This is probably not the best time of the year (its March with ice still on the lakes here) to talk about those hot, sunny summer days. You know the time when all of the boaters, skiers, jet skiers, and swimmers hit the lake, a.k.a. the bad time for fisherman. It is the time of year when a lot of fisherman, head for the really big water in hopes of having a little space to fish, start night fishing in earnest, or maybe just give up, as it doesn't seem worth trying to fish as your boat seems to be the target of every speed boater or jet skier on the lake. Wouldn't it great if there was any other alternative?
Good news, there is an alternative - Get weed whacking!! You are probably familiar with lakes in your area that are considered weed choked, or maybe a section of your lake that nobody fishes, skies, or races boats in because it is to weedy. This area can be a great source of opportunity for the fisherman who is prepared. The first thing to realize is that fish don't care for all of the noise, speedboats and skiers either. They will either go deep or will be found in areas where these disturbances are not found - heavy weeded areas.
First of all, not all weedy areas are created equal. Weeds that are close to deeper water, currents, or have wind blowing into them will be the best weeds you can find. If you can find these situations with some rocks and/or wood (fallen trees) so much the better. Then depending on the type of weeds and their density, you can pick the right equipment to do the job. Having the right equipment is important in all aspects of fishing, but is probably more important in this type of fishing than in any other. The second thing that you should always remember, short casts are the order of the day. Long casts will result in more lure fouling and less time fishing. The last piece of mandatory equipment is a pair of polarized sunglasses. You absolutely need to see the weeds and weed clumps you are fishing.
The first piece of equipment that you are going to want is a good stout bait casting rod and reel, loaded with high pound test line. If you are going to fish weeds, you have to have a rig that has sufficient muscle to get them out. I prefer the new super lines for this type of fishing. With heavy cover you don't need to worry about the fish seeing the line or terminal tackle. Most strikes will be reactionary as the strike window in the weeds is small.
If you are fishing heavy lilly pads, then I like to fish with baits such as a moss boss or the weed walker. These baits are used in bass fishing, but I have caught several large muskies (some small ones and pike too) on them. Picking up a pike or bass, I consider a bonus. My favorite lure in this situation is the moss boss, it literally fishes right across the top of the cover emulating a frog leaping from pad to pad. The fish literally explode on these baits and it is always a surprise to the fisherman. The key is that you don't want to jerk on the splash. Wait to you feel the fish, then set the hook. It is real easy to say, but hard to do. You can do it with practice, so don't give up. Also, expect the fish to miss the bait, this type of fishing isn't a high hook-up situation. To help with the hook-ups, I always fish the moss boss with a stinger hook.
If you are fishing reeds/bullrushes, then one of the best choices is a top water buzzer bait with a single hook. Again, baits of this type were initially designed for bass, but can be adopted for musky and pike. You literally throw down channels in the weeds. If the wind is blowing, you'll want to make sure that you are fishing either directly into it or with it. Reeds bend in the wind and virtually eliminate casting channels if you are attempting to fish into them perpendicular to the direction of the wind. This will result in getting hung up, and getting your bait back takes time and screws up a potentially good spot.
Another type of weeds that are excellent is cabbage/coontail. I prefer a good weedbed of cabbage weeds by choice, but often you will find coontail mixed in. The density and the depth of these weeds will dicate the baits that are used. If the weeds are not to the top of the water, you can use any surface bait, or I like to use a suick just jerking it enough to brush the tops of the weeds. If the weeds are heavy and breaking the surface, then you are looking at the moss boss or weed walker again, as these baits will not get hung up.
The last situation is worth talking about is patchy weeds i.e. weeds with pockets in them. This can be a great bite with virtually any style of bait that you can throw accurately and get back clean. If you start fishing a lure and are getting fouled hooks often, look for a different bait.
If you have ever fished real weedy areas, you may run into situations that have all the situations that I described within a given area. I like to have multiple rods and reels rigged with various lures so as I get into different types of weeds, it is just a matter of picking up an alternate rod.
Regardless of the kind of fishing you do, have fun and put them back.
Click the mailbox to e-mail. Last updated on ... March 9, 2004