Milfoil: Approach lines, rigs, and casting

Search parallel, stop the boat to work changes

Make parallel casts along the outside edge so the bait spends more time on the canopy margin. After ticking grass, give a short, crisp pop to let the bait resume its action; if you keep burying into the same thick clump, switch to a shallower running level or route around it—don’t keep ripping hard.

When you reach a hole, stop the boat and make short pitches to drop soft plastics into gaps. Your fall line shouldn’t be constantly dragged tight by the boat, or the bait will hang diagonally on the grass top. When you hook up, quickly take up slack and then keep steady pressure, guiding the fish toward open water; surging and slacking lets it dig back into the grass.

Starter gear and what to swap based on

For canopy searching: 7'2" MH/MF, 6–7:1 reel, 15–17 lb fluoro, 3/8–1/2 oz bladed jig with a 3–4 inch trailer; for holes: 7'3" MH/F, 7:1 reel, 30–40 lb braid to 17 lb fluoro leader, 1/4–3/8 oz pegged Texas weight with 3/0–4/0 hook, adjust to grass thickness.

Rig assembly, rigging, and gear details: Bladed Jig, Texas Rig. If you need to compare boat positioning and execution, continue with Related Tactics.

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