I’ve been used a Texas rig with soft plastic bait with a bullet weight when trying to penetrate thick cover – (flooded bushes) but the lure’s tail is constantly hanging up of the branches – what else can I use to avoid this problem?

Before moving on to something new, try one more thing with the bullet weight first. Try pegging the weight before casting out your line. What is probably happening in your situation is the bait snags on one side of a bush and the weight is on the opposite side. This is keeping the rig from reaching the surface bottom. If you are using the bullet weight without a bead, simply ensure that the hook point reaches as far as possible inside the nose of the bait. You will know this is the case when neither the knot nor eye of the hook is exposed. This will create the illusion that the weight and the bait are one continuous piece. The method of threading a line with a brass bullet weight followed by a glass bead is called the brass n’ glass weight system method. The key here is keeping a similar color pattern between all three pieces: weight; bait and bead. Brass bullets are more effective due to brass being one of the harder surfaces available. When struck together, two brass pieces create a resonating sound. This is effective in bass fishing, as the fish draws toward the sound of the brass weights. To ensure that sound emanates from the line, peg the weight so that there is a unified movement up and down the line for the weight and glass bead. Hook the bait so that the eye peeks out from the hook giving the Texas rig a solid surface to strike.