Weedless 3/0 Popping Wedge Pattern Test at Local Lake Erie connected Basss, Pike Spot

Forgot the camera so no pictures.  Started with a 2/0 Black Dive Banger that has caught some bass in other water but wasn't doing much to day.  I did hook and lose one decent bass on it. 

Switched to the weedless tie of a 3/0 Popping Wedge and began getting hits then and there on the next weed pockets and clumps I cast to.  Lots of bass were in adjacent weedy water that was a lot further from the shore than I usually find them.  They were mostly surprisingly thin and only fought weakly.  Got about 8 fish 14 to 20 inches.  I remember two 16"s, two 17"s and18" and a 20 incher.  I measured him along the paddle which turned out to be almost exactly 20 inches.  The 20 incher was too slender with a huge head and mouth, his dorsal spines were somewhat damaged.  One speedy small Pike just got the fly in the tips of his toothy lips as I ripped it off the surface to make the next cast.

The double weed guards hooked hits and landed fish at at near 100%.  The popper would slide over loose soft weeds that just touched the surface.  The main advantage was more psychological.  I could cast at small pockets or close to weed edges fearlessly and often a errant cast didn't foul on weeds and still had a chance to get hit.  Once i got to water outside the hot area I found no bass.  I tried back in the cattail labyrinths, no fish there and the wind was gusting harder, and finding smooth sheltered water and controlling kayak was difficult.

I like double, slightly spread weed guards because a fish only has to deflect one to get hooked.  Next batch I will try 30lb Fluorocarbon instead of 25 pound.  I want it to slide over more substantial weeds and fallen cattail fronds.


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