Does the bite feel different down under the vegetation? I'm having trouble feeling the bite(or maybe I'm not getting any) I've set the hook a few times now on strange feelings.....nothing but hydrilla.

So I guess what I'm asking is how do you know when it's a fish?

And don't be afraid to include a little technique if you wanna.Every little bit helps.Thanks.

Its a bigtime LINE watching game ,also were ur line sits on the mats look for small taps and what not if using braid all this will be more so seen and felt BTW the best places to fish mats are ones that are alone

I only to to the mats when the bite is slow and easy. When this happens I pull out the best, most sensitive rod I have with 20# Fireline with a 4' 20# Florocarbon leader. This line has zero stretch so with this combination you will feel a fish sneeze at 30 paces. Yes line watching is a must but you won't normally feel a bite, the bass will simply suck in the jig and sit there. The jig will feel heavy as the ole big girl is just sitting there still with the jig in her mouth. Again, for me the fish are in a negative mood for me to go to the mats so this is what I experience. Of course slow is the order of the day in the mats for me

We all love to burn Rattle Traps, buzzbaits, or spinnerbaits, trouble is the fish I hunt like it slow way more often.

The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your bait shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that classic Tap, some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like you're hung on something. The bites where the bass moves after inhaling you bait are the easy ones to feel because there is line movement, the bites where the bass simply inhales your bait and just sits there are the hardest to feel. Feeling a worm/jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but the worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your bait shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that classic Tap, some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like you're hung on something. The bites where the bass moves after inhaling you bait are the easy ones to feel because there is line movement, the bites where the bass simply inhales your bait and just sits there are the hardest to feel. Feeling a worm/jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but the worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

Yup what he said perfect wording and makes sense

I do not know from experience but I have always been told/ heard/ read that if you are flipping with the big weight 1+ oz when you feel a bite DO NOT drop slack to set the hook.  Just keep tension and set.  The weight is so heavy in the fishes mouth that it will cause them to drop it if you give them slack before setting the hook.  Makes sense to me, I have never seen a 3" crawdad that weighs almost 2 ounces and I guarantee they haven't either.

I do not know from experience but I have always been told/ heard/ read that if you are flipping with the big weight 1+ oz when you feel a bite DO NOT drop slack to set the hook.  Just keep tension and set.  The weight is so heavy in the fishes mouth that it will cause them to drop it if you give them slack before setting the hook.  Makes sense to me, I have never seen a 3" crawdad that weighs almost 2 ounces and I guarantee they haven't either.

Ive seen a few bass carry scales for when they are getting a buffet  ;D

Yeah yeah yeah!   ;D

Feeling a worm/jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but the worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

Well put, Catt.  To those that don't get it, go fish a t-rig on a new moon, in the middle of the night, out in the country on a cold front bite and you'll get it soon.   ...lol  

I am not much of a line watcher...  sure it can be very helpful, I think mostly for those learning but once you get what Catt wrote, you don't have to sit there and line watch.    I seem to draw more than my fair share of windy days and if I relied on line watching, I'd have to avoid several techniques on most days.

I see too many people use it (line watching) as a crutch, instead of a means to learn the feel.  Take that split second and let your mind register on the feel as that line moved.  Being able to fish w/o line watching will pay off in spades whether at night, in the wind or when just talking to your buddy.  The bottom line is that you'll consistently catch more fish, IMO, when you feel it.  And if you do both, it's a win-win...  sometimes you'll see the line move and sometimes you'll feel the bites.

Exactly flechero  

I was introduce to night fishing in 1973 and we would only fish the new moon phase; these years of having limited or no visibility has heightened my awareness of what is taking place below the surface.

Many worm/jig bites are never seen or felt; what you get is heaviness or even slackness in your line; it's like a sixth sense where you're not really feeling or seeing anything but you know something isn't normal.

This is why I can't emphasis enough to rookies the need to weigh your bait and this does not mean to put your jig on scales. Explanation: if you can go to a swimming pool, pond, or creek any where void of any vegetation, a sandbar is preferred. First cast your bait about 10 to 15 yards on the ground, close your eyes a shake or hop the bait. Feel what the bait feels like in no water (I mean really learn it). Then pitch it out in the water, do the same thing over and over again. I can feel the thump of a ¼ ounce sinker/jig as it hits bottom in 15 to 18 foot of water. If you can't you need practice!

Now you are probably asking yourself what does this have to do with feeling a fish bite. Well if your bait feels any thing different that this, drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook!    

Exactly flechero

I was introduce to night fishing in 1973 and we would only fish the new moon phase; these years of having limited or no visibility has heightened my awareness of what is taking place below the surface.

Many worm/jig bites are never seen or felt; what you get is heaviness or even slackness in your line; it's like a sixth sense where you're not really feeling or seeing anything but you know something isn't normal.

This is why I can't emphasis enough to rookies the need to weigh your bait and this does not mean to put your jig on scales. Explanation: if you can go to a swimming pool, pond, or creek any where void of any vegetation, a sandbar is preferred. First cast your bait about 10 to 15 yards on the ground, close your eyes a shake or hop the bait. Feel what the bait feels like in no water (I mean really learn it). Then pitch it out in the water, do the same thing over and over again. I can feel the thump of a ¼ ounce sinker/jig as it hits bottom in 15 to 18 foot of water. If you can't you need practice!

Now you are probably asking yourself what does this have to do with feeling a fish bite. Well if your bait feels any thing different that this, drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook!

Well said Catt.

maybe mats are different elsewhere than here in fla. but line watchin plays no part in flippin topped out mats.its all by feel.you can only learn the feel by experiencing it.most bites you'll be able to know you got bit,a few you'll never knew you got bit and some you develop a sense of getting bit.if your flippin mats you have at least 1oz. of weight on the end and you always have tension on the line.

once you get thru the mat let it go to the bottom keepin tension on the line.i let it hang still for several seconds and then i shake it in place,then i pull it up to the bottom of the mat and bang it on the mat several times,then i let it sit a couple secs. pull it out move it over a few feet and repeat process.

the biggest obstacle in mat fishin is patience.it is painfully slow process and takes many flips to get bit.most that arent use to it give up before they get the hang of it.

now, theres a big difference in fishin hydrilla and flippin hydrilla mats.

garry,where are you flippin mats.if its lang your pretty much wastin your time.let me know and maybe i can help you out.is it hydrilla,hyacynths or what.

Forgive me for the ignorance, but what is a "mat" (in this context please, I can see the jokes coming)