hydrilla

[gbassman519]

This stuff is starting to grow in resorvoir and it's a pain, couldn't find the fish yesterday abut found that mess !wend down to a 3/16  bullet wt. fishing deep  but all i still got was grass lol. nothing on crankbaits. finally got a 2  lb'er on a small crankbait, but better luck next week .

 

[Captain Phil]

Hydrilla has rejuvenated many old reservoirs across the US.  It's part of bass fishing in most of the country.  You are fortunate to live in VA where it dies back in the winter.  Here in Florida, it continues to grow all year.  Chop it into 1,000 pieces and you will have 1,000 new plants.   Left untreated, it will top out an entire lake.  The good news is bass love the stuff.  

[Boomstick]

The presence of heavy hydrilla can change the way you fish for sure. We have much more milfoil up here in the northeast (which bass don't like as much) but overall it's a similar concept. I was fishing in a lake last Sunday that other than the swimming and fishing access area which has been cleared of weeds, the rest of the lake has some moderate grass and milfoil. It makes it hard to throw anything horizontally as you pull back so many weeds or grass that even your spinnerbait blades stop spinning -- a chatterbait fares slightly better in these conditions, but not much.

 

In such cases, look for openings you can throw your T-Rig or jig into. Many prime spots exist along the shoreline, and I find I have a strong chance of getting bit in such spots as well. It's definitely harder to find fish, but it can be done.

[gbassman519]

Thanks for your replys.

 

[Sam]

1 hour ago, gbassman519 said:

Thanks for your replys.

 

Try the Tokyo Rig with a blue or blue tinted crawfish type bait, like a Rage Tail, Missile Bait, Zoom craw, etc.

 

Use two 1/4 ounce tungsten bullet weights rigged back to back.

 

Throw all around and into the grass. Jiggle rod tip after it hits bottom and on your retrieve to make it bounce up and down.

 

Let us know the results. Good luck.

[Captain Phil]

West Lake Toho in Kissimmee is arguably one of the best bass lakes in the country.  From time to time, that lake almost completely tops out with hydrilla.  This relocates the fish.  Instead of relating to shoreline cover, the bass move to deeper water next to the thickest hydrilla beds. This also clears the water substantially.  Top water lures fished around these beds works exceptionally well.  Try to find holes and coves in the hydrilla where you can cast back inside.  Hang on!

[soflabasser]

A lot of places I fish has hydrilla and I do well fishing topwaters over it.

[Black Bill Dance]

On 6/6/2020 at 9:10 AM, Sam said:

Try the Tokyo Rig with a blue or blue tinted crawfish type bait, like a Rage Tail, Missile Bait, Zoom craw, etc.

 

Use two 1/4 ounce tungsten bullet weights rigged back to back.

 

Throw all around and into the grass. Jiggle rod tip after it hits bottom and on your retrieve to make it bounce up and down.

 

Let us know the results. Good luck.

Tokyo Rig is something I have been waiting to experiment with, caught 1 nice bass with it in fall of 2020. 

[frogflogger]

FROGS!

[crypt]

3 hours ago, frogflogger said:

FROGS!

this x2........

[Mike L]

Love hydrilla   
You received all good suggestions and you may catch a fish.
Or Just punch right through it, and be done with it. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Teal]

Now that you have the problem we have been having for years, invest in a stout pitching stick, or a heavy flippin stick, a fast reel, 50 - 65 braid and some 3/4 - 1.5 ounce tungsten.   I like straight shank heavy hooks, but tie it with a Snell knot.  I also like heavy grass jigs.  Another technique that you dont have to change anything ngf for is do the same thing but instead of the t rig, make a short drop shot and punch those holes... just turn you bullet weight upside down

[geo g]

I have some smaller man made lakes that I fish from the bank.  These are deep lakes for Florida standards.  For the last month Hydrilla has started to top out in these lakes making the fishing more difficult.  Bass love it, and it helps O2 in the water, but it gives them a lot more cover, and visibility of the lure tightens although the water is cleaner.  It's a plus and a curse at the same time.  Limits my lure choices also.   I Texas rig a lot, down size the weights used, so it doesn't hang up as much, slow down the retrieve speed so bass can find it in the mass of weeds, and tighten down my drag so I can get their head up quickly, and surf them across the top of weeds.  Not my favorite time to fish these water bodies.

2 hours ago, Teal said:

Now that you have the problem we have been having for years, invest in a stout pitching stick, or a heavy flippin stick, a fast reel, 50 - 65 braid and some 3/4 - 1.5 ounce tungsten.   I like straight shank heavy hooks, but tie it with a Snell knot.  I also like heavy grass jigs.  Another technique that you dont have to change anything ngf for is do the same thing but instead of the t rig, make a short drop shot and punch those holes... just turn you bullet weight upside down

  I like the idea of turning the bullet weight upside down.  makes sense!  Thanks!

 

[N Florida Mike]

We came in 2nd in a tournament once and I caught a lot of our fish fishing a hydrilla edge with a devil’s horse. We would have won had my partners 4 pounder not come off right at the boat.