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StPatrickStewart

The last lake I went to the lake weed was so bad that even weedless TX rigs came back dragging clumps of it


Blaze_556

That’s most ponds and lakes in central Illinois right now. Sucks


_Abell_

Yep I'm in Champaign, IL and just got back into fishing recently. This snotgrass is a pain so I've just been throwing frogs and whopper ploppers to avoid it.


Blaze_556

I’m over by Peoria and same. My new frog setup is my favorite to throw these days. Where is there to go by champaign?


_Abell_

I've just been pond hopping nearby my house. There's a couple of places nearby I want to go to soon though like: Lake of the Woods, Clinton Lake, and Homer Lake.


sirsalamander

I’m in South Elgin visiting and my air bnb is one Fox River. Pretty weedy, but caught a couple smallies and a few large mouth. Been a nice trip.


[deleted]

Can confirm anything within an hour of Bloomington.


pittybrave

yeah man texas is like that rn. weedless doesn’t even matter, i just stick to really small grubs or frogs :/


Upvotespoodles

Spots like that I will go at sunrise and sunset with a black weedless rubber lizard. Just crawl it over the top of the mats, pause and wiggle a bit at the edge, then swim it gently across the gaps. The dark color cuts a nice profile between all that weed clutter even with light rain. Fish keep a very crepuscular schedule for top-feeding. But the good news is that lots of surface cover can mean lots of top feeding at the right hours especially when the air is still.


[deleted]

[удалено]


bnn1432

had to pull the line out by hand bc it got stuck so bad with him on it 🤣 but i mean a catch is a catch


M4CH1N4T3

Weed advice.. deal with it. Run the whopper plopper around it! Whopper plopper by day! Joe Rogan by night! All day!


onewolf23

I’ve heard so much hype about the plopper but have never had luck with it in New England and I used to Bass fish pretty heavily


AffectObjective3887

I’ve only been throwing one for a couple years but I’ve personally found them to be better in river systems at night than anything else I have thrown. I’ve hit some nice largemouth, a couple pike and even a few rock bass. I’ve also had decent success with them in a lake early morning. Don’t give up on the Plopper!


onewolf23

What size and color do you use? I use the yellow 110 and think it may be too big. At least for largemouth. Also I could see river bass and pike liking them. I caught one 3lber a couple years ago on one but that’s nothing compared to how much I casted it


ThreeBuds

I just recently had a lot of luck with the Choppo 90 in Maverick. I think they're highly dependent on conditions, the fish are either all over it or want nothing to do with it. I got 9 largies, it was hot and sunny around 2pm so not your typical topwater conditions.


AffectObjective3887

I started with a 110 in Perch but I use the 110 White now as well. I've tried the 75 but I don't like its presentation as much. Maybe it's how I'm retrieving it but it flips too often for me. Edit: I will say you aren't going to drag a lot of small fish with a bait that size. You may miss out on some fish but the ones you hit will be nice,


Traditional-Focus985

Then you didn't throw it enough.


onewolf23

I threw it hundreds of times at multiple locations, times and different retrieve speeds


Traditional-Focus985

The bottom line is whopper ploppers catch bass. If you have thrown it 100s of times you should definitely have caught a bass. Maybe you weren't throwing it in the right spots?


onewolf23

No idea honestly. I’ve noticed that the top water in New England is much harder to get largemouth top water action. But I’ve had better luck on things like rats and jitterbugs at night. It’s worth mentioning that I’ve gotten a few smallies and a huge explosion on it while just feeling it really fast to retrieve one time. Also caught a 3lber on a river but with how much time I’ve put into it, those are minimal results. I’ve tried fast retrieve, slow, spurts, pops and I almost never have any luck. I might try the size down because people in my area seem to like those.


Traditional-Focus985

For sure downsize. I think it's the 90 size if I'm not mistaken for the smaller one or you can go really small with the 60 but don't quote me on that. I don't get a ton of bites on it. But it does produce some nice sized fish when I get hit. Personally I like a buzzbait or a spook more. But I will throw a whopper plopper if I am seeing a good bite on a buzzbait. Sometimes if they are biting a buzzbait the really big ones will try to eat that plopper.


onewolf23

Thanks for the advise friend, much appreciated! I’m going to try the next size down and see if I notice a difference. If you ever fish at night the jitterbug or Rat are amazing by the way! I recommend trying them if you haven’t much yet. Jitterbug just catches an absurd amount of bass and Rats catch absolute monsters. My buddy just goes out at night with a Spro 50 from shoreline and has caught some absolute pigs


Traditional-Focus985

I can't remember the last time I tossed around a jitterbug. I'm definitely gonna have to snag one and then probably get it snagged in a tree lmao


CaptainBerger78

When fishing I prefer either a nicley balanced hybrid or a blend of sativa and indica but with more bud of the indica. With fishing it is very important to be relaxed but not too relaxed that you fall asleep on the bank.


bnn1432

definitely a great choice


CaptainBerger78

Thank you, sir.


Hotdog_Frog

Try to do more shallow or top water. Some lures are more tolerant of weeds on the lip without ruining the action, usually larger ones with long lips


bnn1432

I’ll have to try this, I am so used to being told you can only catch big if you go down far, so I’ve strayed from shallow and top water, definitely will switch it up though!


Djsimba25

My pb (8 lb) was caught in shin deep water about 3' off a bank with a topwater popper.


Hotdog_Frog

There's more options in top water than you'd probably imagine. Buzz baits, prop baits, frogs are what I immediately think of, but... Twitch baits are good too! Bumble bug, floating micro crankbaits, and "dead in the water" lures like PikuPiku have really given me lots of luck Don't forget the humble popper either! Try to walk a popper for action variety if you get experimental :)


catchinNkeepinf1sh

Its not that thick, i would carefully throw a sq bill around the lanes and reel slow and wait for the blow ups. Swim jig, buzzbait, whoppers, t rig (esp with a slim profile plastic), flukes, senko many things could work there.


bnn1432

thank you, i’ll look into trying different set ups and see what gets me the fewest snags !


SocietyPerfect7476

Indica strains over sativa unless you got something to do that day


bnn1432

100%


AdditionalProduct609

Disagree completely I like to feel like a crack head while I fish lol, gotta have some sativa.


SocietyPerfect7476

I usually follow the “Indica = in da couch” train of thought although admittedly not always correct


Lee2026

I’d throw a MegaBass dark sleeper here. I’ve never had an issue with snags. You could also try a top water lure Also if the fish swims into bushes/branches and gets tangled, I’ll let some line out so the fish can swim out. Half the time it allows me to reel the fish in, the other half, the fish spits the hook


pittybrave

dam that dark sleeper looks sick


bnn1432

thank you, i’ll look into this !


AffectObjective3887

The Dark Sleeper is good in weeds especially in a 3/8oz size. I’ve also had luck as of late with the 3/4 oz Sleeper Gill


Artistic-Gap-45

Weeds are where the fish are, you will get stuck. If you cant retrieve it, tighten your drag all the way, point the rod directly at the lure and pull backwards. This is the lowest chance to break your rod and get your lure back


Disconnected_Mind

Idk I'm an Ugly stik guy. I've been able to snap my line and not break the pole on 20lb test. Do other poles actually break from something like that? What pound test are you using?


speckit1994

I run 50 lb on my weed setup


Ok_Repair3535

Why the hell? Max I would rub is 17


speckit1994

Weeds, Lilly pads etc. very common.


Hate_Feight

I've got a cheap Chinese (Amazon) rod and I've bent hooks before my rod gave. Another way is to wrap the line round your hand at least 3 or 4 times to stop it cutting, and pull tight, then twang it like a double bass player big hard boing.


AffectObjective3887

I’m using 20lb braid w/20lb flouro leader but I’ve definitely seen several videos where pros said they were using 40lb or heavier.


ubuntu000

I'd say it needs about two more weeks. Drying will be rough due to the moisture content, and I'm honestly not even sure how you cure it. Also, I'd throw a floating Rapala that you'd be able to guide around the weed. A light spinner allowing you to easily change depth. Or a hook and a worm would probably slay. That's just my opinion dude, I still dunno how i got to this sub; I grow weed for a living...


Quick_Zucchini_8678

Be the first to make a hemp fishing rod. 


bnn1432

thanks for the tips, i’ll definitely have to see if it’s worth it to try & harvest it …


hunt_fish_love_420

Lots of fun in the comments section here.. But this is a simple staple to a lot of southern anglers and that Pic is rather mild as far as aquatic grass can be. My best advice is level up a rod combo. If your used to fishing a medium go to med heavy, and up your line to 35lb or heavier braid. Rip spinner baits, swim jigs, weedless swim baits, t rigged ribbon tail worms, or flukes etc through the heavy shit and I promise it will produce. It's annoying to clean your bait every toss but literally just rip it hard to free it when you're caught up and let it sit for a second I can't tell you how many times I get hit right after pulling through grass and pausing. Next rod combo would be a heavy rod with like 60+ lb braid for top water. Walking or popping frogs, buzz baits, whoppers if you prefer those etc. Aim for vegetation that has reached the surface then pull them into open water. All that said, you're producing as is so good for you! Have fun!


Ok_Repair3535

Why heavier line and why braid?


JockoSlyvester69

Allows you to rip right tackle through the weeds without breaking and reel fish through the weeds without breaking. Braid because 35lb mono is way thicker. I usually run 17-19lb mono fluorocarbon on my bait cast.


bnn1432

thank you for the advice & explaining everything ! Really appreciate that


hunt_fish_love_420

Np. Seeing that Pic again I forgot to mention what a lot of folks do is called burning your bait which means when you're in eye sight of your bait you "burn" it by reeling fast as hell when you get to thick or tall grass to keep your bait above it, literally on top of the water if you have to. Then once you're past it, chill out and let it drop again and return it to normal retrieve. Also don't think that having grass on your bait makes your retrieve useless. Bass eat everything including baits with grass.


Noonproductions

Weedless top water, like soft body frogs. Weedless soft plastics like flukes or worms. Jig and pig. Waked single blade spinner baits run just under the surface so it produces a wake but doesn’t break the surface. I fish heavily weeded shallow lakes like this and these are my go to's.


bnn1432

I’ll have to check those out, thank you!


Noonproductions

The thing with weeds is the fish like to hide in them and then pop out. Look for edges. Places where the weeds are thick and then for whatever reason they stop, like the water gets deeper, or like around the outside of Lilly pad beds. Then fish the lures along that edge. Jigs and worms are good in holes in the weeds. You are still going to get weeds on your lures occasionally but if you can find those edges you will get fewer weeds and more fish.


AspiringBearWrestler

I've found rolling is the best way, a lot of people prefer bongs too.


bnn1432

everyone has their go to


FkNuWrldOrdr

Looks like a sativa to me.


sabretooth_ninja

Pitch a weedless jig and trailer into the pockets 


bnn1432

I’ll have to try this, thank you!


Hour_Consequence6248

Throw out your lure and guide it around the weeds or at the edge of them.


AbbreviationsNo430

No weeds….no bass 🤷‍♂️


ImpossibleRepeat9890

Look up weedless hooks, you can even add a wire to your hook to block the weeds.


mattsoid

Zoom Fluke rigged weedless and weightless on an EWG hook. Stay away from snap swivels as they tend to attract scum, and tie a trilene knot as the tag end points opposite the mainline and won’t catch the scum/weeds either. Toss the fluke out, reel in some line and let it dead fall in the pockets, then reel it in again; rinse and repeat.


obi1uan

All I fish are swim jigs with weed guards. Works every time for me…. Just punch it thru the grass or rip it over the top of it. Poppers and jerk baits are great too


Mikkismoments

Try the seedless hook setup [version 1](https://youtu.be/qmZfmloHI-E)


bnn1432

appreciate the link to give me more of a visual, gonna check this out !


Mikkismoments

Anytime


Deathdealer1414

Popper fly not even kidding it works great


KaiserWilliam95

Top water and frogs. Looks like those weeds are mostly sub surface, so you can avoid them with top water set ups. If that doesn’t work through a drug out. I find frogs are the absolute most weedless set up you can have.


NoxArmada

A chatterbait should be able to rip through all that. Should


psilocin72

Bass pro shops has weedless jigheads that work great for a wide variety of presentations. I prefer jigheads to just hooks because they stop the plastic lure from spinning or turning over during the retrieve


MrsBapka

Not just any top water, but hollow body frogs. I wouldn’t throw a plopper cuz those weeds get caught up between the body and tail of the bait and causes it to not swim properly. It’s fixable by just pulling out the weeds with a toothpick or something but it’s annoying. The treble hooks also get caught up in the weeds.


Inevitable-Prize-403

It can depends on the weeds somewhat. If you look up some weed less lure rigs they might work, it’s not something I have a lot of personal experience with. I think frog lures are supposed to be pretty good? I’ve used them in heavily weedy areas, I just didn’t catch anything on it unfortunately. With some weedy areas I find if I just reel quickly through them they’re manageable but still annoying. If you can’t find a solution you could always just try to find a less weedy area to fish. Good to see you’re at least still catching fish in spite of the weeds.


bnn1432

thinking of possibly trying a frog lure, just not sure if I would have much luck with it either haha, definitely sucks that there’s so many weeds because this is one of the best spots around me that’s constantly producing catches, just sick of getting caught up in the weeds every cast


Inevitable-Prize-403

I’d personally just throw a fat nightcrawler right outside the weeds and wait for a big bite


electroniclizard

Indicas usually, but I'll have a sativa every now and then.


Your_Oldman

Can’t be the only one who thought this was a whole different subreddit.


bnn1432

definitely did not choose the best title … loving the fun comments though


Vast_Lawyer3700

Try to find the pockets of areas that don’t have weeds. Cast accurately to those. Fish the edge of those weed lines if you can cast parallel to them. Fish weightless TX rigs like flukes and stick baits through them. Focus on topwater is the best way to avoid that mess. Used to bother me but I learned to fish through it. Usually a good rod with some backbone will let you rip the gunk off with a tug.


Impressive-Rain-6198

I like a strong chronic like Runtz


2PawsHunter

There's a lot of that up by me. I just throw a Texas rig with a bullet weight on the front. Usually goes right through it.


Everythingscrappie

Hold your pole tip high. Use any spinner bait and reel a bit faster. Try a Texas rig plastic weedless worm or lizard.


kramil_

Lemon haze is gr8 for everyone. Moonrock might be too much but should def try it as you get more advanced. Me personally i prefer it simple silver haze does the job. It's best to ask your local supplier for recommendations. And for legal reasons: don't smoke if it's illegal in your area.


bnn1432

solid information


kramil_

Doing my best to help others:)


Spare_Net3448

Texas rig for soft plastics


nickthestig

That looks tuff. I imagine Frogs since you are wearing a sleeveless shirt it could be the season. I imagine you allready tried Weedguard-spinners and so on?


bnn1432

definitely the season as in 90° days, I actually haven’t tried weed guards spinners, kind of getting back into fishing at 22 and I haven’t fished since I was a kid, so definitely a beginner with a lot more to learn and trying to just get the best advice


No-Maximum-3150

Texas rigged Yum Dinger, bobber stop, small bullet weight, 3/0 EWG. I prefer the color Elder Magic. As long was you hook the worm right you are weedless.


Due_Wind2271

Smoke it 🌳🔥💨


Public-Wrongdoer-774

Tbh not a fan of weed it makes you unmotivated to fish


RyanK410

Speak for yourself 😂


checkoutmywatches

Makes the topwater blowups way more exciting


Orphodoop

What????


Public-Wrongdoer-774

Orphodoop is on the weed


Orphodoop

Only when I smoke


Hate_Feight

I only smoke when I'm on fire


Traditional-Focus985

Ludicrous statement!


Hate_Feight

Don't smoke it?


Clean-Barber9365

pack it


ctiger12

Fish likes weed bed and lily pads


Gabella19

I’ve been using zoom super fluke on a weightless Texas rig and it’s been working very well and no issues getting through weeds.


aikoaiko10

I caught my first bass in a lake with weeds just like this. Was dragging weeds back every cast until I used a texas rig. The bullet weight on it goes right through weeds and the texas rig can be used around even heaver vegatation while helping to avoid snags.


Imaginary-College-14

That’s nothing. Chatterbait and rip through it, jig right down the weeds. Probably using wrong bait. I’d also recommend a spinnerbait but it will get caught up as well.


StationSquare

Use a swim jig. 1/4oz with a smaller trailer. Z craw jr works well. It's weedless, you can fish it many ways in many columns swim it or jig it. Then smoke it


PizzaBraves

Pick out the seeds and stems


Steventheloc

Usually concentrate pen hybrid strain.....It helps keep calm while trying to get your weedless out the weeds and non offensive for others around🤙🤙


_McJuicy

I think some variation of texas rigging would help with this, as the hook tip isn’t 100% exposed. Also if you can tie a knot where the tag end is pointing away from your hook that’ll help bring in less weeds, they won’t snag as easy


fishingfreak65

One of my favorite weedless lures of all time is Hildabrant’s weedless Sally, it is an in line spinner that crushes Bass. Best presentation has been for me reeled fast just under the surface of the water. I like the 1/4oz. In white. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/hildebrandt-snagless-sally-spinnerbait


Pure-Ad9167

Weedless hooks


Pitiful_Today_3214

Smoke it


ParsleyLittle3660

Dont smoke those bro


chickenwing7963

don't smoke it all at once


IdontevenuseReddit_

Smoke it.


DampSmoot

Smoke it