Working Reeds
by Adam Johnson
Some people call them reeds; I call it bulrush. No
matter what you call this emergent vegetation you can almost
always find some fish weaving through the filaments of green
between the bottom and the surface of the water.
Bass love reeds because they can ambush the
baitfish that are always found there in great numbers. Pike blend
in nicely as they hover in front of the thick clumps. Sunfish
actually feel some comfort in the reeds as if it were a sanctuary
from the predators that linger in the deeper water nearby.
One of the things that you can count on when it
comes to the bulrush is that any gamefish or big panfish that are
in amongst this vegetation will be actively feeding. I come to
this conclusion because I realize that most of the bigger gamefish
use the depths for their resting spot and the larger-sized panfish
will often be stationing at the base of a weedline, or in the case
of crappies, suspended. When fish move into the reeds, they are
going there to eat.
Once you get adept at fishing bulrush you are going
to be pleased that many of the lakes and reservoirs in the United
States have this type of vegetation. I chase bass, walleyes, pike
and panfish all over the midwest, south and southeast and one
thing I can often count on is that a good share of the bodies of
water I’m on will have bulrush.
Anglers that consistently fish bulrush typically
rely on the spinnerbait because this lure gives them the ability
to cast right into the mass of stalks and get the lure back to the
boat without getting hung up. The spinnerbait is a great lure for
fishing reeds.
Another great lure is the weedless spoon. To give
the spoon a little added enticement I’ll often tip the hook with a
scented plastic trailer. Sometimes I slide a three-inch plastic
grub tail onto the spoon, and other times it’s a seven-inch
plastic worm. As that spoon is slithering between reed stalks
that plastic trailer is quivering under the surface, which most
fish just can’t resist.
Fishing the edges of the bulrush is one of my
favorite styles of fishing in early morning and evening periods,
especially when the water is calm. For that I use a topwater
lure. Any topwater will work, but something that twitches well is
my favorite. Floating frogs cast right to the edge of the reed
bed and just left to sit until the ripples stop can elicit
explosive bites when you start the retrieve with nothing more than
a little twitch. There’s nothing as exciting as this type of
fishing when it comes to bulrush.
One of the familiar aspects of bulrush beds is
there are openings, or pockets spread out among the clumps of
reeds. This is a great place to find those big bluegills. This
takes nothing more than a small bobber above some bait suspended
just a couple of feet below the float. These panfish are
literally untouched by most anglers who think of the bulrush as a
haven for bass. Some of the biggest bluegills on the lake will be
in the bulrush and they’re easy to catch. The biggest factor in
targeting these bluegills is, don’t spook them. Sneak up to the
edge of the pocket with your electric motor and make subtle
movements to get the bait out. This is often shallow, clear water
so keep that in mind.
Bulrush can be frustrating until you get the hang
of fishing in it. Stick with it and you’ll find fishing the reeds
provides big rewards which makes it worth it.
Adam Johnson is a pro-angler and an Aquatics
Biologist. For more of Adam’s insights visit
www.adamjohnsonoutdoors.com.
