Shallow Water Bass

[scrubs]

There's a catch & release place close to my house with some nice bass. I started fishing it this year and was using a 1/4 oz spinnerbait on the first two trips (one bass). Went back yesterday and it is weed city. Lots of snot bloom within a foot of the surface. Even a 4" worm with a 1/16 sinker was gathering gunk every other cast.

 

So I picked up a Booyah frog, a couple of buzz baits and a few packs of floating worms to try. The Booyah should be good over pads.

 

Any other ideas? This place is only open from 8am to 6pm so no early or late surface action. This is one of the few places in my state with shore fishing for bass.

 

bill

[RayburnGuy]

You can still catch 'em on top water baits even if you can't get on the lake early or late. While you may not catch as many as you would early or late some of your biggest fish will just kill a Zara Spook right in the middle of the day. Especially where you have weed growth and the sky is a little overcast.

 

If the weeds aren't growing right to the surface you can also try a wake bait.

 

Ben

Edited May 2, 2014 by RayburnGuy

[scrubs]

Thanks Ben, two good ideas. I've got both the Spook and Puppy to try.

 

Overcast is tough around here in NM. 

 

bill

[saltwater]

I have spent literally thousands of hours fishing Lake Okeechobee, talk about heavy weed. Oh yeah, and saw grass so sharp it will cut your line.

 

The lunker bass are in the darn weed, you have to go there.

 

There is only one choice to catch those big boys, 30 lb. test line. Pump and pull through it, it works.

[alsworms]

Also sounds like a weedless, hollow-body swimbait might work too. 

[RayburnGuy]

Thanks Ben, two good ideas. I've got both the Spook and Puppy to try.

 

Overcast is tough around here in NM. 

 

bill

 

I've been through New Mexico several times and now that I think about it I don't ever remember seeing many clouds.

[Braided Line]

Try some Zoom floating worms.

[scrubs]

Saltwater,

Yeah, I'll need to up my tackle a bit.

 

Alsworms,

I'll have to look those up, are they like Burke used to sell??

 

Ben,

Just a few from time to time but mostly dust clouds when the wind kicks up.

 

Braided Line,

Before I started this thread I picked up a few packs of their Trick Worms off ebay to try. I'll try em when they come.

 

Thanks for all the ideas guys.

 

 

bill

[alsworms]

Alsworms,

I'll have to look those up, are they like Burke used to sell??

I'm more of a Basstrix fan, but Berkley's Gulp Minnow is cool too. 

[BassBull]

If the water is clear try a Zoom Fluke with only a wide gap hook (4/0) , works for me.

[scrubs]

Well today I tried 3 different colors of Zoom floating trick worms both with a 1/16 texas rig and bare. Bare was nice slow sink and didn't hang up. But no joy.

 

Also tried 2 buzz baits and a Booyah hollow weedless frog. No joy there either.

 

Think I may have some Zoom Flukes left from a salty trip. Water is definitely clear. I know there's bass in there since one of the guys on this forum has success.

 

bill