Hydrilla vs. Lilypads?

[BluegillCrankbait]

Situation: water temp. 65-70 degrees...slightly stained water...safelight/early morning start...spawn/post spawn activity

Question:  Where would you start your day with the situation above given?

          1. Hydrilla mats in 4-8 foot of water (some surfaced out)
          2. Lilypads on the northern shoreline in 2-5 foot of water

And what would be your lure of choice depending on the situation you pick?


Thanks for any advice on this topic

[Buzbait88]

I think I would most definately start with lily pads and I would start out by throwing a buzzbait or vibrashock.  Lily pads make awesome spots for bass to spawn, because they offer protection and the roots are great for bass lay their eggs on.  Its a great spawn area and even the postspawn fish will still move into the shallows to feed early in the morning.  A super fluke would also make a great bait if the bite is slow.

[casso]

Where are the fish??

If I had those choices not knowing anything else, I would tie a buzz bait on, head to the lilly pads, and turn the trolling motor on high looking for active fish and adjust according to conditions that day.

Lots of thing could play a role like wind and what the fish are doing or keying in on.

[Buzbait88]

Water clarity could also play a role.  If they water is very clear, they might prefer to spawn in the deeper hydrilla.  Or maybe the water in the lilypads is muddy for some reason and the hydrilla is clear water.

[tmiller2]

i think i would start in the pads with a buzzbait, horney toad, or vibrashock....but nate is right it can depend on the water clarity

[Joshawa]

With that information I would also hit the pads with some sort of top water. Either a bronze-eye or a buzzbait.

[CouchTater]

I havent caught a bigger fish out of the lily's on Guntersville. I guess because there are not alot of them. All hydrilla or Milfoil...

I would have to say a 3/4-1 oz Jig to punch thru the Matted grass and get down to the fish that are hiding out in there. I would also have a 1/2 jig to target the edges of the grass and a T-rigged Lizard to fish in there. 

I wouldn't rule out a 1/2 oz rattle trap worked on the edges of the Hydrilla.

[GA Puma]

You only have two vegitation that are the issue. In Florida there mostly pretty close to each other so you can cover water from one to the other rather quickly then focus on the more productive. There will still be fish spawning and there will be fish already in post spawn too.

[Keithscatch]

Head to those Spatterdock fields and toss a lizard on top. I use a Loco Lizard by Gambler and it works quit well in pads on top. I sometimes put a small weight on it like a 3/16th just enough to make it sink slowly and fish it that way too. That way if the top is not producing try it underneath the water and work it along the pads. Also a senko in there is a great choice also.

I would also hit that hydrilla field like Eric C said and work the outside of the hydrilla with a lipless bait. If it were a high sunny day I would not do that I would head for the pads. Or look for holes in the hydrilla. If it were a cloudy day I would prefer the hydrilla mat and work the edges myself.