| Bass can always be found in grass. Grass is | | | | Searching for these variations has greatly |
| one of the most beneficial types of cover for | | | | improved my ability to locate productive |
| bass. Grass is not only a perfect addition to | | | | areas in grass-filled lakes and rivers. |
| the cover bass utilize, it is also a great | | | | Often, even subtle changes can be the key. |
| source of shade, oxygen and food supply as | | | | |
| well. | | | | In lakes that have little cover other than |
| | | | grass, locaing bass is difficult at times. |
| Much of the food supply for bass lives, | | | | Dishpan type lakes that are covered with |
| breeds and thrives in grass cover and bass | | | | grass may seem overwhelming. |
| can always be found in the grass. | | | | |
| | | | Locating changes in grass types however has |
| The most difficult part of fishing in grass | | | | helped me many times. Finding small areas |
| cover is when there are many acres of green | | | | that have several different types of grass |
| on a body of water. This can make grass | | | | will often concentrate bass. For instance, a |
| fishing an almost “needle in a | | | | few pads growing in the midst of a large |
| haystack†type of search. While bass | | | | patch of maiden cane can be a clue to a |
| can and will live anywhere in a grass bed | | | | productive area. Reeds growing amidst |
| there are certain things that concentrate | | | | coon-tail or, patches of milfoil in a |
| “catchable†fish in specific | | | | hydrilla bed would be good examples. Boat |
| locations. | | | | runs, bird nests, gator mounds, muskrat huts |
| | | | and anything that causes a variation in the |
| The search for concentrations of fish in | | | | grass are good areas to look for. Schools of |
| large, grassy lakes became easier for me when | | | | bait fish wandering around in open grass can |
| I began to understand grass as an addition to | | | | often be given away by birds in the area and, |
| cover rather than a source of primary cover. | | | | often times bass will be nearby. Any change |
| It’s my opinion that bass tend to | | | | in bottom integrity will also be more |
| relate best to forms of cover and structure | | | | productive. Once a pattern is established it |
| that are permanent. Stumps, humps, lay-downs, | | | | can usually be reproduced in shallow, grassy |
| points, rocks, etc., are always good | | | | lakes. |
| permanent cover/structure areas to locate | | | | |
| fish. When you add grass to those types of | | | | In river systems, grass is vital to the |
| cover however, they become great areas to | | | | quality of bass populations. Hydrilla and |
| locate fish. A small row of stumps or a | | | | milfoil for instance not only provide shade, |
| shallow point for instance that is void of | | | | food and oxygen but also provide a great |
| grass may hold few bass or no bass at all. | | | | current break in many locations allowing bass |
| Add a little grass and seemingly | | | | to seek refuge from the water flow. Grass |
| insignificant permanent cover or structure | | | | creates changes in the current flow and can |
| can become a bass magnet. I always find that | | | | concentrate bass in areas that otherwise |
| the most productive grass areas will also | | | | would not hold fish. |
| contain other permanent cover or structure | | | | |
| features. | | | | The backsides of large grass mats often |
| | | | create eddies that concentrate bait fish and |
| The grass dies back in my area during the | | | | are sometimes bonanzas for bass. When bass |
| wintertime. This is the perfect time to | | | | are active I have found them on the front |
| locate productive areas for grass fish. When | | | | side of a grass mat facing the flow and |
| you can see stumps, brush, rocks or other | | | | feeding on bait fish washed into the grass |
| forms of cover that are normally covered up | | | | bed. Grass also allows ample room for bass to |
| with grass during the warmer months you will | | | | reproduce and live - especially on large |
| have a head start on locating specific areas | | | | flats where there would otherwise be no |
| that may be more productive. I spend a lot of | | | | shelter from river current or predators. |
| time looking in shallow water during the | | | | Isolated stands of hydrilla for instance |
| winter for any variations in cover or | | | | growing on a large flat provide great cover |
| structure. Winter is also a great time to | | | | for catchable fish especially, on either side |
| place homemade cover to hold fish when the | | | | of a deep creek channel. |
| grass grows back. Many of my best fishing | | | | |
| locations in grass have been discovered in | | | | I don’t waste much time fishing an |
| the dead of winter when all of the grass has | | | | area when trying to establish a pattern for |
| disappeared. Also, many times in the winter | | | | bass. Once I’ve located an area in the |
| or early spring when the grass is gone, I can | | | | grass that I feel is going to be productive |
| catch fish on stumps or other cover in an | | | | it usually takes only a few throws to see if |
| area. Then, when the grass grows back in the | | | | it is going to produce. |
| warmer months I can often go to those same | | | | |
| areas and catch good fish! Structure is | | | | I normally start by making a few long casts |
| another key element in locating | | | | with a top-water bait over shallow grass. A |
| concentrations of grass fish. | | | | Rat-L-Trap or spinnerbait tells the story |
| | | | over deeper grass. Then, I’ll move up |
| Break-lines where grass is growing in a | | | | closer and pitch a large jig or worm. I try |
| river-bend, a point or a hump will be more | | | | to keep adjusting until I come up with a |
| productive than places without irregular | | | | combination that repeats itself on several |
| features. Break-lines in front of shallow | | | | fish. Once that combination is found it |
| spawning bays can also be very productive for | | | | normally gives way to a solid grass pattern. |
| concentrations of fish when the grass starts | | | | If I discover a pattern that is only |
| to grow back in the spring. Grassy areas near | | | | producing smaller fish I’ll keep |
| steep drops or creek channels will usually be | | | | adjusting till I come up with a better big |
| good areas to look for active fish. The more | | | | fish pattern. |
| types of cover and structure in an area along | | | | |
| with the grass the better. | | | | Often in grass situations big fish and |
| | | | smaller fish are on different patterns. |
| Paying attention to how and where grass grows | | | | |
| often gives vital details about the structure | | | | Concentrating on locating a pattern that |
| of a lake. A grass patch in the middle of | | | | includes specific types of cover or changes |
| nowhere for instance could be just a loose | | | | in the grass saves hours and hours of endless |
| mat or it could be growing on a hump loaded | | | | chunking and winding over acres of |
| with bass. | | | | non-productive vegetation. |
| | | | |
| Changes in grass contour can often indicate | | | | Large, grassy lakes and rivers are not so |
| the type of drop on a shoreline. | | | | intimidating once you’ve learned to |
| | | | isolate catchable fish. The only scary part |
| Changes in grass color after it has topped | | | | is knowing you may get your arm broke by the |
| out can give way to locations of springs or | | | | bass of a lifetime. Good luck and put them |
| different types of bottoms. | | | | back. |
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