I'm fishing in our pond with a ton of fallen branches and several large downed trees. Great for the fish but not so great for my pocketbook. Hard to not get hung up often and have to cut line. I know this is likely due to my general inexperience and low casting skills, but I have a 15 year old angler who gets tied up, also, but not as often as me. Is this just part of fishing? I don't want to fish top water constantly. Any suggestions?

Welcome to the forum, It would help to know what type of gear, baits you are using, do you fish out of a boat, from shore? Generally speaking, with the structure you describe, I would try shorter casts so I was pulling the bait up from the structure and not horizontally thru it. Less chance to get hung up. Also I would use weedless baits, like a T-rigged plastic.

Hello Cheri and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Fishing weedless presentations is probably going to be your best bet.  You'll still get hung up but it should be quite a bit less than any open hook deals.

 And when you do - here's some info on how to free your baits 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/lure-unstuck.html

 

A-Jay

Jigs, Texas rigs, weedless swimbaits. 

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Hello Cheri and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Fishing weedless presentations is probably going to be your best bet.  You'll still get hung up but it should be quite a bit less than any open hook deals.

 And when you do - here's some info on how to free your baits 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/lure-unstuck.html

 

A-Jay

Yep. T-rigs/jigs are definitely the best choice in that situation.

Thanks guys.

 

We fish from bank sometimes but not too many clearings for casting. Got a john boat recently and can use it if my son or nephew aren't there. Have kayaks for tomorrow morning.

 

Today, fished a whopper plopper. I liked it and didn't get stuck. Drew action even though it was hot as hades. Caught 2 between 4:30-5:30pm.

 

I see what you mean about the Texas Rig with the closed hook. I had gotten lazy and was mainly using the wacky thing because the bass hit on it, but the open hook snags on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. We set up a second pole with a swim jig (brush guard) and trailer for tomorrow morning.

48 minutes ago, Cheri said:

Thanks guys.

 

We fish from bank sometimes but not too many clearings for casting. Got a john boat recently and can use it if my son or nephew aren't there. Have kayaks for tomorrow morning.

 

Today, fished a whopper plopper. I liked it and didn't get stuck. Drew action even though it was hot as hades. Caught 2 between 4:30-5:30pm.

 

I see what you mean about the Texas Rig with the closed hook. I had gotten lazy and was mainly using the wacky thing because the bass hit on it, but the open hook snags on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. We set up a second pole with a swim jig (brush guard) and trailer for tomorrow morning.

You can still fish a wacky worm if you can find some wacky hooks with weedguards. You won’t get snagged nearly as much. I like VMC & Gamakatsu brands. Swimjigs are excellent choices in heavy cover. Good luck. 

Texas rigged rage craw just barely skin hook it to make it weed less.

1 hour ago, Cheri said:

Thanks guys.

 

We fish from bank sometimes but not too many clearings for casting. Got a john boat recently and can use it if my son or nephew aren't there. Have kayaks for tomorrow morning.

 

Today, fished a whopper plopper. I liked it and didn't get stuck. Drew action even though it was hot as hades. Caught 2 between 4:30-5:30pm.

 

I see what you mean about the Texas Rig with the closed hook. I had gotten lazy and was mainly using the wacky thing because the bass hit on it, but the open hook snags on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. We set up a second pole with a swim jig (brush guard) and trailer for tomorrow morning.

My favorite hook for Wacky Rigging is the Gammy Octopus Circle Hook in 1/0.

 

In 2 years of using this hook, I can only recall losing 1 fish on it. It's a reel set. But the point I really wanted to touch on is, it isn't a weedless hook, but it's a weedless hook. The hook point pointing inwards tends to let it roll right over snaggy cover. I'll even use it in grass and I seldom pull up grass with it.

 

Just now, Glaucus said:

My favorite hook for Wacky Rigging is the Gammy Octopus Circle Hook in 1/0.

 

In 2 years of using this hook, I can only recall losing 1 fish on it. It's a reel set. But the point I really wanted to touch on is, it isn't a weedless hook, but it's a weedless hook. The hook point pointing inwards tends to let it roll right over snaggy cover. I'll even use it in grass and I seldom pull up grass with it.

 

I agree very weedles way to rig a wacky worm.

Texas Rig.  You can use an insane amount of baits rigged this way.  Killed em' today using worms, lizards, and baby brush hogs fishing  around heavy cover for hours.

 

Only got hung up once.  I've found with jigs I seem to get hung up quite a bit more often.