Fishing Weed Beds???

[defiant1]

How do you all fish weed beds (6'-15' deep) for walleye? Slip bobber? Lindy rigs? Weedless Jigs? Does rod type matter?

Any and all practical advice/experience is appreciated.

d1

 

[H82bogey]

I try to pitch jigs, or plastic jerk baits and swim the tops or edges of them. Another good trick is to pull a spinner right across the top of them. For this I use a bullet sinker instead of a bottom bouncer. The deeper I need to get, the larger the bullet sinker.

 

[Twitch]

I usually try to fish the edges with bottom bouncers and lindys. Either the outside edge or if you can get on the inside of the weedbed and fish without problems that can work good as well. Another way I have had some success is if the weed line is pretty thick but you can see holes or pockets use the same setup but use a heavier bouncer than what you'd think you'd need. In this case navigate with the electric as quietly as possible up to these open pockets and drop your setup into the pocket. You want the heavy bouncer because you're aren't trying to pull through the opening you just want to drop your rig to the bottom briefly and lift back towards the surface. It's not a relaxing way of fishing at all but can produce dynamite results in certain situations.

 

[deleted_account]

I usually try to fish the edges with bottom bouncers and lindys. Either the outside edge or if you can get on the inside of the weedbed and fish without problems that can work good as well. Another way I have had some success is if the weed line is pretty thick but you can see holes or pockets use the same setup but use a heavier bouncer than what you'd think you'd need. In this case navigate with the electric as quietly as possible up to these open pockets and drop your setup into the pocket. You want the heavy bouncer because you're aren't trying to pull through the opening you just want to drop your rig to the bottom briefly and lift back towards the surface. It's not a relaxing way of fishing at all but can produce dynamite results in certain situations.

try a slip bobber rig next time in those pockets. let it soak for a few minutes then move on to the next pocket.

 

[guywhofishes]

[/B][/COLOR]
try a slip bobber rig next time in those pockets. let it soak for a few minutes then move on to the next pocket.

ha ha ha ha! that'll never work!

 

[Twitch]

[/B][/COLOR]
try a slip bobber rig next time in those pockets. let it soak for a few minutes then move on to the next pocket.

I've thought about that a lot. Actually the first time I did what I was talking about I was in the gov cup with my Dad and being nothing but a dumb westerner;:;rofl I didn't have any slip bobber items with. It kind of happened by accident as we happened upon a weed bed and started fishing what we thought was an edge and wound up right in the weeds. When I walked up to lift the electric I could see pockets and the rest as they say was history. After a furious day 2 rally we ended up top 10 that year. I've always carried slip bobber stuff since but you don't see a ton of guys doing it out here.

 

[LBrandt]

Cabelas sell what is called a wobble jig, just a flatted out jig that will slip side to side. I pitch those into the holes in the weed beds tipped with a leech or minnow and let the feeding frenzy begin. Have had some of the best days fishing using them. Them come in different sizes and color combo.#$%^&>

 

[shorthairsrus]

The wind in ND often times just blows me over the weed beds and then I get hung up.

 

[svnmag]

Plastic jerkbait or shallow running ShadRap guy.

 

[defiant1]

I try to pitch jigs, or plastic jerk baits and swim the tops or edges of them. Another good trick is to pull a spinner right across the top of them. For this I use a bullet sinker instead of a bottom bouncer. The deeper I need to get, the larger the bullet sinker.

Do you happen to have a rule of thumb on what size bullet sinker drops the spinner to a specific depth?

[/B][/COLOR]
try a slip bobber rig next time in those pockets. let it soak for a few minutes then move on to the next pocket.

Slip bobber with a jig or with simple hook and crawler?

Cabelas sell what is called a wobble jig, just a flatted out jig that will slip side to side. I pitch those into the holes in the weed beds tipped with a leech or minnow and let the feeding frenzy begin. Have had some of the best days fishing using them. Them come in different sizes and color combo.#$%^&>

I use them for ice fishing, never thought to use them for weed beds. Thanks

The wind in ND often times just blows me over the weed beds and then I get hung up.

That is a concern for sure. Keeping the boat where I want it with a steady chop next to shore can be a challenge. I may have to invest in an anchor. The Terrova works okay but spins into the wind and makes it difficult to manipulate the boat to where I want it.

 

[jdinny]

jig with a minnow guy here. troll as slowly as you can along the outside weed edge pop jigs off the bottom. fill livewell quickly.

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I use regular jig from 8-10 ft and under, if I get any deeper I will use a jigging rap or heavy type jig to feel bottom.

 

[DirtyMike]

How about a drop shot rig?

 

[sig357]

I usually try to fish the edges with bottom bouncers and lindys. Either the outside edge or if you can get on the inside of the weedbed and fish without problems that can work good as well. Another way I have had some success is if the weed line is pretty thick but you can see holes or pockets use the same setup but use a heavier bouncer than what you'd think you'd need. In this case navigate with the electric as quietly as possible up to these open pockets and drop your setup into the pocket. You want the heavy bouncer because you're aren't trying to pull through the opening you just want to drop your rig to the bottom briefly and lift back towards the surface. It's not a relaxing way of fishing at all but can produce dynamite results in certain situations.

^^^^^
This. It works

 

[dean nelson]

If your truly looking at punching the core of the weeds and not just skirting the edge its best to rig up like a bass fisherman. Those guys make their living in the weeds so the have refined the technique into an art form. Obviously the big thing is what kind of weeds are they, some are fishable on the inside and some are not due to to much horizontal weeds blocking your line unless fishing perfectly vertical. Depending on your normal rig you generally want to bump up what test line your running so you can pull the out of the salad when they make a run.

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^^^^^
This. It works

What is that a pair of bongs in the background?:;:cheers

 

[H82bogey]

Do you happen to have a rule of thumb on what size bullet sinker drops the spinner to a specific depth?



Slip bobber with a jig or with simple hook and crawler?



I use them for ice fishing, never thought to use them for weed beds. Thanks



That is a concern for sure. Keeping the boat where I want it with a steady chop next to shore can be a challenge. I may have to invest in an anchor. The Terrova works okay but spins into the wind and makes it difficult to manipulate the boat to where I want it.

I find a 1/4 oz works in most situations say 5-8'. If I need to get deeper than that I would try a 3/8 or maybe even 5/16oz. If all you need is 1-3' of depth a couple small split shots does the trick. Also remember spinner blade size matters. Larger blades run higher in the water column.

 

[Enslow]

Cast a big nasty crank bait like a #9 shad rap over those deeper beds if the weeds dont grow to the top.