Lily pad bass busting

Pulling bass from lily pads takes a different approach.

“Before you try to pull a largemouth out of lily pads, change out your fishing line to braided line in the 30-pound-test range,” advises Jeff Martella. “Use a high-quality stout rod in the medium-heavy to heavy category over 6 1/2 feet long.

“This combo will wrestle bass from pads.

“Cast into the open gaps or throw past the pads and retrieve back through the openings. Pitch or flip behind the pad clump 2 to 4 feet. If you get one hooked, get him out of the pads before he can dive for the pad stems.

“I work worms right into the root base. I give each cast a series of light jigs. Then I try the same clump from another angle. I work over every pad clump several times before I move to the next. Most of the time bass will hit the worm on its way down, so I am watchful for any slight twitch, a subtle movement to the side or when the line stops. That’s when I haul up on the rod tip.

“Once the pads get so thick that they are difficult to fish, I like to run a 200-series Bandit along all the outer edges.”

Editor’s note: This article is part of the Dollar Bass feature in the August issue of Mississippi Sportsman. Digital editions can be downloaded right to your computer or smartphone.

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