slop fishing

[st.crioxfishin]

I will be fishing thick lily pads and rice patties over the 4th at the end of this week. Last year I began fishing this certain cover on washburn lake(45 min NW of brainerd). I was using slop frogs and was getting a lot of strikes and hook-ups, but wasn't able to get them in. I figured that i would need a heavier rod and line to get them out - so i bought a 7ft MH baitcasting rod and 40lb spiderwire. Im sure this new rod and line will help, but is there any other tips that would highten my chances of getting those bass into the boat?

Also I'm wondering if I would be able to use soft plastics (tubes) in the thick cover with heavy wieghts and still be able to get the bass out of the thick stuff and into the boat.

Any suggestions on making it easier to get those bass out of the thick lily pads and rice patties would be very helpful, thanks.

b. downey

[Mark Christianson]

My 2 cents.

No tips other than heavier rods and line will get the bass in the boat.

You just have to have the equipment to winch them out, and to also be prepared to bring in half of the weeds in the lake with that fish.

Keep the pressure on, and keep reeling. The second you give em any slack, chances are that they will shake loose.

[Tom Wilson]

St. Croix,
You will catch twice as many fish using soft plastics and slower techniques than you will with frogging. Frogging is all about the excitement and, yes usually only the bigger fish will smack the frogs, but Plastics will kill em' if you'll try it and get the lure down to them. Also, you don't have to go heavy on your weight, just slow down and be precise in your casting. And sincerely--not to brag , but to prove my point--Take a look at my pics on page 16 of the bragging board photos. Every single one of those fish were caught in water less than three feet deep yesterday in lily's, reeds, and milfoil edges, on Texas rigged soft plastics with only an 1/8 ounce weight. Big bass love small plastics--they also love frogs. Have fun with both.

[st.crioxfishin]

where is the braggin board photos page...I can't seem to find it

[Mark Christianson]

I just saw the pics Tom.

Wow..................

[Tom Wilson]

St. Croix,
Top of the page in Metro are Lakes and Rivers

[EBass]

Who wants to fish with Tom Wilson?? I do, I do! Thanks for the tips on the pads. The light bulb just came on to try at my lake X here in the metro. And I'm a topwater FREAK, but it never hurts to have other options up ones sleeve. So again thank you.

[Granny]

I would go with both tubes and frogs. If the water is calm go with the frog and enjoy the explosions. If the water has a little chop to it toss in a tube. Also try the tube on the edge of the pads. If your tossing frogs I would even go with 50-80lb line. I use 80lb Power Pro. As stated before set the hook and don't stop pulling and reeling until you have that fish in the boat, even if you think your hung up on something. Good luck!

Granny

[sami0115]

my slop rod is a 7' 10" falcon cara, i have 65 lb power pro on it... the extra length in the rod helps cast my frog farther. two weeks ago i caught a 4 lb 14 oz largemouth in THICK weeds... when she took it down i just rared back and pulled her out of the water and right across the top. no way was she going to tangle me up in the weeds...

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YIPPPPEEEEEEEE

[st.crioxfishin]

Nice fish Tom! Thats awesome. Hopefully I will be able to come up with at least a few like those ones this upcoming weekend. Thanks also everyone, for tips on fishin the thick stuff.

b. downey

[sicheneder]

when fishing slop two things help to improve chances of getting the fish other than that already mentioned and that is if a fish swipes at the lure cast the lure past and let the topwater sit still in the hole it created on the hit. sometimes i can take 30 - 1 min. in slopply wild rice mess. the second is to throw back a heavier jig or verical weedless bait. when a bass hits it will usually stay in the same area unless some steel has been put into them. these will not always work, but they are a follow up. you will have found where the fish is in all the mess and will only need it not commit again

[baswacker]

St.Croix
I have been fishing slop for awhile now and I use a 6' Xtra heavy fenwick with 20# fireline and and a good 4000 series shimano reel and I get at least 5 or 6 5#ers a year out of this stuff the trick is to set the hook hard and get their head up and just wench them up and out so you can crank them across rhe top of the slop to the boat.
WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!!!!
tight line all
Basswacker

[FishinWilly]

Hey Tom....do you happen to work in Eden Prairie off of Valley View Road? Saw a bright red/yellow boat pulling into a business across the street from my office.

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Selling copiers by day, hooking into the bigguns by night

[Tom Wilson]

Willy,
Yeah man that's me.

[FishinWilly]

Small world out there. The again, kind of hard to hide a bright red and yellow boat! lol

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Selling copiers by day, hooking into the bigguns by night

[DAD-N-EYE]

Frogs work great as back up baits! Let it sit there and wham! I have let it sit there for over a minute before it hit again!
Good Luck

DAD-N-EYE