Swimbaits in the Grass

Soft plastic swimbaits have become increasingly popular as bass fishing lures.  You can find them in several sizes, styles, and colors.  There are numerous situations in which these baits can be fished as effective presentations for catching fish.  One of my favorites I call, Swimbaits in the Grass.

Swimbaits in the Grass is a merging of a few different presentations.  It is a crass between swimming swimmbaits, dead-sticking senkos, and fishing mats of grass with a frog.  It can be very productive for catching monster bass, and the explosions you will see when a fish hits the bait is often second to none.  This article will cover when, where, and how, to fish the presentation.

When
Fishing swimbaits in the grass is an effective technique anytime there is grass growing up the the surface.  I find this presentation to be productive during the shad spawn in the spring, and especially during hot summer months.  During the summer, the bass can be stacked up under the thick mats of grass that provide shade and oxygen to the hot water.

Where
Where to fish this is pretty simple.  Anywhere there is grass (especially hydrilla mats) growing up to or on the surface of the water.  But I can break it down a little better than that for you.  Where to fish it really depends on the time of the year and the temperature of the water.  The warmer the water, the deeper the water you want to fish this presentation.  You can fish this presentation to any depth that the grass will still reach the top of the water.  Though you are typically fishing this presentation on top of the water and grass mats, this technique can be effective on top of those deep water grass mats.  In the spring, and sometimes in the summer, I will fish this technique in shallow water, but as it warms up and the fish begin to move to their deeper summer holes, I will move out and fish this on the far edges of the grass mats in as deep of water as possible.  In ultra-clear lakes, you can sometimes find grass that grows in 20 feet or more of water, that if given enough time will reach the surface, and can be fished with this technique.

A good location to fish Swimbaits in the Grass

The Tackle
Think heavy.  If you think your tackle is heavy enough, it might not be.  Too light of a rod and either your rod might break or you might not be able to set the hook. Too light a line and you will break off.  Too slow of a reel gear ratio, and you might not pick up the slack in time to set the hook on the fish.

The Rod - For this technique I will use a Heavy or Extra Heavy P. H. Kellner, Fast action Rod.  I will use somewhere between 7 foot and 7'6" long rod, depending on where I am fishing it.  The longer rod allows for further casts and quicker hooksets but can get difficult in tight casting situations.

The Reel - I want a high speed reel, 7 to 1 gear ratio, for this presentation.  I want to be able to pick up slack and set the hook quick and solid.

The Line - Most of the time I will use braided line for this presentation.  Usually it is 45-60 lb test braid. You are going to be setting the hook on and pulling big fish out of heavy grass mats, so you need the strength.  The only time I don't use braid with this presentation is if I am fishing ultra clear water that has lighter mats of grass.  Then I will use 20 lb test (or heavier) fluorocarbon.  The heavier the line, braid or fluoro, you are fishing the shorter your casts will be.  So if you are looking to make ultra long casts through thinner grass, use line on the lighter end of the spectrum.

This is what you are fishing, this is why you will need braid

Technique
As I mentioned earlier, this is a hybrid of several different techniques, including a "normal" swimbait technique of just swimming your bait back to the boat, a dead-sticking presentation similar to fishing a senko, and frog fishing patterns.

The Lure - To start, you will usually want to choose a swimbait that matches the color of the baitfish the bass are keying on.  For this technique I like to use a large paddle "thumping" tail swimbait.  I will typically use a 5.5" swimbait.  The larger bait will create a bigger "plop" on top of the grass when you cast, and will cause more disturbance on the way back.  This will attract the most attention possible.

A couple good choices for this presentation

Rigging the Swimbait - Be sure to use a hook that matches the size swimbait you are using!  Too big of a hook will kill some of the action in the swimmbait, but even worse is a hook that is too small.  Too small of a hook will have difficulty pushing through the swimmbait when you set the hook.  I prefer hooks with a screw-lock that screws into the nose of the bait.  This will hold the swimmbait on the hook as you pull it over and through the grass.  I also choose a hook that has weight on the shank.

Typical hook I will use for Swimmbaits in the Grass

When you rig the swimbait on the hook, you want to make sure you rig it straight with the hook running right down the center.  Any variance to one side or the other, or any kink in the bait will cause the swimbait to spin and twist you line.  Once you run the hook through the swimbait, burry the point back into the bait.  This will help prevent grass from hanging on the hook.Grass hanging on your hook can prevent you from setting the hook and will hurt the action and visibility of the bait.

Notice the hook point buried back into the bait

Cause a large plop with the cast

Once you find a grass mat that is located in the depth you want to fish, make a cast that is higher than normal so that the bait plops down hard onto the mat.  You want to attention of the fish below to be brought up to the surface.  Don't start you retrieve right away, start by gently shaking the bait, creating a disturbance on top of the water.  Keep the bait there for a few seconds before you start your retrieve.  Then slowly bring the bait back to you with several pauses, hops, and bounces.  You want to try to imitate a baitfish that is trapped on top of the grass mat.

Bounce, hop, and swim the bait back

On your retrieve, why you hit a hole in the grass, try to jump or plop the bait into the hole and let it sink.  Just dead-stick the bait in the hole for a while.  I will let it sit in the hole for 20-30 seconds usually.  Sometimes less, sometimes more.  Play around with it, the fish will tell you what they want.  Once you bring it out of the hole, continue the slow bouncing retrieve until you come off of the mat.  Once you hit the edge of the grass, and your swimbait is off of the mat, let is sink again, dead-stick it for a while, then swim it back to you and cast again.  That is all there is to it.  Be ready at any point in the retrieve, you never know when the fish will hit.

Dead-stick your swimbait in the holes in the grass

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