In the weeds...

[aaronjeffries]

I got out on Hopewell today. It was very cool this morning and I had a nice time fishing. From what I can tell, the bass are in the weeds...you just have to know how to pull them out. I spoke to a fellow fisherman who said he regularly pulls 20-30 out of the weeds on summer days. While I wasn't able to confirm his story, it looked like he wasn't doing bad today. I tried the beds myself and picked off a few, but spent most of my time cleaning my hook off.

So fellas, what's the best way to fish the thick THICK weed beds of Hopewell?

[Deleted]

I was down at Hopewell this past Saturday as well.....sure was foggy at around 545 or so. Anyway; I too had a really good day down there.....caught 12. I did not fish a single weed bed per say to catch my fish.......the shallow area to the right of the fishing pier was on fire......fished a Haags Tornado on a shaky head....and the fish around the shallow bay area right to the the left of the ramp couldnt resist either. I think every fish I caught was in 12" or less water. It was certainly a fun day and the fish were of respectable size over the normal 10-12"inchers of Hopewell. Caught three that went a little over 2-1/2 pounds. As far as the weed beds.....I have had luck in the past few weeks fishing an Ima Roumba wake bait..........those things are $16 a piece so I only have a few....but they WILL bring the fish up out of the weeds. Caught one at 4lbs 2oz (19-1/2") two weeks ago on the Roumba; right off the swimming pool area; about 100 feet out from shore.

[Deleted]

........also.....DO NOT HESITATE to flip a jig-n-pig in the weeds, I use a Chompers 1/2 oz weed jig and have had some really good success with those. You will bring up alot of weeds from time to time; but the rewards are well worth it. Try a Black and Blue jig w/ Strike King Rage Tail Craw Black w/ Blue Flake) about 100 feet out from the pool area.....again; had some really good success with that. And; those fish tend to be on the larger size (typically at least 15"). I still prefer the Roumba as the strikes are vicious.....but the topwater bite is not always on and the Jig-n-Pig will put you right down in there with them.

[WeedMan]

I'm the fella you talked to that day. Most days it's about 20 bass sometimes more, sometimes less( but only a few less), most of average size but ever 3rd or 4th one I'll get a 1.5 to 2+ lb'r. It's not so much what you use, it's how you use it. For example, from the pier to the pool dock it's all weed strips, the bass arn't hanging " in" the weeds, they are hiding from the sun in the gap between were the muck layer starts( the bottom of the weeds) and were the weeds root in the sand. It's about a foot to a foot and a half gap on the bottom that is compleatlly secluded from the suns light. That's were the bass hang in the summer heat, not in 1 foot of 90deg water on the sides. The "gap" is were you want your lure. That's why you can catch them early in the morning under the Lilly pads but once the water warms, their gone. I won't say what I pull them out of the weeds with but will give you a hint. It's heavy, single hooked, makes noise, and has only been on the market for about 5 years. Oh yea, the color of it's trailer is probboblly the most used color by bass fisherman today and the most important part of the lures atraction . I'll see y'all there in the morning with swivels on all my rods. J/k. But not really. Ha. Good luck to you all. " Always practice catch and release" unless your real hungry!

[aaronjeffries]

Thanks WeedMan. You and Frogman might just make an angler out me yet!