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