Heavy Cover Snakehead Fishing

Right, I haven't been adding post for sometime as I was too busy with work and I also just changed jobs so getting lesser chance to fish these days.

This is typical haruan & toman habitat, thick bushes & heavy cover.

Some of the readers posted a question to me some time ago on what is the outfit and lures to use when fishing Haruan or Toman in very snaggy waters. Personally, I do not have a fixed answer to it. Fishing as you know, is subjective to conditions and the situation we are in. Depending on the location, I usually bring along two outfits for my regular Haruan sessions.

Do you want to cast a lure with trebles in there?

Normally if I'm lure fishing for snakeheads, I would go for ultra light setup, example, 6' graphite rod paired with a Size# 2500 spinning or a low profile baitcaster. I need a light setup as trekking through swamps & secondary jungles is physically demanding, you don't want to carry a heavy load which will zap your energy very fast.

It fell for the frog!

Here are some pointers that you should consider.

(1) Casting distance is not necessary but accuracy is. Go with a larger size spinning reel, eg. Size# 2500 to 3000 would be great as the bigger diameter spool would release line out with less coil thereby reducing friction. I do not recommend baitcasters unless you are fishing in open spaces.

(2) Again, casting distance is not necessary but accuracy is. To achieve accuracy but not too lengthy rod, use a 6 to 7' rod. This should be good enough for reaching most places. Avoid 8' rods unless you are fishing in open spaces.

(3) When you are fishing in pools occupied by fallen branches & weeds, the last thing you want is to get snagged. You don't want to loose that lure or line breakage so the solution would be to fish with tougher, thicker lines. I recommend starting with 30lb or even 50lb braid. If you do snag onto a branch, chances are, when you pull it out, either the branch will give way or the hook will bend.

Another pointer to add here. Since you are fishing with heavy lines, it's sensible to use heavy lures. Go ahead with 12 to 20g lures. Wild fishes, especially Haruans & Tomans will hit lures larger than the regular 7 to 10g ones. A heavier lure will also give you better accuracy but make sure you don't cast the lure too hard into water or else, you'll create too much of a splash spooking the fishes.

My usual haruan outfit, a 7' graphite rod, Size 2500 spinning reel & 30lb braided line.

When it comes to lures. The following have proven very effective for Haruan & Toman fishing in heavy cover.

A - Rubber frogs. This little weedless floating rubber frogs is always my first choice when trying new spots. This is a proven lure. Cast it to the opposite banks, let it slide down into water gently, then work it slowly, hopping gently by the banks. Chances are, some snakehead would be waiting in ambush to pounce on it when it passes by. My only complaint of these lures is that the hooks aren't sharp enough and they are too light to cast effectively with heavy lines. Adding a sinker in front give it a little more weight but this compromises the action. Make sure to sharpen the hooks first before using them.

Rubber frogs. All rounder conditions.

B - Spinnerbaits. The design itself is relatively snag free, especially when fishing in waters with many sunken branches. The L-Arm in front will push weeds and branches to avoid the hook at the back. The best way to fish spinnerbait is to replace the skirt trailer with a weedless worm hook rigged with soft plastic bait. Cast and retrieve at a medium pace with regular pauses. The flashing blades & the wiggling action of the SP will make most predatory fishes angry to take a bite at it.

Spinnerbait, excellent in waters with lots of branches.

C - Texas Rig. This is also a very effective lure for heavy cover fishing. The worm hooks and added sinker gives it weedless characteristics and heavier lure makes casting easier with more accuracy. Just cast, let it sink, do a gentle twitch then reel it back very slowly hopping the bottom.

Texas rig, good for lily pad locations.

There you have it, snakehead fishing in heavy cover. Last thing to note, do wear a pair of Wellington boots when trekking through the swamps and jungles. While you are out looking for snakeheads, we may accidentally stumble on a snake followed by a nasty bite.

Wading in the water. Protect your feet from snakes, leeches & discarded sharp objects.

Protect yourself by wearing tough outdoor clothing & hat.

Share this post