These Baits Dominate When Fishing Slime Weed!

[@seizedcarcass8440]

I have it’s scum all over my local ponds. It floats up off the bottom when the heat goes up and it gets on everything. The two baits I’ve found that work best around it is finesse jigs and mojo rigs. Frogs work really well!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@seizedcarcass8440]

@@MattStefanFishing Thankyou for putting out awesome content

[@mulder5118]

I've gotten quiet a few tightrope jigs this winter and can not wait to try them out when the snow and ice melts. I just love the story behind them and they started it out his garage.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on!

[@richardbossman9875]

Really good to get this info ahead of time because in what will be a blink of an eye we’ll be fishing early summer patterns and dealing with bottom slime.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@tunit8946]

Yep, here in upstate South Carolina is where slime weed is grown. Thanks for the great info.

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@sibley27perry]

I have a small lake near my house that is full of big bass but also full of slime. This video is very helpful

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@jrsher]

Being a NW Indiana angler, I am familiar and a fan of Ryan's jigs. Tight line baby fireworks jigs work on Lake Michigan smallmouth and inland largemouth lakes and ponds. Tight lines.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@davidcrump2348]

Oh I Texas rigged it like without a weight with a very light wire hook. I would use it like a Texas rig sometimes and like a jerkbait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Stick with what you have confidence with

[@mikeeller557]

We have tannic water here, it's in every lake. You learn to adapt. Thanks Matt Less that 3 weeks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep!

[@thua4673]

Thank you for the suggestions. I got a local pond that I used top water only due to slimes.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad I could help

[@gerryhazelton9569]

I’m here after fishing 🎣 a slime weed lake . Loaded with big bass here in Massachusetts.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give this a try!

[@theorthattorney]

SO GOOD! Subdivision ponds, with all that fertilizer-rich runoff from surrounding houses, get choked with that filament stuff. A jerkbait, my winter pond bait of choice, is useless in it. I'm always struggling to come up with alternate ideas but never thought of the finesse jig with those fibers poking out the bottom!

[@MattStefanFishing]

subdivision ponds can be brutal

[@davidcrump2348]

I always used a “weenie worm” by kaline’s which I cannot find any more. Weightless on spinning gear I would sometimes use a glass bead as a weight for extra casting distance. It is half electric grape and half chartruce or “ice” clear with blue black and silver glitter in it. I would jerk it like a jerk bait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good1

[@mchammer317]

Good choices, I usually go Texas rig stick worm or the small light weight Megabass dark sleeper

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on

[@PistolPete3322]

Thanks Matt. I bought those fireworks last year when you recommended them. They rarely hang up in our Ozark rivers. Smallies love em!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very cool!

[@k1llerdir]

I will say Floating worm, fluke or crawdad type bait works well. How I set up is 1/8oz weight between 2 small swivels and use about 16-20" 15lb test mono leader.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good picks!

[@exteriorhomeservices6458]

That slime is everywhere here in the summer in SW Ontario! Have some Catch Co jigs in pink and summer craw and now I have a better understanding when, where and how to use them. Thank you for all the great tips!

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@Surfer-727]

Thanks very much for the tips. I remember KVD said a chatter bait is very good for getting through slime.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sometimes...if its not to thick

[@brady8257]

Thanks for the drop shot tips. I never drop shot because I fish pretty shallow lakes but that’s what I was thinking about using in my mossy lake. I’ll be trying it out in a few weeks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good luck!

[@kevinmoore7710]

We have that snot in Arizona too...😡 Thanks for more great tips!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@jesserivera4725]

Had a day on Shasta with thick slime everywhere wacky senkos were all we could use worked great when it hit the bottom it sits on top of the slime. I have tight rope jigs would not have used it with slime I hate slime but now Im looking forward to trying It thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

go for it!

[@LowBrowFishing]

There are very few aspects of bass fishing that I consider myself and expert at. This is one of them. How to fish vegetation and weeds is my primary concern every time I go out. Two rigs you can't go wrong with are - a weighted Texas rigged worm ( craws, creatures, and etc are wider than the bullet weight and will get gunked up). And a swim jig, usually skirtless with a more streamline trailer like a fluke or swimbait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@elimalkoski1164]

Awesome video most of the lakes and ponds around here have that slime . Definitely gonna try the Neko rig and drop shot more this year to try to fish through that

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@OtherEndofLine]

Got the same jig with MTB subs ! Now I know where and how to use the jig. Thanks! :)

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help!

[@charlesshoumake5150]

Matt, you surprised me! The tightrope baby fireworks jig and a 10,000 fish sukoshi bug? Love them both!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love it!

[@shelbybowron8074]

Thanks Matt!

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@BigMeef]

Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@scottkessler9602]

Your really nailed this one!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@farrzmd3038]

Great video. Thank you for the information

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danlaminger5265]

This is great info. I've been searching for this type of info for awhile. Much appreciated. I hate that slime

[@MattStefanFishing]

slime is a pain in he butt!

[@richardporter1455]

Tokyo rig. Only time I use it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good call!

[@itllkeal]

Try throwing a texax rigged senko on top of the algea. If it does sink through it your on the botton and if it doesn't just wait a little bit and give it time. This young man I work with turned me on to to it. He swears the bass most think it's a big bug because you get to watch the surface move when they strike

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep

[@douglasspickler4925]

Great information, thanks for sharing. I also use a mojo rig with a zoom finesse worm.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats a good little bait too!

[@paulksicinski6181]

This might be out in left field, but what about a small bottom bouncer with a floating crankbait like a Rapala tied on? Or ZMan worm so it floats over bottom slime?

[@MattStefanFishing]

worth a shot!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Thanks Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@Boethius411]

Slime sucks. Especially after it starts dying and gets all black and nasty. It gets like eel grass and can be just floating all through the water column. Thanks for taking on this topic. I truly struggle and hate fishing that stuff, so these tips are greatly appreciated. 👍👊🏻👊🏻

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes it does!

[@clintperry799]

Good information 👍 thanks !

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@belldn3]

Thx, very much.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You're welcome!

[@me3ta143ad]

ive had a lot of success witha small tungsten swim jig for the same reasons. i cut my skirts tho

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@jjfig86]

Great information as always thank you!

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@mikecollett8513]

The old Mann's hollow Ghost is a frog like option that actually stays on top pretty well even when the slim is up to the surface. Let's you throw something different than most too. Good video topic

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@holdengamble]

That looks like a NASTY little jig. I may buy a few. Like a ned rig with a skirt. Love your stuff man. You and randy are both awesome people. Keep it up.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are great little jigs!

[@rodcashman4793]

Matt didn't ask are you going to be at lake 0 in Florida this February???

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep ill be there in early february!

[@cerebraltackle]

This tells me that the Keitech Mono Jig would work as well. Nice!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes it does!

[@pensnut08]

As soon as I saw this I thought of dropshot rigs *I must be learning LOL). My home lake as this stuff and it seems like it comes up higher than a few inches.. It's not what we used to call "seaweed" when I was a kid, but slimy junk. I can see it on the electronics. I start my dropshot height at elbow to finger tip. My weight gets covered but my bait keeps working. Actually, the slime helps me to slow down the pace of working the bait. It's easier to to keep it in one spot and either letting it just sit there or shaking it in place. - Something I have wondered about. We like to keep the "gunk" off our lures. I know it will effect the way they work.. But, aren't the fish used to going after prey in the slime? They must eat some of it. So if a jig comes up out of it and the plops back down in it, won't they go after it. Just wondering... As always a great video with great info. Thanks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they are but if your bait is one big gunk of slime the fish wont eat it

[@leepao6302]

i notice that so that's why i tied my jigs the same way and idea

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@jamesbarron1202]

That green filamentous snot algae gets so bad in my pond it tops out on the surface. It’s said that Tilapia to like to eat it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

nasty!

[@donjohnson6745]

We have something similar weed that is black and clingy gets any baits. Cast and pick.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ughh

[@AGuyNamedRicky]

Thanks for making this. One of my fave river spots gets infested with this stuff. Never knew what to call it. I’m trying to improve on bottom contact baits

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad I could help!

[@Boethius411]

We call it mung down here… or just “that s**t.” Lol

[@brandoncook5996]

What about a powershot for black slime weed?

[@MattStefanFishing]

worth a shot!

[@michaeldillon379]

Love the content

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@txg1275]

On my local lake this stuff forms a layer so thick that eventually the bottom of it dies and we have huge issues with thick mats forming, full of decaying plant matter etc. I've tried punching this but have been unsuccessful so far. Have you had success punching through similar, or do you think the decaying plant matter is keeping fish away?

[@MattStefanFishing]

its usually not the right stuff to punch through

[@williamfaragher3671]

Good tips ! I believe there is a lot of room for creative, innovative, tackle designers to help solve some of these slimy, weedy issues...

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very true!

[@scottkessler9602]

When fishing Texas rigged weightless soft plastics around slime, cover the knot with the bait, and don’t use a barrel swivel. Use micro guides instead, and deal with the line twist.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed! the fewer the components the better

[@davidcrump2348]

It’s just a finesse worm straight and the tail is like a very small Diamond shape straight worm.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good!

[@davidcrump2348]

Diamond shape was taking about the tail of the worm. But the worm itself was round all the way unlike finesse worms of today that is half round and half flat.

[@rodcashman4793]

Matt when using the tight rope do you throw it on a spinning reel ?? Does it work better on rip rap than standard jigs ?? Thanks for sharing 🎣

[@PistolPete3322]

I use them on spinning gear. I started using them after Matt recommended them last year. I river fish Ozark rivers that snag everything. But the firework is really snag proof in rocks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

It works great on rip rap! ill throw it on both spinning and baitcasting gear

[@terrytresemer2864]

Just a thought that I've not tried. First mono should be your friend on this one. Second in fly fishing there's an item called a strike indicator (very small float) used with weighted flys. BUT I think if it's used two foot above the bait it will keep everything vertical over the weight. Most are very small and should not take away from the feel. If this sounds crazy chalk it up to my fever!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

im liking the sounds of that! thanks for sharing!

[@vegetablejoe2389]

I fish small ponds and deal with slime every year. In your opinion would the drop shot work from the bank?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes use a longer leader

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@davidcrump2348]

I think they were about 4” or 6”.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@wolverinex4243]

I just swim creatures or ribbons as an option. Some other options are great like Nippon jerkbaits. It just depends how I feel. As for rocks, dinky jigs will come through, but I suppose I don't use bass jigs. People hate me for talking jigs, never having really throw em. I do use jigs, just not traditional bass jigs, not even them finesse bass ones. On a different note, yo-yoing most things will work like finesse wacky or vertical jigging. Maybe I'm talking too much. If you listen, they will come.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@rippinlipsinc.2200]

Ponds are famous for this slime so I use a flick shake most of the time...

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@rooterdaddy6889]

Filamentous algae or "snot weed". Ugh!

[@MattStefanFishing]

pain to all anglers!

[@birkrob]

Wacky worm!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

weightless yes!

[@kevinbeaudean704]

Thanks Matt. There's no beating the slime, it's evil and going to take over the world. Just kidding I have a very good area thats infested and a pond I test new lures in also. Your solutions are the best I've heard.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@itllkeal]

Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

youbet!