I did not figure this out myself but rather read it and then observed it many times as basically solid info.

Whenever you have a good patch of reeds you typically have solid bottom, usually sand. But out in front of those reeds, maybe even a long way out from them, you usually run into a band of Cabbage or other types of weeds. Seen it time and again and is worth noting.

Do you typically find good pike fishing at this boundary between reeds and cabbage?

IowaGuy: "Do you typically find good pike fishing at this boundary between reeds and cabbage?"

Actually I generally prefer to find the deeper stand alone patches of cabbage off of the main weed bed if big pike are the target. I suppose the area between the sand and the weed beds could be good at certain times of year as there generally tends to be some sediment in this type of area which brings in bait fish. Good at night for walleye would be a decent hunch.

But cabbage holds more than pike. The pike are there to eat and hopefully, not be eaten, by their cannibalistic brethren. Certainly some walleye take up residence in the cabbage as well as perch and smallmouths on occasion. I like drifting through the cabbage and using a Chatterbait like a jig.........just lifting and dropping in and through the weeds. Chatterbaits are amazingly weed resistant and their vibration really helps fish find the lure. Most guys just fish the tops of the weeds and thats fine for active fish........I like to drop right down on them drifting quietly........no place for light gear here as fights are waged close and personal in some dirty stuff.

The distance at times between the reeds and the weed beds can be considerable. Usually you can just keep paddling out from the reeds until you hit the weed beds, the pattern is usually that reliable. Everything looks sandy and bare and then suddenly you git a bit deeper and presto!