How do you find bass in lakes loaded to the brim in grass? Lake Guntersville, Okeechobee, Rayburn, and thousands of north country lakes spread bass out across thousands of acres of prime real estate. You need the right bait and a strategy. Wired2Fish’s Ryan DeChaine explains how to identify productive areas with the naked eye and fish them fast with hollow body frogs. Although this video discusses emergent grass such as tulles and wild rice, the same points are applicable in all grass lakes with vegetation that reaches the surface.
TACKLE LISTING (additional gear links at the bottom):
- SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65, color – Leopard (primary bait used)
- Terminator Walking Frog (b-roll)
- Terminator Popping Frog (b-roll)
- Savage Gear Hop Popper Frog (b-roll)
- 13 Fishing Envy Black 2 Cast Rod, 7’11” Heavy
- 13 Fishing Inception Sport Z Casting Reel, 7.3:1
- Sufix 832 Braided Line, 50lb
- Tackle HD Worldwide Buzzer Buzzbait, 1/2oz
Here are DeChaine’s steps to finding and catching bass from emergent grass during the fall months:
- Focus on isolated and irregular grass beds with a mixture of emergent and submergent grass. Areas such as this concentrate bass in manageable sized areas, this high-percentage spots to cast.
- Use a conventional holly body frog. A hollow body frog is the most weedless bait available, and a traditional (pointed nose) hollow body frog slides through cover with greater ease than the popping frog variety. You can fish faster and cleaner, eliminating water and contacting bass more quickly.
- Make Long Casts. Covering water is the name of the game. Long casts reduce spooking in shallow water while quickly eliminating unproductive water.
- Use long, heavy power rods. Long rods support max casting distances to reach isolated spots, give you the leverage for strong hooksets and make it easier to fight bass in demanding cover.
- High stick when fishing frogs. “Hight sticking” gives bass time to eat the bait and turn away from you before setting the hook — thus increasing hooking percentages. It also helps keep your braided mainline clear from getting caught up in the cover.
- Fish a strong mid-sized braid. 40- or 50-pound braided line provides the best combination of strength and lightness to avoid getting caught up in the grass on long casts.
- Choose a frog color than matches your forage, not necessarily a frog. Let the forage dictate the frog color than choose accordingly. Keep in mind that the frog undersize is what the bass sees, while a high-visibility topside helps you maintain visual contact with the lure.
BOAT & EQUIPMENT:
- Lund Boats 2075 Pro-V Bass XS (extra seating)
- Mercury 250hp Pro XS FourStroke
- Minn Kota Raptor Shallow Water Anchor, 8 ft with Active Anchoring
- Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor
