What is this black slimy stuff? Is it grass?

[TriStateBassin106]

Hey BR,

 

I'm gonna be fishing at one of my favorite lakes for 3 days this weekend. As you can see in the picture below of a bass I caught there two weeks ago it came in with some dark slimy weeds,  this lake is filled with that, I don't know what to call it but it's mostly found on the bottom and suspends a bit in some spots, it seems like the only thing I can throw is weightless flukes and everything else will come in with this stuff, anyone know what it's called and what other baits I could throw with that slime in the water? 

 

[Team9nine]

First guess would be dead filamentous algae that is often covering anything on or near the bottom. Is this a smaller homeowner type lake where they might have done some type of weed and/or algae treatment, esp. with copper ("blue water")?

[TnRiver46]

Weightless worm also 

[TriStateBassin106]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

First guess would be dead filamentous algae that is often covering anything on or near the bottom. Is this a smaller homeowner type lake where they might have done some type of weed and/or algae treatment, esp. with copper ("blue water")?

Yes. It's a private lake where they treat it with stuff. 

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

First guess would be dead filamentous algae that is often covering anything on or near the bottom. Is this a smaller homeowner type lake where they might have done some type of weed and/or algae treatment, esp. with copper ("blue water")?

Water also has a very darkish stain to it but there's a very large population of fish in there. 

[Team9nine]

39 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Yes. It's a private lake where they treat it with stuff. 

Water also has a very darkish stain to it but there's a very large population of fish in there. 

Confirmed my suspicions. Sticking with the dead algae theory. That could also explain the water color...likely not due to fish population but weed treatments and elimination (at least partly). See it all the time over here in similar type waters.

[TriStateBassin106]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Confirmed my suspicions. Sticking with the dead algae theory. That could also explain the water color...likely not due to fish population but weed treatments and elimination (at least partly). See it all the time over here in similar type waters.

What would you throw in these conditions? 

[Team9nine]

12 hours ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

What would you throw in these conditions? 

Should be able to throw a lot of baits in that situation depending on cover and clarity. Anything topwater obviously. Anything floating diving like cranks, traps or bladed jigs. You can swim bottom type baits over the stuff and be good, like Neds. I'd spend some time fan casting and learning the bottom of your lake better as it is likely this stuff isn't everywhere, just where grass grew previously, or on other cover like rocks, limbs, etc.. As such, there should be areas where bottom type baits would also still work fine.

[lunkerboss923]

A drop shot?

[TriStateBassin106]

On 8/14/2020 at 5:07 PM, lunkerboss923 said:

A drop shot?

I tried that and brought in a mountain of it. I'll pass bro lol.

[WRB]

When living organism like algea dies and decays it uses up dissolved oxygen lower the DO levels near the bottom. The bass will move away seeking higher DO levels where decaying debris isn't at. This condition tends increase acidic levels.

Does this lake have a aeration system?

Look for areas with green vegetation. I would aviod bottom lures where the decaying debris is located.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

The lake I fished tonight has a lot of that in it. Did well on an 8" black jelly worm, black wacky rigged Ocho, and a blue bladed jig.