Ken Mah covers grass fishing on the west in this latest BAM Podcast. Bass Pro Ken Mah, a professional angler, is known for his expertise in bass fishing and has employed various grass fishing techniques throughout his career.
Grass fishing is a popular technique used by bass anglers to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass that are hiding and feeding in aquatic vegetation, such as submerged grass beds or lily pads.
Here are some general tips and techniques often used in grass fishing:
- **Select the Right Equipment**: To effectively fish in grassy areas, use heavy or medium-heavy action rods with fast or extra-fast tips. Pair them with baitcasting reels spooled with strong braided line (usually 65-pound Sunline Braid) to handle the vegetation and strong bass.
- **Lure Selection**: Choose lures that are suitable for fishing in vegetation. Some popular options include:
– **Topwater Lures**: Frogs, Buckeye buzzbaits, and Choppo are great for targeting bass in thick grass, as they can be worked over the surface without getting snagged.
– **Soft Plastic Baits**: Texas-rigged baits like worms, creature baits, or crawfish imitations can be effective when worked slowly through the grass.
– **Jigs**: Chatterbaits, swim jigs and flipping jigs with weed guards can help you punch through the grass and reach bass lurking below.
- **Presentation Techniques**:
– **Punching**: This technique involves using a heavy tungsten weight and a soft plastic creature bait like a Big Bite YoMama to penetrate thick grass mats. Cast your bait onto the mat and allow it to fall through the grass, enticing bass below.
– **Flipping and Pitching**: Accurate casting and pitching into openings and pockets within the vegetation can be productive. This allows you to drop your bait right in front of hiding bass.
– **Slow Retrieve**: When using soft plastic baits, retrieve them slowly through the grass, mimicking the movement of prey. Be prepared for strikes as bass often ambush prey in this type of cover.
- **Location**: Look for areas with healthy grass beds, submerged vegetation, or lily pads. Bass use these areas for cover and ambush points to prey on smaller fish and insects.
- **Time of Day**: Grass fishing can be most productive during low-light conditions, such as early morning or late evening, when bass are more active and feeding.
- **Patience and Persistence**: Grass fishing can be challenging due to the potential for snagging in the vegetation. Be patient, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different lures and presentations until you find what works.
Remember that bass behavior can vary depending on the specific body of water, so it’s essential to adapt your techniques to the conditions you encounter. Bass Pro Ken Mah’s experience and expertise in bass fishing likely include a deep understanding of grass fishing tactics, making him a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their skills in this area.
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Bass Angler Magazine’s Wired4bass is a bi-monthly podcast series is available free on Simple Cast, iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and Amazon. Stay tuned as we discuss the latest in bass fishing, lure trends, ways to catch fish, tournament wins and things of interest to bass anglers.
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