Does anyone have any pointers on fishing THICK cattails? I'm fishing on this small 450 acre lake in Texas with the cattails everywhere in the 6" - 4' range. During a few Januray and Feb trips, i noticed the bass were burried deep into the middle of these patches, unable to get to them. (I could hear them feeding.) On a recent trip, I believe they've moved to the outside of them. I caught a couple with a baby-brush hog along the edges and in the thinner areas but not much luck. My question is, does anyone have any experience with these thick reeds, and any suggestions on when an where the bass will be? And what to catch them on?

jigs and saladspoon/frog type soft plastics come to my mind. cattails can be very strong, definately would want some good heavy braid.

I use heavy jigs and heavy t-rigs to get down into them.  I have one location that I fish with cattails so thick, you can't work a lure down into them in most places.  I look for little pockets and work the outside of them when they are this thick.