Weedless-ness

[deerless]

Was out on the Glenmore after pike. Since you can't use baitFISH but you can use bait, I was trying jig heads and soft scented plastics. I also had a steel leader with snaps and swivels.

Since it's so shallow there right now, it's super weedy. Almost every cast brought up salad. It didn't seem to be catching on my hook though, it seemed to be snagging on the snaps and swivels of my leader! Do you guys have any ideas on how to prevent that?

What's your method to beating the weeds?


PS: I did hook a couple pike...but they spat out my hook just as I tried to get them in the boat. On of them wasn't even hooked...just hanging on to my bait like a dog with a chew toy!

[Talking moose]

Most people are switching to a heavy flourocarbine line for a leader now to replace steel leaders. Tied directly to the hook if you wish.

[millsboy79]

One step further, I actually took the time to attach most of my lures to their own piece of fluorocarbon. The other end would have a simple surgeons knot which is what I attach to the snap.

[RavYak]

To avoid weeds fish over/around them instead of through them.

Use a fish finder to know where/how deep they are and use different lure selections to effectively fish them.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by RavYak

To avoid weeds fish over/around them instead of through them.

Use a fish finder to know where/how deep they are and use different lure selections to effectively fish them.

This, find a lure that runs just over top of the weeds. If I have to actually fish in the weeds I generally use a spinner bait. They are pretty weedless and yet still have a relatively good hooking percentage. Because of the wire arm that is part of the lure you can tie them directly to the line and get rid of any hardware that might pick up weeds.

[cube]

Originally Posted by deerless

Was out on the Glenmore after pike. Since you can't use baitFISH but you can use bait, I was trying jig heads and soft scented plastics. I also had a steel leader with snaps and swivels.

Since it's so shallow there right now, it's super weedy. Almost every cast brought up salad. It didn't seem to be catching on my hook though, it seemed to be snagging on the snaps and swivels of my leader! Do you guys have any ideas on how to prevent that?

What's your method to beating the weeds?


PS: I did hook a couple pike...but they spat out my hook just as I tried to get them in the boat. On of them wasn't even hooked...just hanging on to my bait like a dog with a chew toy!

Texas rig your you swim baits. Can also get swim bait hooks and rig them Texas style. Remember you have to set the hook like a bass fisherman this way

[chriscosta]

Use a top water walk the dog style rapala the hits are explosive I use the x rap version but there's skitter walk and sitter pop style ones too

[dodgeboy1979]

weedless spoons work well.

[EZM]

I changed over some of my trebles to singles and the lures were less prone to dragging in weeds. Rigging a jig head with the body of the rubber covering the point of the hook also makes a jig a little less prone to snagging.

Also mentioned, fluorocarbon leaders with a line to line and a line to lure connection are far better when flipping in the weeds.

Avoiding the weeds sometimes leads to less fish landed - particularly on bright sunny days in clear water. On those days pitching in between the standing weeds, letting the sink and working it through there results in some fish.

This is not a good place to practice with multiple treble crank baits - those are just frustrating as they snag and grab anything they seem to brush against.