by Bob Jensen

The weedline is a great place to throw a bait during the fishing season. As soon as the weedline is established, and even before, predator fish will be there looking for something to eat.

In the autumn months a variety of fish will be lurking along the weedline. You might have a school of crappies suspended just off the edge of the deep weedline, there might be a group of largemouth on a corner of the weedline, and just a little farther down the weedline where the vegetation juts out a bit and forms a point, there could be some walleyes. And it’s not unusual to find a bonus musky or northern pike roaming over the tops of the weeds or along the deep edge. Although there may be more fish grouped tighter in different areas, the deep weedline in the fall will often provide a smorgasbord of fishing action.

Lots of techniques will take fish along the weedline in the fall, but if you’re just looking for something to pull back, you can’t beat a jig and soft bait or live bait combo. Start with a jig tipped with either Gulp!, Slurpies, or Power Bait. The species of fish being targeted will help determine the shape of bait to use.

If largemouth bass are the target, tie on a Jungle Jig and attach one of the new seven inch Gulp! Super Worms or a Slurpies six inch Jungle Hog. If you want to increase the odds for a truly big bass, go with a ten inch Power Worm. Work the jig/soft-bait combos along the deep edge of the weeds. A Jungle Jig is preferred because the rubber-skirted body adds bulk, which is especially appealing in the fall.

If you want walleyes, use a Gulp! four inch minnow on a Slurp! Jig. Slurp! Jigs were designed to be used with soft baits. Gulp! is tough stuff that can be fished effectively through the weeds. Rip the jig/Gulp! combo through the base of the weeds pretty quickly.

If the walleyes want a slower presentation, you can’t beat a redtail chub in the four to six inch size. In the fall we almost always have some redtails in the boat: They’ll turn a slow day into a productive day. However, redtails can be expensive. I keep them in one of the aerated Frabill minnow containers to make sure they’ll stay lively.

If it’s a calm late afternoon or early evening when you start fishing, and you see fish dimpling the surface near the weedline, move very quietly toward the dimpling and throw a sixteenth ounce jig tipped with a two inch Power Grub or Slurpies Swim’n Grub. Swim it slowly through the area being dimpled and you’ll probably catch some crappies. The dimples are created by crappies sucking bugs off the surface. Since the crappies are feeding on the surface, you’ll want to swim your bait just a couple of feet below the surface of the water.

The weedline can provide lots of fall action. Make sure you’re fishing healthy green weeds and keep moving until you find the fish. Catch a few, then when action slows move farther along the weedline. You’ll get bit, you’ll have a good time, and that’s what fishing is all about.