I often throw a soft plastic frog (Zoom Horny Toad) in heavy pads.  It weighs more than many plastics so the bass can track it easier when skittered over the pads, and it will sink into openings in the pads.  50 lb braid minimum.  Swim jig, Senko, hollow frog are other good choices depending on exactly how thick the pads are and what kind of pads you have.  Some lay flat on the water, some are emergent pads with leaves in the air.  A spinnerbait or swim jig/bladed jig is good around the edges.  It's all about efficiency.  You often have to search through lots of pads to find where the fish are holding and whatever does that fast and efficiently is best.  Once you find them, you can slow down and use a variety of lures.

How are you fishing that? Swimming, jigging? I'll be the 1st to admit this is one technique I SUCK at. Jig, weigh and plastic, hard for me to tell whats going on with all the contact and pulling of pad stems. I'm accustom to a lighter more finesse approach, so this will be a challenge. Granted i haven't given it much time.

 

In openings in the pads, I use a steady retrieve just fast enough to ge the full motion of the spoon. On top of the pads you can  fish it as slow as you want to while twitching the bait - almost like a frog. When you get a strike keep reeling until you feel the weight of the fish and then use a sweeping motion to the side to set the hook.

 

One last tip if you decide to try this. Use heavy tackle. Like I said, the JSM will catch some mighty big bass.

Punch through them

Senko style bait

rip a swim jig through the pads.

Do you let the swim jig go to the bottom or keep it on top?

I like to use a finesse jig when the pads are that thick. The jig doesn't sink into the tangle as fast.

Go with 65 pound braid and a small, compact creature bait like a pit boss with a pegged sinker.

I throw straight 50# Smackdown braid, but I've thought about adding a 20# leader.  I fish really clear water, so I think it would help...but needed motivation.  Thanks!

Just curious as to your setup because once pads form up here in Maine Ill throw a swim jig over a frog almost any day. I throw it on 65lb Power Pro without a leader. When I fish tournaments on lakes that have exceptional water clarity I have been adding a 3ft section of 20lb fluoro. Do you ever add a fluoro leader if the water is clear?

Do you let the swim jig go to the bottom or keep it on top?

I keep it in the upper portion of the water column but below the surface. They won't always come up to hit a horny toad but will come up just a hair for a swim jig.

I keep it in the upper portion of the water column but below the surface. They won't always come up to hit a horny toad but will come up just a hair for a swim jig.

How so you do that in the slop?