I recently got a kayak and have been exploring some of the local spots and found a beautiful little pond that only has kayak/small boat access, so hopefully low pressure compared to the spots I usually fish. The thing is, 90% of it is full of what I think is hydrilla that comes nearly up to the surface. I brought a sample home to get a good look at it. There are a handful of deeper pockets that are fishable, and clearer water towards some of the banks, but otherwise most of the open water has this super thick grass that comes within 6-12" of the surface. I see v-lines and bluegill swimming around on the surface, but I can't seem to throw anything above the grass without it getting fouled up.

 

I plan on going back tomorrow and focusing on the deep pockets (as I think I saw some bass moving around in them, or perhaps they were carp? They've been jumping out of the water like crazy). How do you approach a body of water like this? After getting a kayak I've learned I'm not nearly as good an angler as I thought I was and have been struggling some, but I'm determined to learn this pond! FWIW, I'm in the Mid-Atlantic, water temps in the mid 60s according to my deeper. 

I'd say a frog, punch rig and a light swim jig are probably your only options. I'm not experienced enough in bodies of water completely choked in grass to come up with any other solutions. If you do have 6"-12" of space above the grass then a 1/4 oz swim jig can be magic if you can keep it from getting fouled up. 

 

Edit: Forgot to mention to swim the jig above the grass. 

Edited October 21, 20214 yr by Finessegenics

2 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I'd say a frog, punch rig and a light swim jig are probably your only options. I'm not experienced enough in bodies of water completely choked in grass to come up with any other solutions. If you do have 6"-12" of space above the grass then a 1/4 oz swim jig can be magic if you can keep it from getting fouled up. 

^^^^^ This would be a good start. If the veg. is really thick, perhaps going to a heavier jig would help it down to the bottom easier. But, yeah, toss a frog first.

Top water. But I drag a worm or even a bug through grass. The top of it. 

If you can punch a 1oz weight or something through it, usually it's clear underneath.  Tell the owners to get some grass carp to thin the weeds out some.

 

2 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

^^^^^ This would be a good start. If the veg. is really thick, perhaps going to a heavier jig would help it down to the bottom easier. But, yeah, toss a frog first.

Alright, I'll bring my frogging stick along tomorrow and see what I can make happen. I had a 1/8oz texas rigged worm today, I think I'll try it weightless too.

 

2 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

I'd say a frog, punch rig and a light swim jig are probably your only options. I'm not experienced enough in bodies of water completely choked in grass to come up with any other solutions. If you do have 6"-12" of space above the grass then a 1/4 oz swim jig can be magic if you can keep it from getting fouled up. 

 

Edit: Forgot to mention to swim the jig above the grass. 

1 minute ago, moguy1973 said:

If you can punch a 1oz weight or something through it, usually it's clear underneath.  Tell the owners to get some grass carp to thin the weeds out some.

 

How do you decide where to target when the entire pond looks the same? No idea about structure or depth beneath the grass because my fish finder is basically useless

1-small size paddle tail 2" on light jighead(1/8oz)

2-Small size paddle tail 3" or 3.5" with light weighted hook if needed.

3- underspin paddle taile

 

searching for fish like that can be like searching for a needle in a hay stack... I know that on bigger lakes, you can have a mile stretch of grass, but only 50yds of it is worth a dang, but once you find 'em, it's often lights out... You may just have to struggle through a lot of that unproductive grass to find the sweet spot. Keep at it and you'll find it.

A weightless fluke might be something fun for you to try. 

5 hours ago, ThatFishingGuy said:

Alright, I'll bring my frogging stick along tomorrow and see what I can make happen. I had a 1/8oz texas rigged worm today, I think I'll try it weightless too.

 

How do you decide where to target when the entire pond looks the same? No idea about structure or depth beneath the grass because my fish finder is basically useless

Look for any oddity's, i.e. shapes of weeds that stand out, or create a point of some sort. Also look for " holes " in between the vegetation, chuck a bait in there, I would opt for a jig with a trailer, also when  your frogging, target those areas that have holes between the weeds.

Fish methodically, don't be in a hurry.  If and when you do catch fish, make a mental note of how, and where you caught them, especially if you get a nice sized bass.

Don't be afraid to change both sizes, and colors if you don't get bit within a certain period of time. As they say, time on the water is the best teacher. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

15 hours ago, ThatFishingGuy said:

 

 

How do you decide where to target when the entire pond looks the same? No idea about structure or depth beneath the grass because my fish finder is basically useless

It's tough.  There's a larger lake near here that gets huge mats of coontail that comes 100' or more out from the bank and it all looks the same.  You have to look at the bank to see where points come out or any sort of areas where the weeds are little less thick.  When you do find the fish usually there are a couple hanging out in the same area since with all the weeds there's limited areas they can live and hang out.  Good luck!

One of my favorites for weedy conditions like that (surface veggies/loose mats) is a unweighted swim bait 4-5" I used a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG. The bait weighs enough to cast easily and I use a twitch/jiggle retrieve with the rod at about 2:00 o'clock. Vary your retrieve speeds till the bass tell you what they want.  I like to retrieve it so it burbles/bubbles making noise across the surface.  You can hear it!  If I come across open spots, I'll kill it and let it die/sink then give it a twitch or two. 

Good luck,

Fishingmickey

If you're going to try and fish deep your only choice is either finding holes to let your bait fall in to, or punching through the weeds.  For fishing above the weeds I would use a weightless fluke, senko, or trick worm. A shallow running crankbait like a 1 minus will work if you can keep the treble hooks clear of the vegetation.

Frog, weightless worms, a Johnson Silver Minnow.

19 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Frog, weightless worms

I failed to mention earlier when I drag my worm around in the grass I go weightless straight 15-20lb braid. Much easier to cut through grass when hung up. I also bury the tip in the worm “weedless” and check it every few casts to be sure it stays. 
 

Frogs I go 65lb braid cause when they pull it down they really get in there.