I hear about people fishing the grasslines at Fork and had a question. I have only fished the lake a few times and have fished some of the grass lines, but the ones I have fished didn't seem to have a definitive grass line. There seems to be more clumps of grass than a line. Is that what people are referring to? I hear about fishing the grassline with a dropshot or worm. What would be the best technique for fishing a dropshot around the grass? We have zero grass here in Louisiana so I'm not that up on it. Thanks.

Billy

Down south around the mouth of lil caney the grass lines are defined pretty well right now.
You can throw soft plastics right on the visual edge and work it down the submerged outside edge and catch a lot of fish no doubt. Lots of dinks 8-13" inch fish are abundant.

You can also use a small C/B like a bandit 100 in a shad pattern and cover some ground and catch some better fish.
Early in the mornings a top water or a stick bait like a rouge are working very well.
We've also had some good results with horney toads and buzzbaits, if they don't get on either of those two baits quickly abandon that and get with the C/B's and soft plastics..

Good luck

deeper water will have defined edges. shallower flats will have clumps. flip those clumps with a jig, or burn a spinnerbait over top of them if the sun is out.

+1

Thanks guys for the advice. I appreciate it. Ronnie, when you mention flipping at the clumps with a jig, do you pitch directly into the clump or around the edges. Thanks again.

Billy

A lot also depends on the type of grass, coontail and milfoil late in the season will clump up more. The hydrilla beds will form huge mats and have a more defined edge specially the main lake areas where the water hax more uniformed clarity. I like to work a small spinnerbait this time of year through the clumps, a tandem willowleaf in 1/4 oz comes through the grass suprisingly well. A lot of strikes will occur when you just pop through the grass.

Start at the outer grass line which by the way is not the well defined wall where the matted grass stops. The "outer" grass line can be located 15 to 25 yds away from the mat itself and can be found using your electronics.

Follow the contour of this outside grass line casting parallel and progressively work your way up to the matted grass. Once you come in contact with the fish drop a buoy or mark a GPS waypoint and work this area in an ever-going circle. Bass in grass tend to "School up". So where you catch one there is likely many more in that general area.

Thanks Fast lane. That was a great explanation. It sounds like you throw horizontal baits like James mentioned to locate them?

You are welcome. Horizontal baits are great for locating fish especially during windy or low light conditions. Your larger than average bass/bigger stringers will normally be caught "pitching/flipping the grass" using a heavy-pegged 1-ounce TX Rig, Braided Line 50-65lb and use a 7ft+ Heavy Action Rod, Also the same set-up with a 3/4 to 1-1/2 ounce Grass Jig. When you feel the jig/tx rig getting tangled apply pressure, then release, apply more pressure, then release; if that don't work apply pressure while shaking the rod tip. Once it breaks free, pause for 10-15 seconds and that is when they bite it sometimes. Sometimes you can "stroke" a Jig out of the grass and you will get a reaction bite. This usually works better in the summer months when the water temperature is higher.

Make a short cast or pitch and keep your TX rig/jig more vertical. The less vertical or longer cast/pitch the more you have to work not only your bait through the submerged grass but your line too. Cover water, don't make casts that are right on top of each other. If you use vertical baits to find fish---Make casts/pitches that are 10 to 15 feet apart or so until you start getting bite. You can fish a mile of grass and not catch a fish. But then you will find a little spot where you catch several bigger fish in just a short time. So don't get discouraged.

I've done the pitching/flipping grass thing when it was matted hydrilla and there was a definitive grassline, but what about the milfoil and coontail clumps? Do you actually pitch directly into them or do you like to work the edges of the clumps with a vertical presentation. Thanks again for the help. Hopefully, once I get back to DFW area I will have more chances to practice it.

Billy

The pitching/flipping technique I am referring to is used on The "outer" Hydrilla line located 15 to 25 yds away from the mat.

Clumps of coontail & ect you can run a spinnerbait/lipless crankbait by them or flip the center of them. Those "clumps" would also be a good place in low light conditions to fish a frog, Sammy or a buzzbait.

Excellent information on this thread. Thanks!