Posted 7/18/2016 1:45 AM (#823951) Subject: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 192
How effective can targeting some of the shallow bays with weeds be all summer long? I'm talking about 2-5 fow with scattered weeds that come up a foot below the surface. With water temps being 75-78. And does the water clarity of a lake affect weed use? Clear vs muddy/stained (clay bottom) lakes. Thanks.
Posted 7/18/2016 10:01 AM (#823979 - in reply to #823951) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
We fish the slop all year long and do very well. Pads can be exceptional, and anything with reeds is good. I've caught big fish in a foot and a half of water in July and August here in WI, on the Goon, and on LOTW.
ANY moving water is a big plus, fish the current breaks in the slop and hold on.
Posted 7/18/2016 11:37 AM (#823992 - in reply to #823951) Subject: RE: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 1040
I've got a couple of lakes up north that really turn on in the heat of summer. Slop fishing at it's finest. Lilly pads are great cover from the heat. And they seem to be a little ornary when sitting in there. So yes, fish it! I found that willow leave spinnerbaits worked good for that kind of presentation.
Posted 7/18/2016 2:21 PM (#824012 - in reply to #823951) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 400
Location: Metro
Interesting. I always thought when the lakes get hot they go deep. Am I missing something. Definitely not trying to argue just would think they would try to go deep vs. stay shallow. That is something that has always frustrated me when I am trying to decide where to start fishing.
Posted 7/18/2016 3:11 PM (#824020 - in reply to #823951) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
The breakline fish may move deeper, but the slop fish will stay put, and won't be bothered by anglers much. Muskies are quite comfortable in warmer water more than most folks think. The food is there in the form of little pannies, little bass, and minnows, too.
Posted 7/19/2016 7:06 AM (#824084 - in reply to #823951) Subject: RE: Weed/slop fishing
To see why the muskys stay in the slop when the water warms up, take a kayak or canoe and paddle slowly through the shallow pads. All around you small fish will be breaking the surface, moving out of the way. When I retired last year, I had the time to paddle down the river that connects the lake I live on to the next lake in the chain, and was amazed at the amount of bait fish in the pads. I had caught and moved muskies from the pads but still was surprised by the numbers of baitfish. Also some nice sized bass.
Posted 7/19/2016 7:36 AM (#824089 - in reply to #823951) Subject: RE: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 396
Location: Northern Illinois
Also, don't ignore the shallow weedy areas around your pier or a resort you are staying at especially early AM and PM. I've see this and been part of it several times where the shallow weeds right in front of me wasn't high on my priority list and I found out at the end of the week it was holding muskies. Lost a high 40's fish right next to the swim raft in a weedy bay a few years back. Just a couple of weeks ago I was fixing my line 30 feet from the pier, as I set off at 5:30 AM, and I saw a nice muskie hunting the shallows.
Posted 7/19/2016 8:10 AM (#824093 - in reply to #824036) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 167
Location: West Central WI
I have about a dozen Bucher Slopmasters in various colors and blade combos. They get through pads and reeds clean and most weeds. If you do get some weeds on them, give them a rip and they usually clear. The original works the best with single hook and one Colorado blade. Multiple blades seem to pick up more weeds. I have in various colors and blade combinations. My boat partners fish to the edge of weeds. I cast in the back and pull through. You can also bulge them and go over the top with the blade plopping on the surface like a Top Raider as well with a little practice. Check them out on Rollie & Hellen's web site at the bottom of the page. https://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/navigate.php/nav_id/35. If you want to give these a try, I'd recommend starting with the original black with silver blade. Replace the rubber with a 5" (about) white tail. You can find them hanging in your local sporting goods stores. I've caught a lot of muskies on them as well as pike and bass so they provide a lot of entertainment on the water. I burn out the blades and they sometimes break off when ripping or casting after a lot of use so I put a snap swivel on them and replace as necessary. I keep a supply of different color blades in my boat. Use smaller blades if you want to really rip them fast. Also, keep a good supply of rubber tails in various colors/lengths because they get shredded from fish. My boat partners borrow them a lot.
Posted 7/19/2016 10:32 AM (#824106 - in reply to #823951) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 1040
When fishing pads and heavy slop, all you need to do is create commotion on the water. I like single hook baits. Safety pin style spinnerbaits with big willow leaf blades. Or buzz baits. Used to be I'd see those in musky sizes with single hooks. But my best ones were always simple bass buzz baits. You can pitch those things way back into the pads and skip them on top, then when they hit the water, they buzz right away and that is usually when the violent hits happen.
If you've never tried slop fishing, you are missing out. Yes fish go deep when it is really warm. And yes, some will also go really shallow. Slop is cover. And there simply is food everywhere.
Cool thing about most slop that I fish? I can fish it quickly. Easy to tell if fish are in it or not. Not uncommon to have 2-3 fish in the same little 8 foot stretch of pads. And boy, does something rustling on top of the pads really tick them off. Just violent hits, usually they engulf followed by the huge tail boil away from the boat to take the fish right back into the pads, so hang on!
Posted 7/19/2016 10:37 AM (#824110 - in reply to #824106) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Location: Contrarian Island
I fish bass alot in weeds/slops/pads on a pond...I use this frog a lot and keep thinking someone should make a musky size version of this exact frog...I think muskies would love it and it goes over/thru everything.... http://www.basspro.com/Stanley-Jigs-Ribbit-Top-Toad-Hollow-Body-Fro...
Posted 7/19/2016 11:49 AM (#824113 - in reply to #823951) Subject: Re: Weed/slop fishing
Posts: 576
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI
Check out a weedless bass bait called the Weed Demon by Snag Proof. It is pretty heavy and casts great. I've caught lots of muskies up to 48 inches on them. I make my own small 4 inch leaders and split ring the lure to the leader. Works great in the really dense slop. Make sure you sharpen the snot out of the hooks.
Edited by KenK 7/19/2016 11:51 AM
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Weed Demon.jpg (21KB - 550 downloads)
