Working Reeds
By Adam JohnsonSome 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.
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