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How do you fish thick lily pads? Me and my buddy went fishing today and I caught one. It was about 8 inches. I caught him on a weightless white trick worm w/ a red hook. Other than that we were pretty much skunked. There is a deep channel in the pond. There is also stumps and an old wood pile in there. Most lily pads though. How do you fish them? With what baits? I am at a loss for this type of fishing. I know there are big ones in there. We saw some of them splash. They just wouldnt bite us. Any information would be a big help. We plan to go back soon b/c we know there are big boys in there to be caught.

Jeremy,
My advice would be to use a 1/2 ounce bass jig tip with a pork frog. The Jig is heavy enough to push the pad stems out of the way as the bait moves forward. Cast the bait onto a pad, and jiggle if off. Often when a bass is under or near the pad she'll grab it when it falls off. If not just keep a slow steady retrieve. I don't like to hop the jig in lily pads, sometimes the line will get wrapped or stuck to the pad stem. Use heavy line. Use rod lifts to move the bait. Color will depend on water calrity. Dingy-Black/blue-clear-pumpkinseed or green/brown. Good luck Johnnie

Johnson weedless spoon, gold, 1/2 oz, tipped with a yellow pork chunk. Skip over the top of the pads, drop it in openings, don't set hook until you feel the fish.

thanks johnnie and catt. The water was dingy and I used a black/blue jig w/ the same color pork trailor. But nothing bit it. Maybe next time we go, it will work better. We saw some big ones swirl up there but none took my bait. It is a beautiful pond w/ some thick lily pads. The water is really dark, but the fish are almost black. Their color is awesome. The one I caught up there was almost black. Any other tips you could give me? Where do I fish at? Do I target one area or just go throught the whole pond pitching lily pads? Any advice is needed Thanks!

Catt:
The spoon doesnt get caught up in the lily pad stems? Could you put up a picture of one so I will some idea on what to buy. I never fish with spoons b/c I never have any luck with them.

Ive been fishing the lily pads in a lake near my house nearly everyday and ive been having good luck with a 5inch Wave Worm RedShad color, rigged weightless. Casting it onto a pad or into a hole, and bringing it up and leting it fall 5 or 6 times. If nothing bites, i move to another hole. The biggest ive caught is about 4 pounds, ive got pictures of all fish i have caught lately with my new digital camera, i just dont know how to add them to posts..... Anyway, you might want to try the Wave Worm, its much like a Senko, only the ones ive been using a a little fatter and they cast farther because they weigh slighty more than a Senko, they produce the same action though. Ive been using a 61/2 foot Abu Garcia Rod and 15lb test to try to fight the fish out of the thick lily pads. I have been caught a few times though and lost my fish. Im doing it off the bank becasue i dont have my jonboat right now, and the pads are like 10 feet from the shore and go all the way across the lake so there is plenty of Bass. I know i went on and on so ill leave it at this......

Jeremy, spoons are definitely one of the best baits for heavy vegetation. Unweighted worms are also very good. I throw spoons but I prefer flatter models like the Rex or Strike King Timber King. A skirt is a standard trailer. Because the Rex and Timber King are flatter they stay on top a little better with a slower retrieve than a more concave Johnson. I throw them into areas where they will never touch the water the whole time they are being retrieved. The fish will see the silhouette and come up through the pads to get this bait. When they are not agressive or when they are easily spooked a subtle approach is much better for me. It's hard to beat a worm. I use twitch worms and keep them on top, only letting them sink if I get a fish following that won't strike it on the surface. You can put plenty of action in them and thay are easy to walk the dog with. The spoons are heavy and cast easily with casting tackle but for the small 4 1/2" twitch worms I use a spinning rod with braided line. That seems to work very well and even when a fish wraps you around pad stems you can muscle them without fear of your line breaking. When pads aren't extremely thick I also mix spinnerbaits in. Where I live if you are fishing you are fishing in lilly pads. Best of luck.

I love fishing lily pads. But, are they the real big,round kind or the small silver-dollar ones that grow real thick? The big ones are easier to fish because the strong stems don't pull loose so easy. The small ones pull loose and wad up on your lure (even weedless lures). The best weedless lily pad lure is a Johnson Silver Minnow. Use a dressing on the hook, like a Mister Twister tail or a piece of pork rind. I use a balloon, because it gives the lure great snaking action. Use the strongest line and rod you can. I live here in Georgia and fish shallow ponds, so I can relate to fishing thick weeds. Good luck!

They are the big lily pads in this pond. There is another pond that I fish seldomly that has the silver dollar lily pads. I will try what you have suggested here.

I've been fishing a lake close to my home in Ohio. I've had great luck pulling 3-4 pounders out of the pads using "Yum Dingers." These worms are similar to senkos (but more affordable). There's nothing like wathching a bucketmouth jump out of the water to take your bait.

I'm sure there are bigger ones in the pads, but I'm still trying to figure out how to get to them! Any ideas? Some mention jigs, but how do you toss a jig into heavy cover? My worms skim on top then drop down in the pockets.

Thanks

"Bad day fishing is better than a great day at work!"