Looking for technique suggestions based on the following.

 

Lot of lakes I just fish the bank and I’m fine with that but the closest lake to me is very clear right now, typically the waters around me (in West Tennessee) are so dirty you can’t see your bait more than a foot. We fished it Sunday afternoon in 15-20mph winds and heavy cloud cover, ended up catching 7-10 small bass on a swimbait with an under spin, nothing over 12” long, all less than 8-10 ft of water. My question is the grass in this lake, ITS SO THICK. Like the entire bank line all the way around has this thick coontail looking grass. Right now the grass extends to the 8ft mark typically. So worm fishing the bank is out of question. What else can I do with the grass? I know I can swim a spinner bait, bladed jig, or a swim bait over it but if they won’t chase baits what are my options? I tried to fish the grass line a little Sunday but I struggled staying on it in the wind (no spot lock or talons).
 

Other information on the lake is it has a lot of standing timber, so much a no wake rule is in place. Lots and lots of cut off stumps shallow. Lot of deep water also I the 20-30ft range. Not sure what do there either lol.

I fish a lake with pretty clear water and lots of grass pretty often and usually do well on a wacky rig if they won't chase something ticked above the grass or I can flip plastics into holes in the grass. You also have the option to fish the deep edge of the weed line.

Weighted Trig and go in after them.

4 hours ago, Michigander said:

Weighted Trig and go in after them.

I have tried a texas rig and it just gets clumped up with grass since it’s so thick.

7 minutes ago, StephenM said:

I have tried a texas rig and it just gets clumped up with grass since it’s so thick.

Got to get heavy to punch through it. You're still going to have to clean grass almost every flip, just part of the game, but it's a good way to get bit especially from bigger than average fish. Braid and a heavy rod is a must.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Got to get heavy to punch through it. You're still going to have to clean grass almost every flip, just part of the game, but it's a good way to get bit especially from bigger than average fish. Braid and a heavy rod is a must.

Punching sounds fun, something new to try, so probably a 3/4oz or 1oz weight with a big creature bait? I guess I would try certain depths first to try and figure out here they holding either closer to weed edge or shallower?

Depends on the thickness of the grass you're punching. We get mostly water willow and some kind of stringy junk that mats on the surface here and a 1/2oz gets the job done just fine for 95% of it. Heavy milfoil or hydrilla you might have to go up to 1.5-2 ounces to get through. Bait selection kind of goes against what you might think as it's usually a smaller, compact creature bait like a beaver or craw with small claws because they get through the weeds easier without hanging up. Like I said, braid and heavy rod. I like a straight shank flipping hook and peg the weight to keep it close to the bait.

 

The best locations are spots that would hold fish if the grass wasn't there. The lake that I fish, I do best on the grass along creek channels right where it dumps in on the edges of flats, the edges of points, brush or rock piles mixed in the grass, and another to add that's completely dependent on the weeds is places where 2 types of grass come together. You'll have days where they're just all over, but usually you're going to find the most aggressive fish sitting on the edges.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Depends on the thickness of the grass you're punching. We get mostly water willow and some kind of stringy junk that mats on the surface here and a 1/2oz gets the job done just fine for 95% of it. Heavy milfoil or hydrilla you might have to go up to 1.5-2 ounces to get through. Bait selection kind of goes against what you might think as it's usually a smaller, compact creature bait like a beaver or craw with small claws because they get through the weeds easier without hanging up. Like I said, braid and heavy rod. I like a straight shank flipping hook and peg the weight to keep it close to the bait.

 

The best locations are spots that would hold fish if the grass wasn't there. The lake that I fish, I do best on the grass along creek channels right where it dumps in on the edges of flats, the edges of points, brush or rock piles mixed in the grass, and another to add that's completely dependent on the weeds is places where 2 types of grass come together. You'll have days where they're just all over, but usually you're going to find the most aggressive fish sitting on the edges.

Excellent post. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

Sounds like some of the ponds that I fish. I use a small finesse jig or a 4” worm. Something that won’t get snagged easy and you can rip it loose without too much problem. 

@Bluebasser86 Exactly what I was going to post!

 

I fish a shallow marsh from the bank, it's pretty much what y'all have described but a marsh. 

 

I carry one rod that I flip, pitch, & punch as I walk.

4 hours ago, StephenM said:

I have tried a texas rig and it just gets clumped up with grass since it’s so thick.

If that's the only problem then you can try a 4" senko and a 2/0 or 3/0 hook and see if that picks up less grass. Alternatively, you can try to upsize your weight. If the grass isn't so thick you can't get your bait through, try a 3/8oz or 1/2oz punching weight to help it fall a little faster through the grass. It's not a full on heavy punching setup where people may use 1-2oz of weight, but it'll keep your bait moving and shake some of the grass. There's some lakes with thick grass like this but not so thick I can't hit the bottom, and a 3/8oz weight works well.

 

You're still going to have to pick grass off it no matter what you do

3/8's oz swim jig with a paddletail trailer, rip it through the grass....My favorite when a frog won't work. 

5 hours ago, StephenM said:

Punching sounds fun, something new to try, so probably a 3/4oz or 1oz weight with a big creature bait? I guess I would try certain depths first to try and figure out here they holding either closer to weed edge or shallower?

The key on punching baits for this situation is getting as much motion as you can while managing the little appendages that can get caught up in the grass. Under cleaner situations my preferred creature bait is a SK Rage Bug, but for punching heavy grass I like the SK Rodent. It has a similar design and action but not the smaller appendages, and is designed for punching heavy grass or other cover.

Don't be afraid of a jig! ?

 

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

Don't be afraid of a jig! ?

Literally never use jigs but I have been wanting to use them. Fishing the bottom of the grass with a jig? what weight jig we talking about? I assumed that grass was too thick for fish but the fish we caught last weekend were really dark like almost black on top so I guess they are in it.

 

I have a swim jig I can run over the grass or right in the tops of it. Just reel it in or pop it or anything special presentation wise?

16 hours ago, StephenM said:

Fishing the bottom of the grass with a jig?

 

Yes sir! 

 

16 hours ago, StephenM said:

what weight jig we talking about?

 

Just like the Texas Rig you want enough weight to penetrate the grass efficiently.

 

3 though processes for fishing grass.

 

Don't fish the grass, fish the structure under it.

 

I can't do that Catt I'm bank fishing.

 

Pay attention to "sparse" areas regardless of how small. It's telling you there's something down there. Deeper water, bottom composition changes, a laydown. Visit the areas in the dead of winter when the vegetation has died back.

 

Accept the fact ya gonna pick grass off your lure...period!

 

Accept the fact you will hangup & lose lures, get over it, or stop fishing grass.

 

Accept the fact you may get your arm broke!

 

 

When bank fishing (I've done a bunch), I focused mainly on a T-rigged worm 

and jig-&-trailer for bottom work. For working the surface zone,

I have a strong affection for Johnson spoons (Grub trailer being optional).

 

Roger

I’m not bank fishing, I’m in my boat.