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If you fish ponds on the Eastern Shore or swampy tidal areas in the southeast portions of the U.S., you have seen Bald Cypress trees. They may grow along the shoreline or they may grow in the water itself.
Here is a stand of Bald Cypress in Trap Pond, DE:
P1010539.jpg
Obviously, the trunks of these trees make great structure for fish. I’ve long lost count of how many bass and pickerels I have caught that were cozied up to the trunks of bald cypress trees. I find it great fun to methodically target each trunk in a stand of cypress trees with my lures and flies.
A feature of these trees is an extensive root system. Sometimes their roots extend above the surface of the water. Exposed roots are called “knees”. They are also good target areas.
I’ve underlined bald cypress knees in red in this photo:
Cypress knees1 (3)_LI.jpg
In ponds with no tidal flow, the roots of cypress trees may be hidden from view. However, in tidal areas, you may see them. This past weekend, I fished a tidal river in VA during an extremely low tide. Here’s a cypress root system where fish may be hiding on a high tide:
cypress knees.jpg
The roots are quite extensive and as you can see, they may extend far from the trunk. They provide excellent hiding places for predatory fish waiting for a meal to swim by. Also, because they may be submerged and hidden from view, they may snag your lures or flies. That usually doesn't result in a loss of your offerings because you can easily retrieve them in the shallow water. But you will disrupt your fishing area while doing so. To limit snags I fish topwater lures and flies or Bendback minnow flies (they ride with their hook point up) or weedless plastic lures near bald cypress trees.
So don't ignore these trees as potential holding spots for fish. Understand that they they may have submerged structure that you cannot see around them. And, because of their extensive root system work your first casts a few feet around the periphery of the trunk and then move toward its to base. But don't beat an area to death. A hungry fish will strike in short order. I make only two or three casts and then move on to the next tree.
Here is a stand of Bald Cypress in Trap Pond, DE:
P1010539.jpg
Obviously, the trunks of these trees make great structure for fish. I’ve long lost count of how many bass and pickerels I have caught that were cozied up to the trunks of bald cypress trees. I find it great fun to methodically target each trunk in a stand of cypress trees with my lures and flies.
A feature of these trees is an extensive root system. Sometimes their roots extend above the surface of the water. Exposed roots are called “knees”. They are also good target areas.
I’ve underlined bald cypress knees in red in this photo:
Cypress knees1 (3)_LI.jpg
In ponds with no tidal flow, the roots of cypress trees may be hidden from view. However, in tidal areas, you may see them. This past weekend, I fished a tidal river in VA during an extremely low tide. Here’s a cypress root system where fish may be hiding on a high tide:
cypress knees.jpg
The roots are quite extensive and as you can see, they may extend far from the trunk. They provide excellent hiding places for predatory fish waiting for a meal to swim by. Also, because they may be submerged and hidden from view, they may snag your lures or flies. That usually doesn't result in a loss of your offerings because you can easily retrieve them in the shallow water. But you will disrupt your fishing area while doing so. To limit snags I fish topwater lures and flies or Bendback minnow flies (they ride with their hook point up) or weedless plastic lures near bald cypress trees.
So don't ignore these trees as potential holding spots for fish. Understand that they they may have submerged structure that you cannot see around them. And, because of their extensive root system work your first casts a few feet around the periphery of the trunk and then move toward its to base. But don't beat an area to death. A hungry fish will strike in short order. I make only two or three casts and then move on to the next tree.
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