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During the summer months, deep weedlines on natural lakes
often act as a cafeteria chow line for largemouth bass. With the right adjacent
bottom composition, smallmouth bass frequently forage a weedline as well. But to
be consistently successful on these lakes, you must understand what to look for
along the deep weed edge and how to choose the right lure presentation to fish
the area effectively.
Search For Something Different
All weedlines are not equal. Straight-line weed edges are generally the least
productive areas on the lake.
“Anglers must look for something different — points, inside turns, cuts, alleys
and
finger-like projections, Irregular weedlines indicate changes in depth or changes
in bottom composition, which both attract bass. Irregular weedlines also give
predator bass an upper hand in ambushing baitfish.”
While it may be possible to encounter average-sized largemouth almost anywhere
along deep weeds, the biggest bass most often relate to an interface of rocks
and weeds.
“If I had only one piece of advice to give anglers for deep weed-edge fishing,
it would be to find the rock and weed intersections.
Sometimes the water is clear enough to see rock outcropping along weedlines.
Often you observe a void in the weed growth, indicating something is preventing
vegetation from taking root, such as a rock-rubble bottom. In other instances,
you can locate the key hard bottom just off the weedline with sonar.
Pay Attention To Wind Direction
Bass anglers have long been advised to fish the windward side of a reservoir
because churned water tends to activate baitfish into feeding and at the same
time disorient them slightly. This provides bass with an advantage. the same
advice applies to natural lakes, but with a twist.
“You’ve got to consider that the wind-driven-bass/prey interaction is likely
taking place on a deep weed edge some distance off the shoreline, “The weedline
acts as a shoreline or breakline. This is where the underwater turmoil is taking
place. I always look for a windward weed edge or the windward side of a big
weedy point. However, if the wind is so strong that you cannot maintain boat
control, then it’s time to look elsewhere for bass.”
Check The Sun Angle
When the sun is bright and the wind is not blowing, shade is very important.
Bass love to position themselves in the shadows to ambush prey. The broken
patterns resulting from sunlight filtering through vegetation provide perfect
camouflage for largemouth bass.
“When the sun is high overhead, weedline shade is minimal. “Bass will retreat
into the weedbed or move out to deeper water. However, low sun angle creates the
best shadows on edges, thereby drawing bass to the shady side of a weedy point
or cut.”
reminds anglers that shade location changes from morning to afternoon. If you
caught fish on the shady side of a point in the morning, it is likely bass will
reposition on the other side in the afternoon.
“However, it was a very light breeze, not enough to excite baitfish or
bass. “I had noticed them fishing on one side of the small lake all afternoon.
Given the direction of their drift, they were casting to the shady side of
weed-finger projections. When they turned into the wind to rework an area, they
were casting to the sunny side. It was shade, not the direction of the breeze,
that was a key to their success.”
Go Deep In The Morning
Anglers on natural lakes typically head to shallow water or to the inside
weedline first thing in the morning, believing bass will be shallow.
“It’s the fashionable thing to do. “Fish shallow early and then go to the deep
outside weedline when the sun is high. That is a mistake. The bigger bass will
be feeding on the deep weed edge in the morning. Don’t wait until later in the
day to get out there. The same thing applies as evening approaches. Go to prime
spots on the deep weed edge.”
Fish More Than Just The Edge
Many anglers follow a weedline with dogged determination. They think perfection
is landing every cast on the weed edge. While it is possible to catch bass doing
this, you may not be maximizing the potential of the area.
“Bass do not always cruise the weedline or hide among the fringe stalks,
“Depending on weed density, prey species, bottom composition, bottom slope and
of course the weather, bass may retreat farther back into the weed canopy or
move off the weedline toward deeper water. In particular, the better smallmouth
sites may be only a long cast off the weedline to a hard-bottom rise. Do not
overlook presentations that address these areas.”
Cast A Jigworm
When bass are inactive, presentation for the weedline is a 1⁄4-ounce Slider
Spider Classic Head with a 4-inch worm.
“Charlie Brewer’s Spider Classic Head features a larger size and heavier-gauge
hook than the standard Spider Head, “The offset hook allows for weedless
rigging, and the cone-shaped head slips through vegetation stalks. I prefer to
rig it with a Zoom Centipede in a translucent color like watermelon or ice, but
you can use any 4-inch worm. I fish it on spinning tackle with 8-pound test and
catch bass of all sizes.”
casts parallel to the weedline and lets it sink to the bottom. Then he uses the
rod tip to lift the bait and pull it 2 to 3 feet before letting it settle back
to the bottom. During a 5-second pause, he takes up slack line before pulling
the lure again.
Crank The Edge
A deep-diving crankbait is a secret weapon when fishing weedlines.
“It’s a lure that many anglers avoid using around weedbeds on natural lakes, but
it sure triggers the bites, especially big bass “When bass are actively feeding,
this is the lure I want to be throwing.”
choose big-bodied deep divers that can easily reach bottom at the depth where
weeds stop growing. Rather than use a moderate-action cranking rod, he opts for
a stiff medium-heavy rod with a fast action in order to rip the bait free of
vegetation. His line is 12-pound fluorocarbon.
“I can cover a lot of territory with a crankbait, “To crank the edge correctly,
you cannot be afraid of getting treble hooks hung up on weeds. Ripping them
loose can trigger a strike.”
Normally will parallel-cast extremely tight to the weeds, target open
alleys in the weedbeds, work the crankbait through sparse weed clumps and then
turn 180 degrees to shoot a cast toward open water.
“I’m burning the bait, turning the handle as fast as possible,” he explains.
“This isn’t a finesse presentation for me. I’m strictly looking for the reaction
bite.”
cranking is a big-bass technique on natural lakes.
“I’ll put my limit of crankbait bass against a limit taken by flipping any day
and come away the winner.
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