Fishing Pad Fields Effectively

Lily pad fields are a great place to catch bass, especially during the summer months. Bass love to ambush prey from the cover of lily pads, and they can be found in all types of lily pad fields, from thick mats to sparse patches.

Here are a few tips for fishing lily pad fields for bass:

• Use the right gear. Lily pad fields can be tough on tackle, so it's important to use gear that's up to the task. A medium-heavy or heavy action baitcast rod with a fast tip is a good choice, paired with 17- to 25-pound fluorocarbon or 30 to 50-pound braid line.
• Choose the right lures. There are a variety of lures that can be effective in lily pad fields, but some of the most popular include frogs, toads, swim jigs, and flipping baits. Frogs and toads are topwater lures that are great for fishing over the top of lily pads, while swim jigs and flipping baits can be fished through and under lily pads.
• Target the right spots. The best places to fish in lily pad fields are around the edges, in holes and pockets, and near other types of structure, such as weed beds, docks, and fallen trees. Bass like to ambush prey from these areas, so they're a good place to start your search.
• Work your lure carefully. When fishing lily pads, it's important to work your lure carefully to avoid getting hung up. Cast your lure past the target area and then reel it back in slowly, making sure to keep it in contact with the lily pads. If you do get hung up, don't panic. Just try to gently ease your line free.
• Set the hook hard. When you get a bite in a lily pad field, it's important to set the hook hard. Bass are often buried deep in the lily pads, so you need to set the hook hard to drive it home. Once you've set the hook, reel the fish in as quickly as possible to keep it from getting back into the lily pads.

Take a few minutes and watch as bass pro Bob Downey explains his approach to identifying the high percentage pad field spots to target in this video from the folks at W2F…