I get a lot of questions about fishing grass beds especially what is my favorite type Hydrilla, Milfoil, or Coontail and next how to fish it.

My favorite grass fishing technique is not what type of grass but rather what part of the grass I target which is the outside grass line. My description of an outside grass line is the grass that is submerged (electronics required) from the actual wall of matted grass out to where the grass stops growing. The submerged grass will grow out to about 12 to 16 ft.; any deeper and the grass stops or is very thin. A few places in very clear water Hydrilla might grow out to as deep as 18 ft.

The bass can be located anywhere from in the matted grass out to where the grass stops growing. If it's an isolated grass clump I'll start casting before I reach it and continue until the matted grass is reached. If it's a grass flat or grass bed of any size I target points in the grass itself, drains, and any irregularities in the shape of the bed or bottom contour.

Seasons

Depending on water temperature and clarity the outside grass line will change with the seasons but will remain productive year round

Water Conditions

Water temperature: 45 - 85 degrees; during winter this submerged grass maybe the only grass left.

Water clarity: 2' of visibility or more

Wind/current: Strong enough to create alleys and funnels through the grass.

Structure

Flats, underwater humps, underwater river/creek ridges, main lake/major creek/secondary points and where a creek runs close to a bank

Depth: Bank shallow out to 20'

Tackle

The wonderful thing about fishing outside grass lines is any lure technique will work allowing the angler to both fish to their strengths and gain confidence is new techniques.

A little lagniappe (Cajun for something extra)

Inside grass line

My description of an inside grass line is the open water between dry land out to where the grass starts to grow. Another inside grass line is the bare/bald spots located within a grass bed or grass flat.

Good stuff, CATT. Some of my most productive fishing is done on those inside grass lines early in the morning, right before day break. It's mostly Milfoil for me, but the bass seem to love to hang out under the stuff, and come out into the openings to grab what I'm offering (usually a Rage Shad or Toad)