My local lake is full again, and now we have thousands of green willows in 5-20 FOW. I have never really fished this kind of cover. What should I be doing this time of year? I know there are fish in there; I just need to learn how to get them. I figured maybe some some of you guys who fish Fork could get me on the right path.

Jig, jig,& jig... Also use a jig. Gets in the brush & comes through it good.

in the shallower water a wacky worm will catch em .

Was gonna say this, or a belly weighted super fluke will help cut through some leaves on the outskirts of cover.

deeper willows, jig
shallower willows, I prefer a trigged paddle tail worm.

Jigs, for me, get hung up in willows easily. I would t rig a smallish plastic (I use Biffle bugs a ton) and peg the sinker so it doesn't wrap over branches as easy. I would pitch, flip, drop, skip, whatever it takes to get the bait back into the thicker green parts. I'd also use a green pumpkin color as it mimics a bluegill color somewhat.

It depends on the average size of fish in the body of water. If it's a peanut factory(1-2 lbers)..a small Texas rig watermelon red creature bait with a pegged 3/8 weight. If there's some 4+ lbers in there, get jiggy with it. If you get some wind blowing in on the shallow willows, a spinnerbait.

Also try swimming a zoom ultravibe speed worm.

Just like anywhere look for patterns. you might find fish mainly half way down the trees. Or they might congregate at the tops of branches or down by the roots. Pay attention to your electronics and where you get bit.

Jigs with a trailer

For the thick stuff I like a to put a punch skirt on my T-rig with a 1/2 - 3/4oz weight pegged. Sweet beaver or craw tube.