Flora Fishing: 5 Tips for Angling Aquatic Plants

Everyone loves a good offshore adventure—but it’s not the only way to land a prize-worthy catch!

The aquatic vegetation that hugs the shores of your favorite lakes and rivers is just as filled with fish to find. You just need some patience, technique… and a keen eye for the one-of-a-kind action you’ll find just below the surface.

Read on as we share five of our best tips for angling aquatic plants.

Why fish here?

Anglers naturally want to know the ins and outs of a destination before gearing up and getting there. What’s biting? Why should I fish here?

If you ask many of the anglers who fish aquatic vegetation, they’ll tell you the same thing: bass—and big ones! Many species can be found in the shoreline “weeds,” but largemouth bass is among the most abundant feature here, thanks to the species’ preference for the cover and feeding grounds that the vegetation provides.

In general, natural cover like this is a great place to go (or to at least start your angling adventure) since it provides food opportunities as well as oxygen itself. Just as vegetation on land gives off the oxygen we need to breathe, so too does the vegetation you’ll find in the water. Fish love the stuff, naturally, and can thus often be found around places where it’s plentiful.

Go green

Wondering where to start? Virtually any lake or river will have the aquatic vegetation you need to land a catch (or at least get in some practice time). Since many lakes can be surrounded by aquatic plant life, it might help to narrow it down by focusing on promising features, like especially green leaves. Dark, rich colors convey an oxygen-rich environment that’s perfect for the fish. While you shouldn’t neglect less vibrant cover (virtually any sort of structure, alive or dead, natural or manmade, is worth exploring), the green area is always a good place to start.

Know what to look for

There are some other key things to look for that can help you find the perfect place to land a catch. Features that stand out are worth exploring—such as particularly dense clusters of vegetation since these will provide much-needed cover from the sun during the middle part of the day, or simply in sunnier parts of the lake. The presence of different sorts of plant species (above and below the surface) can also boost your luck.

Bait smart

When it comes to actually casting your line and picking the perfect bait, fishing the aquatic vegetation calls for some strategy. Anything without an exposed hook is a good place to start, since the weeds can be tricky and hard to un-twist if you get caught up. Frogs are popular, as are craw for below the surface and spinnerbaits, too, since all of these offer better chances at avoiding snag and, of course, attracting bass!

Perfect positioning

The ideal way to cast your line depends on a variety of factors—weather, time of day and so much more. However, one helpful rule of thumb is to position your Robalo alongside the vegetation and cast your line parallel to its edge. This will help you prevent snags that happen when you try to cross toward the vegetation itself, while still providing some ample space in which to land a catch.

Now that you’re in-the-know, hop onto your Robalo and explore the lush, leafy oasis of aquatic vegetation! You never quite know what you’ll find in the flora.