What Lures And Techniques Do You Use In Algae Filled Lakes?

[Diggy]

If you have encountered lakes or canals with algae all over the bottom of it, what is your method of choice/plan of action/mode of attack,etc. Pulling algae off of lures every cast can be a pain. I have some options that have been working but looking for more (possibly drop shot).

[LgMouthGambler]

Dont let the lure touch the bottom. Swim a swimbait, or a lizard around. Right now the bass are going nuts for shallow crankbaits and swimbaits.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

If the algae is on the bottom maybe try topwater. Throw a frog or popper.

[CPBassFishing]

I have that issue in the ponds I fish during the summer. I usually throw a wacky senko, a shallow crank, or I flip the lily pads. Or a spinnerbait.

[Shane J]

For stuff like that, I go to a swim jig or a weightless Lizard Tx rigged on a 3/0 hook. I suppose a shallow crank would also work, or a weightless fluke.

[Diggy]

Thanks for the input. I've been using many of these techniques, Ill try the ones I haven't The cranks can be hit or miss because it may be clear and then one patch has grown almost to the waters surface in certain areas close to shore unfortunately. The worm and jig bit off the bottom has been good until you get to a certain point then its muck city.

Topwater is hit or miss around the edges, some of the algae is there surfacing. Thats where I used to get the majority of the hits but since its hotter the filth seems to be back again. Open water is fine. The spinnerbaits have been productive, one day I caught 20 off of it, some days 1-2. Wacky rig senkos have been the most deadly and consistent

From reccs in the thread.

I have a few soft swim baits Ill try. I will get back to the fluke and weightless baits, I just get impatient waiting for them to fall at times.

[J Francho]

Drop shot.

[Arv]

There is a spot in a lake that I fish that sounds like exactly what you're talking about. I really like weightless plastics (especially a wacky rig) and presentations where the weight is away from the lure (C rig, mojo rig, drop shot, etc.). I'm not completely algae free, but I don't need to go searching for my lure through the green clump before each cast either. Also, C rigs etc. will pick up more algae on the weight, but fortunately thats not what is catching the fish.

[Bankbeater]

Swim a jig over the top of it like you would submerged vegetation.

[bassman56m]

I searched this question on google and this is where it sent me. I joined the website, and If you are looking for ideas in an algae filled lake  I have one. If there are any large islands of algae surfacing the water then take a heavier softplastic and hook it weedless (preferably not to long), cast across the island and reel across it. Bass will be waiting under the algae for shade and see your lure. They will jump out of the water to attack your lure, but wait around 1-2 seconds before trying to set the hook.

[Felix77]

Neko rig a trick worm.  I was searching for a picture and came across this video which is WAY better.  This kid stole my idea though ... down to my favorite color Zoom Trick worm.  So much for secrets ... LMAO!  

 

2 variations I do to manage it over the muck

1 - I rig the hook towards the middle.  No higher than the middle.  You will lose action the higher up you go.

2 - When you rig it through you can expose it like he demonstrated.  The other way is to hook it through deeper and on the way back you rig it so the tip of the hook is barely exposed.  More weedless that way.

 

By the way ... if you don't have a Neko sinker you can always use a finishing nail or a small screw.  Sometimes that works better.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[craww]

Take a lipless crank and pull the trebles back to where they'll be positioned on the retrieve. Then snip the bottom pointing treble, cut it as flush as possible. You'll be shocked and what the bait will come through, and I haven't seen a huge decrease in hook ups. You can do this with a lot of treble hook baits. I devised it years ago when fishing a algae choked lake where long casts with rattling vibes were the ticket.

Another thing I did was putting nail weights in my plastics. Make sure to cover the hook eye/knot and its pretty dang weedless.