Largemouth Bass and Weeds

Weeds are the most common type of cover for bass.  Bass fishermen
know that if they find weeds they will find fish.  Weeds provide oxygen,
which attracts small insects and bait fish.  The weeds also provide nice
cover to protect them from predators such as pike and muskie.  

Bass can also hang out in the weeds throughout the entire day because
the sun can only penetrate so far, which leaves them a cool, shady
area.  Bass love to feed around the weeds.  Bait fish can always be
found around weeds and there will always be bass around to feed on
these bait fish.

Catching bass in the weeds is not that complicated.  You need to make
sure that you are fishing as close to the weeds, without getting weeds all
over your hooks.  You need to keep your lure moving naturally to fool a
bass into biting.  Let's take a look at the different types of weeds.

  •   Submerged Weeds
    These weeds grow below the water, although you can sometimes see
    them come just barely up to the surface.  They can grow in water from
    5 to 30 feet deep depending on how far down the sun can penetrate.  
    Finding a weed line is important for catching bass.  These deep weed
    lines will usually go around the entire lake at the same depth.  If you
    find fish in 8 feet of water, you'll probably find fish throughout the entire
    weed line in 8 feet of water.  Soft plastics rigged with weedless hooks
    will produce lots of bass in submerged weeds.  Shallow-running
    crankbaits are effective if you can keep them just above the weeds.  
    Spinnerbaits and topwater baits are also very effective for fishing
    submerged weeds.  The idea is to keep your bait as close to the weeds
    without getting caught up.

  •   Floating-Leaved Weeds
    Some weeds have leaves that float on the surface.  Lily pads are most
    common.  These leaves provide more shade than typical weeds.  Bass
    can stay in shallower water because of the shade provided by these
    leaves.  The bigger the leaves, the more protection and shade they will
    provide.  Spinnerbaits are extremely effective in lily pads.  They usually
    swim through the pads without getting hung up.  Heavy line is
    recommended when fishing in the pads.  Weedless soft plastic produce
    lots of bass in the pads also.  Topwaters fished along the edge of lily
    pads will also produce some nice fish.

  •   Emergent Weeds
    These weeds are extremely visible.  They rise well above the surface
    and usually are tough to fish.  Weedless lures, jigs flipped into pockets
    and topwaters around the edges are the most productive way to fish
    emergent weeds.
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