"Slop" fishing tackle recommendation

[jk hillsdale]

Interested in learning how to fish the "slop" for largemouths. Not the areas where there a few lilie pads or sparse weeds, but the really thick stuff where it would be impossible to land a fish using "ordinary" equipment.

Seeking tackle recommendations. What would you recommend in terms of a pole, reel, line weight and brand, etc.? Thanks.

Jeff

[kroppe]

Never done this myself, but I were going to try, I would go heavy. Heavy line up to 25 lb. with little/no stretch and a rod with lots of backbone and fast action. Baitcasting reels are often used although I don't see why a spinning reel wouldn't also work.

[jpollman]

Oh man, now you're talking FUN !

jk, here's my setup.....

Bass Pro "Bionic Blade" 6'-6" Heavy Action. 3/8 - 1 oz. rod 10-20 lb line.
I run 14# Fireline on an Okuma Metaloid Spinning reel (Back the Fireline with 30-40 yds of 17 lb cheap mono)
For the slop I use almost nothing but Scum Frogs ! (Thanks to Byron for showing me that trick :))

Scum Frogs (http://www.scumfrog.com)

They come in LOTS of colors. The MAIN one that I use is White with the chartreuse/white "tail"

I fish the HEAVY stuff that's for sure. I've been doing this a little over two years and have yet to have a break off using the 14# Fireline. It's great stuff because it doesn't stretch and you can get a good SOLID hookset.

Now get out there and "hit the slop". :)

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

I use a very heavy 6'6 rod.
With 20lbs test on my bait caster.

I have noticed I would get better hook up's with the scum frogs
if I didn't set the hook immediatly.

Rippum back;)

[fishing addict]

I've been fishing some fairly heavy cover,this year,with a rubber worm,rigged carolina style,but no wieght(hooked weedless).Various retreives have worked on different fish.When you feel some weight,let them take it a ways,giving them line with the rod tip.Once they have taken all you can give with out opening the bail,set the hook firm,but not jerky.Electric Blue,seems to be the favorite lately.Sometimes you have to fish it almost like a jerk bait to get a response.Other times,I wait a minute or so after the cast,before starting the retreive.Sometimes they will nail it during the pause.I,bought some scum frogs,and haven't used them yet,as the action has been too good on the worm.I,ve been having my best response with 8lb mono.Too heavy of line will shorten your cast.I,like 8lb fireline,as it cuts weeds better,but have not been getting as much action on it,even with a florocarbon leader.My 7foot,medium lightning rod,has worked best for this style of fishing.My best so far was a 19inch largemouth,right out of thick slop.Nothing to brag about,but definately a good tussel.I've landed a number of 14-15 inch in the last three weeks,on water that has been getting really pounded by other fisherman.

[Auditor]

Try a Uncle Josh jumbo pork frog in forg color on a large weedless hook with no weight. Just move it slowly and feel for the bite. We do this after dark and it is a blasst.

[grizzly]

Well my favorite slop lure would have to be the Zoom trick worm on 6/20 spiderwire with a gamagatsu 3/0 hook. On my 6.6 saltwater musky rod. This rig will allow you to put the bait into the heaviest nasty crap there is. Second rig would be a baitcaster with 17 lb test xl with a Rat of any type or a Johnson silver minnow with a trailer. If you cant get them to go on those baits your in trouble. Gotta love that explosion and big old hole they blow in the slop to nail a bait. We see the fish coming from 15 to 20 feet away. The trick is to wait before setting the hook. Takes a few swing and misses to get the hang of it.


Grizzly.

[jigworm]

Drag an unwieghted 7-8" lizard over the top of the slop. Use a steady retrieve and watch the bass blow a big ole hole through the moss trying to get at it. You have to let bass take it for a few seconds before you set the hook. It's hard to do at first after seeing all that water and scum go flying everywhere!

[jk hillsdale]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your help. Bought what I needed today based on your recommendations. Looking forward to getting started with this "new" (to me) way of bass fishing.

Jeff

[jpollman]

Good deal Jeff ! I just know you're going to love it. When it comes to the slop, you do have to condition yourself to hold off a bit on the hookset. Otherwise you'll just pull it right out of their mouth. When I'm fishing the Scum Frog, here's how Byron showed me (and he is the Scum Frog MASTER :)). Just cast it out and let it sit. Sometimes they'll hit it right away and sometimes not. Just slowly "twitch" it on the retrieve. When I get a hit, I point the rod tip at that spot and extend my arms. (Thus allowing some slack in the line) Then with the rod tip pointing at the hit, take a couple of turns on the reel to take up the slack. Now you RIP THEIR LIPS OFF ! :) Give 'em a good solid hookset. It REALLY takes time to get used to letting them take the bait. I know it sounds like a lot to remember. But once you've gotten used to it, it's not really hard and does produce.

Good luck out there. Let us know how you do.

[Danatodd99]

Several good methods here for sure ... also are sluggos.

If I am fishing the heavy matted weeds midday for shadow bass I will use my punch jig. It's a 1oz. I tip it with either a partial Berkley craw or a pork rind trimmed down.
This breaks through all the weeds, no questions about it.

I also use Spiderwire line braided in 50# test 12# dia.
I have yet to break one off, it is like a buzz saw cutting through pads and Hydrilla and milfoil.

Good luck

[DaveW731]

All the basic ideas (heavy equipment, give the fish time before setting the hook, experiment with different retrieves) seem covered.
Just wanted to give a "plug" (anyone else old enough to remember when that term was applied to crankbaits?) for Mann's Super Rat: weighs a ton, casts like a bullet, great hook-ups (has a treble hook setup), very bouyant and weedless. Creates a good amount of disturbance in the weeds, probably because of its bulk.