This time of year the grass starts to get a bit wild in my waters. I'm always appreciative that they don't spray all of it, leaving habitat for the fish themselves. However, as I start to begin my late summer downsizing, small inline spinners are often my go-to. Aside from fouling the blade, and obviously causing the lure to have impaired action, I've often wondered if the snags of grass that the hooks might grab would cause a fish to pass on my lure, or if they don't seem to care? I can't say I remember ever catching a fish while my hooks are fouled, but then again I've never found a fish willing to have a sit-down with me and tell me his honest opinion on it.

 

What are your thoughts? Without impairing the lure's action, will hooks with junk on them cause fish to not strike your lure?

I don’t think I’ve ever caught a bass while I had weeds or grass on my hook. 

I have never caught a bass when hooks grab that "snot grass" even when the action isn't impaired. I have managed to catch them on Texas rigged worms that had some grass on the weight but I don't know if the grass was on the weight before the fish bit or if it ended up on there while fighting the fish.

I fish so much slop, there must be times a bass bit when there was junk on my bait.

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

I fish so much slop, there must be times a bass bit when there was junk on my bait.

Agree with this.  But bass don't eat salad, so I bet there can't be much on the bait to get a strike.

was taught to always keep the worm, hook and weight clean when t rig fishing ... when frog fishing, which is not near as much as worm fishing, always try to keep it clean ... for all others, too ...

 

does it matter ... i think so ...

 

good fishing ...  

I have caught and had hits on baits with weeds on them though I still think overall it does deter fish most times. Last week in Maine I had a smallie slap at my 90 while I was reeling it back with a 16" strand of grass trailing off the rear hook.

One of my favorite ways to catch bass it to snap a single bladed spinnerbait free from a clump of coon tail. I reel up to the clump then snap the bait thru it. Often times a bass will inhale the bait as it comes free, grass and all. However, on a slower, more methodical presentation I ascribe to the belief that cleanliness is next to godliness.....

I dont recall ever catching bass  with the bait fouled up .  

7 hours ago, scaleface said:

I dont recall ever catching bass  with the bait fouled up .  

 

I don't either, but that may be because I clean off my bait religiously.  I think it would be rare that grass hanging off the lure would not affect the action, though that might not be a bad thing in some instances.  ?