TAKEOFF
SCENARIOS
IN AND OUT OF GRASS undeRstandinG the Role aquatic veGetation plaYs in eaRlY-season Bass positioninG can lead to MoRe and BiGGeR catches
“
Bass in grass ” commonly defines florida fishing , but catching fish consistently requires an understanding of when and where the fish move in the green stuff . some of it ’ s the result of seasonal patterns programmed into the fish ’ s dna , and environmental conditions also enter into the equation .
What ’ s so special about aquatic vegetation to bass in early spring ? sunshine state native and flW tour pro Brandon McMillan lists the top grass attraction as being shelter during harsh conditions such as a cold front or when bright sunlight and high pressure follow fronts . the next big motivator is spawning season , with fish taking up different positions for prespawn , spawn and postspawn periods .
By David A . Brown
of course , it doesn ’ t hurt that most of the native vegetation that provides cover for bass also harbors crawfish , bluegills and golden shiners – dietary staples for hungry largemouths any time of the year .
photo by rob NEWELL habitat Preference
Grass types vary widely in florida . in early spring , McMillan first looks for hydrilla and hyacinth mats , “ the Grade-a stuff ” where bass lay up during cold fronts or high-pressure situations . after that , his next choices are types of vegetation with vertical stalks such as cattails , round reeds and Kissimmee grass / needle grass ( often called “ hay grass ”). tour pro Bradley hallman adds lily pad stems to the mix . like cattails , lily pads offer the prime vertical , hard stems bass prefer to spawn near .
HYDRILLA HYACINTH MATS CATTAILS
ROUND REEDS HAY GRASS LILY PADS
specific Zones hallman focuses on dense vegetation such as thick cattail heads during cold fronts . But when warm weather spurs spawning movement , he looks to less dense cover where holes and gaps offer protected nesting spaces . in his fishing neighborhood , that ’ s often stands of reeds .
“ the current weather conditions are most relevant to whether you ’ re fishing reeds with holes in it , or reeds that are thick , thick , thick ,” hallman says . “ they ’ re all coming in to spawn , but how far along they are in that process depends on the weather .”
“ as long as the water ’ s clean and it ’ s 60 degrees or higher , the bass are going to be in the grass , looking to spawn ,” McMillan adds . “ When they ’ re not spawning , they ’ ll be in the thickest grass they can find .” exit Plan
Between spawning waves , bass are less homebound under cloudy , overcast skies or any low-light periods and more inclined to roam through grass and along well-defined edges . Breezy afternoons – even during partly sunny times – will also pull fish out of the grass .
“ the strike zones will be longer ,” hallman says of these “ looser ” periods . “ they ’ ll come farther to get a bait .”
When the weather is stable , hallman anticipates multiple transitions during a day on the water . early mornings typically find the fish patrolling grass edges to feed before tucking under the shady canopies when the sun gets overhead . dimmer light of late afternoon or midday clouds could also stimulate outward movement and more feeding activity – as long as the fish haven ’ t committed to beds .
january 2017 i flWfishing . Com 19