Depending on the time of year and bass feeding habits, bulrush often dominate in fish catches over cattails. I believe it's primarily due to the depth of the water (it grows in deeper water). The larger bass tend to migrate to the first structure they come to when actively feeding, and the bulrush is often closer to these deeper water migration routes.
My personal favorite technique for fishing bulrush is to pitch a Texas rigged worm. I tend to use a harder, straight tailed worm over a ribbon tailed one. The reason is that the ribbon tail will often wrap around the bulrush stem thereby wasting time and aggravating the fisherman as well as spooking fish. My favorite worm for pitching is the Zoom trickworm in the Junebug (purple/green flack) pattern. The weight I use with the Texas rig varies with water depth and wind. The shallower the water, the lighter I go. A lighter weight gives the worm a more natural fall and can get more strikes, however if too light, the worm may catch on the bulrush stems and not finish it's way to the bottom. The windier the day is, the heavier I go. This gives me better control during the pitch as well as better feel for what's biting on the other end of my line. Too light of a weight on a windy day will throw off your pitches and often get your wrapped around a bulrush stem.
The only time I resort to heavy weights is when I'm flipping matted cover in the bulrush. I'll use 1/2 - 1 oz weights in this type of situation. If matted cover exists in bulrush, you've got to get your flippin stick out and flip the mats. If you don't you will lose out on many opportunities to catch above average bass. In working the bulrush patches/lines start back from the bulrush approx. 10-15 feet and pitch. Pitch forward of the boat if possible and restrict any side pitches or back of the boat pitches. The reason for this is that the bass are often spooked by the boat passage, and by pitching sideways or towards the rear of the boat you are often pitching to spooked fish or fish that have moved due to being spooked.
Always be a line watcher, whether pitching, casting or flippin a soft plastic. Any twitch of the line or sideways motion of the line often indicates a strike, so reel down and set the hook even if you don't feel the typical thump!
When pitching, work both deep into the bulrush patch and to the outside edge of the bulrush. Try to make contact with the stems whenever possible, but don't neglect the open pockets and also work right in the middle of those pockets.
If you follow these tips, I'm sure you will be doing more catching with less fishing!
To be able to fish for bass is a skill many anglers would love to have, but what is even more remarkable is fi you are an angler with a high success rate for catching bass. The best way of becoming successful in your bass fishing attempts is to pick up as many bass fishing tips as you can from the experts. Study these tips and incorporate them into your techniques. Like learning anything new, you will have to practice them and possibly put your own touches on them before them become automatic.
The first thing you should know about fishing for bass is the fish itself. You need to know what it eats, its habits, what type of water it is usually found in and what part of the lake is the best fishing spot. There are also several varieties of bass, such as: - striper - largemouth - smallmouth - spotted - black, and - sand bass Each of these requires a different set of skills in order to have a successful catch. Therefore, it is essential that you know what type of bass inhabit the waters you are fishing.
Smallmouth and spotted bass prefer deep water, while largemouth and black bass can be found in either deep or shallow water. The season of the year in which you are fishing is also important because this will affect the feeding habits of the bass. In the spring, for example, carp is widely available in small sizes, so it would be to your advantage to use a gold or bronze colored lure in the shape of a carp at this time of the year. Shad is a regular staple when it comes to food for bass and this bait is hard for them to get in the summer months. This is something you should take into consideration when bass fishing in summer.
You should know the spawning season and where they like to hide along the riverbank. Some of the usual habitats include areas where trees have fallen into the river, cervices in the riverbank or areas of the river close to the shore where there are lots of weeds. Once you learn how to detect places where bass could be hiding you are well on your way to a successful catch.
Most anglers never bother with the electronics on their boats until they have been unsuccessful in getting a bite for a considerable amount of time. However, the best time to use the depth sounder to your advantage is when you do get a bite. Then you should check to see if there is a school of bass in the area and the location of your lure. Once you see where the fish is, then you can throw the lure out in this location.
You also need to match the water, the season and the location to the type of bass that you are after. Some prefer to eat worms and real bait while others are attracted by the shiny objects glistening in the water and you should use artificial lures.
Both Paul Bruessow & Warren Wong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paul Bruessow has sinced written about articles on various topics from Aquarium Fish, Fishing. 20 years as a avid bass fisherman in Florida fishing local and club tournaments. Websites: and. Paul Bruessow's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.