One of the more intimidating sights to see in bass fishing is a lake that is essentially one big field of grass. We all ask the same questions, “where the heck do you start?” To add more complication to the equation, factor in 8-12’ water under the grass and you all of a sudden have a huge area that you have to dissect! From my experience though, this is where I tend to find a better-quality fish and here are the THREE baits I keep on my deck to pick this stuff apart.

Frog

One key grass bass no matter the depth is they tend to suspend in the cover. So, even though it may seem intimidating to throw a topwater over 12’ of water, chances are those fish are possibly only sitting a few feet under the surface anyway! Especially during lowlight conditions like early morning, late afternoon, and cloudy days; a frog is the first bait that I’m going to pick up. It allows me to cover water quickly with minimal snags on any emergent cover. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy watching big fish come blow up a frog?!

Something to Flip!

As the water heats up and the sun gets high, this is in my hand 99% of the time. The grass I’m fishing tends to dictate what size weight I go with, but the key to getting the bait down quickly, into the thickest areas, and triggering reaction bites is to peg something in the ¾ to 1 ¼ oz. range. In most cases I’m trying to imitate the size and shape of a panfish, so a boat like a Strike King Rage Bug or a Googan Bandito Bug is going to get the nod. And in any case, make sure you spooled up with at least 50-pound braid.

Senko

This is my finesse option for when things get tough. For one, it offers a less intrusive bait without a ton of action. Second, since it is more streamlined you can get away with a smaller weight in SOME instances to get it through. Third, what fish doesn’t eat a senko, right? I will fish this on braid, but often times with a fluorocarbon leader to aid in the stealth approach. I will peg a 1/4 or 1/8 oz. weight and pitch in and around the same places I would flip.

After spending a lot of time honing the grass game over the last couple years, I’ve found that these three set-ups are often times then only three I’m left with even after a day of experimenting. They have helped put a lot of bass in my boat and I’m sure they will for you, as well!