Drum inside thick reeds. Any options?

3520 Views 23 Replies 16 Participants Last post by challenger, Sep 13, 2014

challenger

Discussion Starter · Sep 9, 2014

I've been seeing a lot of nice size drum in the reeds. They cruise along weaving in and out of the thick reeds. I'm pretty sure they actually venture deep into the reeds because I can here chomping sounds often and I see the reeds tremble. These are thick reeds, not cord grass or starting but the thick stemmed reeds that are 6'+ tall. Anyway the reeds border the mainland and are not part of any spoil islands. My question has to do with weather or not it is possible to target these fish and, if so, with what? I've pitched a top water into the reeds after seeing some bow wakes and shrimp spook. I got a blow up but once the plug is a foot from the edge of the reeds it is ignored. I don't see this as a fishable situation but I'm eager to hear what others might think.
Thanks

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Brenardo

· #2 · Sep 9, 2014

Maybe flipping a bass jig...?

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roostertail24

· #3 · Sep 9, 2014

Maybe a artificial crab. That's most likely what they're eating.

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NCPIERMAN

· #4 · Sep 9, 2014

i sit across from them and throw a live mullet right to the edge of the grass and hang on ,they go in and they come out,i love sitting there as the tide turns to outgoing

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trigger22

· #5 · Sep 9, 2014

Line yourself up where your kayak is right beside the grass and cast parallel down it working your plug back to you. You'll keep your plug right beside the grass the whole time. Next bet is a weedless spoon OR since you like Topwater baits so much a weedless Topwater frog. Yes, I said a frog to catch redfish. Honestly it looks like mullet coming across the top of the water. Don't be scared to throw way up in the grass. Worry about getting the fish out after you hook up with him. Bit of advice for that though, you have to rip him out. Locked down drag and get him out as soon as possible. You'll break some fish off this way but it's a lot of fun and extremely effective. Last resort for me, do as Pierman said and toss a mullet against the grass.

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drumchaser

· #6 · Sep 9, 2014

Spoon feed black/clearwater, gold/darkwater.

challenger

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 9, 2014

Excuse my ignorance but what "bass jig"?
I tried gold spoons but maybe I'm not fishing them properly. If I throw to the edge of the reeds the spoon sinks right away in the mud. I can't throw into the reeds because they are too tall and too thick. The spoon would get hung in the tops. I like the idea of throwing parallel to the edge of the reeds. I'll take a photo to better illustrate. I think these fish are following some separations through these reeds to get to the interior.
Thanks

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Brenardo

· #8 · Sep 9, 2014

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Scott Hobbs

· #9 · Sep 9, 2014

At times you can find the "runs" that the reds use to get farther into back water. Find a few and fish them when the tide turns and starts falling. That will bring the fish and bait they are chasing out where you can get to them.

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c.lane

· #10 · Sep 9, 2014

Out going tide. Be there waiting

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papadave

· #11 · Sep 9, 2014

4

Quite a few different options for rigging plastics weedless.

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challenger

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 9, 2014

3

papadave said:
Quite a few different options for rigging plastics weedless.
View attachment 65439 View attachment 65438 View attachment 65440

Thanks. These post have given me a better understanding and I'll likely employ some of them. I happen to have all the hooks pictured and I have one of those jigs as part of a crank bait I can disassemble.
Here are a couple of photos I took today two hours before high tide:

These are thick reeds that are identical to cattails without the cigar shaped seed heads. I don't know exactly what they are called. Are these the same as those pictured in the minds? I can't pitch anything deep into this cover but I can try to get between a couple of the clumps that are more sparse. If I see activity and happen to get a hook up will the fish head into the cover or take off into open water.
I got this one on the very first cast using a brand new mirrolure top dog. I found it hung up in the weeds while paddling out. It is the white with read head color and it must have been lost and abandoned. I just crushed the barbs and threw it out toward the corner of some Marsh grass. First cast I figured I'd there would be plenty more to come so it went back. Needless to say I didn't land another. I had a few other hook ups but they somehow got off. One felt pretty darn heavy too. That's a big drawback for top water IMO. I think most of the drum actually get foul hooked and the hook tears out. The one I here actually had a single treble hook in its mouth but I'd guess at least 1/3 of the fish I land have hooks in the chin and none in the mouth.

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theramrod

· #13 · Sep 9, 2014

1st cast curse. Many times I've caught a fish on the 1st cast of the day and not another the rest of the time. That grass is thicker/taller then what I was expecting. I dont think I'd really attempt to throw anything in there. Like others said, work right along the edge, especially on the outgoing tide.

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challenger

Discussion Starter · #14 · Sep 9, 2014

I have a bunch of these

But I have no idea how to rig them. If a put a leader through these heads they would theoretically sit on the hook eye but I don't know how to keep them from sliding up the leader without some sloppy knot and plastic bead?
I took one skirt off and put it on a jig head. I also put a worm keeper and a worm to make it "weedless". My local tackle store had two, count them, two bass jigs with skirts.
Sorry for the know nothing skirt setup.

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challenger

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 11, 2014

Just a general FYI. I youtubed these things and they are "punch weights". I imagine there are other names for them but I found out how to rig them a couple of different ways although I'm not sure I'll use them for the drum in these reeds. I've got a couple of other things I'll throw as per advice here and if nothing gets them going I'll spend time chasing those in the more open water. Thanks for all the tips and advice.

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Drum Runner

· #16 · Sep 11, 2014

Weedeater with a hedge trimmer attachment.

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challenger

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 11, 2014

Drum Runner said:
Weedeater with a hedge trimmer attachment.

Glad you posted because I was thinking more along the lines of diesel fuel and lighter.

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crabman00

· #18 · Sep 11, 2014

Mullet minner under a bobber right on the edge of the grass.

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Drum Runner

· #19 · Sep 11, 2014

challenger said:
Glad you posted because I was thinking more along the lines of diesel fuel and lighter.

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And a dose of Pramitol so it won't come back in the next 3 years,

h2ohhh

· #20 · Sep 11, 2014

I really believe you will spook skittish reds throwing in there and the density would be an exercise in frustration. Cast within a foot of that stuff or in one of the little pockets and I think you'd be better off.

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