Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 09/27/08: Bass Fishing Pads

Pads abound throughout the U.S. and are often overlooked during bass fishing outings. Many fishermen avoid them because they are difficult to fish and often lead to hang ups. In the south they harbor many other less than savory species such as mudfish and gar. These factors alone make many anglers avoid them like the plague. If you want to become a better bass angler you've got to give them a try. Here's some pointers to use so you can be more successful in catching bass from the pads.

1- The 1st thing you need to look for is the depth of the pads. In the spring you can fish pads as shallow as 1 foot, but when the summer arrives look for pads in 3 to 4 feet of water.

2- Springtime pad fishing involves looking for pads that are attached to sandier bottoms. These areas are prime spots for spawning fish. Work both openings in the pad network as well as the pad stalks. Keep an eye out for visible fish on bright sandy areas.

3- In the summer and fall, work the side of the pad field that has wind blowing into it. Work the pockets and points where the wind action has pushed the bass forage. Work a worm, topwater, spinnerbait and crankbait in these cuts.

4- Look for the larger pads as I have found these are far more productive than the small dollar bonnets or similar type pads.

5- Flip those mats in the pads! This can be the ideal cover for large bass. Look for hyacinths, chopped grass or floating roots to flip a 1/2 to 1 ounce craw style bait.

6- When hung on a pad and you don't want to disturb the pad field try this. Raise the rod handle high and create a circular motion with your rod tip trying to pull from a circular force around the pad. This often leads to better recovery of the lure versus a straight pull on the lure.

7- Use heavier line than when in open water. Don't go lighter than 14 pound test and when flippin, use 20 pound minimum.

So next time you are on the water and see some pads, give 'em a try and you may be doing more catching with less fishing!