Bass & Weeds

It is no secret that largemouth bass like weeds. And certain weeds are better than others, but the bass make use of whatever green stuff they can. It stands to reason that organizing fishing strategies around them makes anybody a better bass fisherman. 

Weeds: Bass like weeds for many reasons. Weeds that are growing offer oxygen, which not only makes matters that much more comfy, but attracts dinner as well. The shade also cools things down. But the fact is that bass associate with weeds throughout the season. There is more to it than comfort factor. The fact is that weeds probably have and even greater impact on predation success, which not only is important to the bass, but to those of  us trying to catch them as well. Weeds provide great hunting places for baitfish and frogs, and they offer hiding places from which bass can ambush their prey. With a compact body shape for quick turns, largemouth can also use corners to corral baitfish or at least keep the arena manageable. Like any predator, largemouths favor situations that minimize their energy expenditure. Research shows that by holding in shade, bass have a much better chance at spotting prey without being seen themselves. The analogy is when you're sitting in a darkened room looking into a lighted room; you can see without being seen. Largemouths use that advantage all the time. Biologists generally break down weed types into emergent (such as lily pads, water lilies and bullrushes) and submerged (such as hydrilla, millfoil, pond weed, duck weed, and coontail). Some of these submerged weeds, namely hydrilla, millfoil, andpond algae, form mats, which become increasingly important with the warm weather of summer. The best bass waters have a diversity of weed growth, which supports a healthy forage base. The best weeds tend to be the greenest, as that is the sign that they're growing and helping produce oxygen. Largemouths are fish of transitions and gravitate to the intersection of weeds with wood or rock piles, the weedy deltas that form when creeks join bigger waters, weedy drop offs, and even the shift from one weed type to another. In general, bass will move to shallower, sparser weed areas in the evening. That might mean weedy bays or simply outside edges and channels inside weedy shallows. During the day they will be deep in weeds sometimes or by contrast on the outside edge - if there is sufficient depth.

Inside Moves: The key is less in being a junior botanist than in figuring out how to fish the various formations. Start with those weeds closest to shore. In the spring, bullrushes and reeds are spots to try. The water here is relatively shallow. Many spring lakes have a 2 - 5 foot interior lane bordered by a weedbed on the outside and the shoreline scub weeds on the inside. This is often open in the post-spawn period before the weeds have had much chance to grow. If you hit a lake with this inside opportunity, you can just plain nail the bass in here. 

Horizontal Presentations: When fishing weedbeds, be sure too keep an eye out for transitions. You're looking for irregularity, for fringiness - breaks in the weedlines, pockets, and in particular, weedy points of 4 - 10 feet that extend far out into gravel or sand or mud. These are the terrific bass producers. Mid-bay weeds are very good spots, too, particular if they form a bit of a hump or the tip of a point. The best of these bays tend to be part of a larger diverse system, with drop offs on the outside and thick weeds on the inside. Spinnerbaits can also be used for fishing weedlines, as can crankbaits. These lures can be retrieved over the weeds or beside weedlines. Spinnerbaits over weed tops is a great spring presentation, and a good searching technique throughout the season. With summer, minnow imitating plugs become increasingly important - particularly when fish are aggressive, such as in the hours before a storm. Mann's Minus One, which runs just below the surface, is a great bait for working weed tops. This crankbait has a nice wide swing to it that somehow seems particularly appealing in the weedy areas. If weed tops are down 4 or 5 feet, stickbaits can be really productive. Start with Rapalas or Zara Spooks, particularly during spring or summer mornings when the water is quite still. Smithwicks Devil Horse or buzzbaits can be a better choice when there is a bit of a ripple. If the fish won't come up, try working a neutral density stickbait like a Rattlin' Rogue. This bait can be adjusted to almost the exact depth you need and will stay at that level for the entire retrieve. The neutral density aspect lets you slow things way down, which helps when things are slow. For finicky fish, a switch to soft texture can help. Many anglers prefer, when possible, to combine a wind drift with soft plastic jerkbaits, which seem to not need a slow treatment like a plastic worm. (Worms often requires a Carolina Rig in the weeds.) With Slug Gos, Power Slugs, and other jerkbaits, you can get away with no weight at all, working the bait so that it darts in the pockets and weed lanes. Start with dark colors in these circumstances, as they provide a strong, full contrast against the lit background.

Vertical Presentation: Summer bass often drop deep along the weeds during the mid day hours. Look for hydrilla, millfoil, or other thick weeds that grow all the way to shore. If you find edges in 10-20 areas, your in business. Edges over 15 feet give up fewer bass, but the ones you get will be nice ones. This is when you need some weight. A jig head with a worm trailer is a choice that doesn't get a lot of press. The long trailing worm can be particularly productive. This bait is a good, deep swimmer. That is, when you cast it, you don't want to hop and drop it as much as pull and pause it.  

There are a number of other ways to fish the dense stuff - whether with plastics or with Johnson Silver Minnows and pork strips which you skitter across the tops of the weeds. It is odd fishing in the sense that getting the bass into the boat is not the most glorious struggle - it's reminiscent of getting the dog into the door at the vet's office. The peak of the experience is the strike, but that is some thrill. You'll have more fun missing these strikes than any others you'll ever get. Guaranteed.