

[texanbassangler]

Thanks, the replies are great. I think a t-rigged worm or a buzzbait it what I'm gonna try next.

[BassThumb]

You can fish just about any lure around reeds (bulrushes/tullies) as they are somewhat sparse and allow lures to pass through them, and not prone to seriously fouling or snagging your lure. The fish can be picky as to where the position themselves in relation to shade and wind currents around emergent vegetation. So accurately casting and hitting your spots multiple times from more than one angle might be more important than what lure you're using.  I believe this can be said for most situations.

Around the cover you mentioned, I would throw black or white frogs to the pads, buzzbaits on the edges, light single colorado spinnerbaits on long casts through the bulrushes, and Senkos skipped to the edges and allowed to fall to the bottom and be twitched a few times.