How important to identify weeds?

[billmac]

I watch a lot of fishing videos, and they all seem to know what all the weeds are that they are fishing.  I'm a little embarrassed to say that other than lily pads, I only know that weeds are weeds.  How important do you think it is to be able to identify the types of weeds in whatever body of water you are fishing?  Additionally, since no doubt not all weeds grow in all regions, are there any resources that help identify the types of weeds in a certain area?  I live in northern NY.

Thanks

[huZZah]

I’ve kinda come to recognize ones I see all over, but personally I don’t think it matters to the fish if I know the name of the plant I pulled it out of.  
 

As for resources, Texas Parks and Wildlife pamphlets on lakes usually list the common vegetation. (Or there’s YouTube videos from a couple like Roland Martin where he points out hydrilla and such.)  I would hope other states do the same. 

You can always google the weed of choice and you’ll see plenty of pics of it.

But I mean if I see plants, I throw to it. Regardless of kind. 

[padon]

you are probably seeing coontail and milfoil in that region but not being there i cant tell. you could google and see if you get any responses that look like your grass. you really dont need to know the name of the grass just weather it holds fish or not. not all grass does and they prefer different kinds in different seasons. also places where 2 different kinds meet are usually productive.

[Michigander]

I wish I had a lot more knowledge of underwater vegetation. The bass seem to prefer some types over others and I would love to have a better idea of why that might be happening. 

[Jigfishn10]

I don't worry about it. I'm not botanically correct.

Botanically...can I use that here? ?

[Finessegenics]

I’m in the same camp as you..I can identify a few but a lot of the time I’m clueless until I can get a closer look. Here’s a very good resource: 

 

https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/

[Team9nine]

Not critical, but can be somewhat of a benefit to know what you are looking at. Different plants grow on different bottom types (hard vs soft bottom; used for spawning or not), at different depths, in different water temps (and seasons), give off different amounts of oxygen, rooted vs floating, etc. You don’t have to know all this stuff in order to catch bass, but it helps to understand the fishes environment and as mentioned a few times already, why they do, or do not, often use certain types or areas.

[Bubba 460]

I know most of the names of the weeds, reeds, pads around here except that green, scum slime that floats in the summer (so to be correct I call it "Green, scum slim"). Nor do think it matters what type of downed tree is in the water, be it oak, hickory, poplar, broad leaf or conifer. It's all good cover. When referring to natural cover I have it narrowed down to; stick, tree, weeds, grass, pads, rock(s) and bushes~ works for me.

 

[the reel ess]

I don't know them either. What I do know is that weeds won't grow on the bottom where they cannot get enough sunlight. Therefore, the "mats" of scummy cheese-like vegetation are not productive most of the year for me. Bass tend to greatly prefer weeds that they can use as pockets to hide in and ambush prey. So those are the ones I target the most.

[813basstard]

‘It’s a cross between Northern California sensimilla and Kentucky Blue Grass...’

[928JLH]

  On 3/10/2021 at 3:44 PM, 813basstard said:

‘It’s a cross between Northern California sensimilla and Kentucky Blue Grass...’

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In my younger years it was important to know the difference between Indica and Sativa. One was a productive day in the garage or sinking into the couch 

[Jigfishn10]

  On 3/10/2021 at 3:44 PM, 813basstard said:

‘It’s a cross between Northern California sensimilla and Kentucky Blue Grass...’

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"Fish 8 hours in it and you high as a bejesus" 

[Catt]

Not only do I know the different types but I also know what bottom composition they grow in.

 

I also what trees are in our lakes & which grow along to creeks channels.

 

This helps in finding locations 

[BigAngus752]

Here's another helpful start:

 

https://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/how-id-grass-and-fish-it-effectively#slide1

 

 

[Deleted account]

  On 3/10/2021 at 4:00 PM, Jigfishn10 said:

"Fish 8 hours in it and you high as a bejesus" 

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Sprayed grass or 420?

[Jigfishn10]

  On 3/10/2021 at 6:33 PM, BassWhole! said:

Sprayed grass or 420?

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Sprayed

[MIbassyaker]

  On 3/10/2021 at 1:57 PM, Michigander said:

I wish I had a lot more knowledge of underwater vegetation. The bass seem to prefer some types over others and I would love to have a better idea of why that might be happening. 

Expand  

 

A couple of guides worth checking out for Michigan specifically, and maybe northern waters in general. They're not specifically about fishing, but have tips on identification and the second one has a lot of info about ecological role, including use by fish and other wildlife:

 

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/wrd-anc-CommonPlant_408518_7.pdf

 

https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/guide_for_the_identification_mapping_and_management_of_aquatic_plants_of_mi

[Paul Roberts]

In the moment, when you are casting, may not matter a whole lot. As bass are object-oriented in general. Which objects they are on must often be figured out in real time. That’s the simple answer. And we all have to decide what we have time for. But there are things worth knowing. 

 

Certain weed types are easier, or tougher, to fish through. Some weeds attract fish, including prey fishes, better than others. Some, like my nemesis the "Threadleaf's" (such as Sago), can't be fished through and luckily, don't hold fish of any type well. But, some waters have it in spades and it can be frustrating, esp with trebled lures. Chara (sand/skunk-grass) tends to indicate high water clarity, hard water, and crustaceans. But dense beds are like fishing over steel-wool. So, I'm finessing, but with 8 or even 10lb line if I can get away with it. Too many times I've had bass bury in the stuff, and in that clear water I can see their tail sticking out of that steel wool, 10ft down, and can’t do much about it, except wait em out. 

 

Then there’s the soft algae, like filamentous algae (“snot”). It tends to grow like a net across bottom first, and very early in the year. It actually begins under the ice esp along sun-incident shorelines. Then, as decomposition gasses build up, trapped under that net, the whole thing separates from the bottom and one day you come and… you’ve got a dense surface mat having you wishing you’d brought some frogs along. Places with other weeds already established can end up with that filamentous algae tangled and draped all over the submergents. Touch to fish through ad can block light causing those beds to die-back. And then, when the algae dies, it can be like fishing through... snot.

 

Weed types can be quite seasonal, so they may or not be there when you return another time. Different weeds need different amounts of light too, so water clarity, and longer-term sky conditions can really affect them, which type is present, how deep they grow, and how healthy they are. Different weeds grow best in certain substrates. Sunny periods can also cause plankton blooms, which can decrease water clarity and cause weed die-back in the depths.

 

Where this info can help most I think, besides the ecological clues, is in the planning of an outing, even for familiar waters. And on new water, it can clue us in on what to expect ecologically and conditions-wise. That is, if that info is available. Often, you have to do it yourself, and also realize that things will change over time, both seasonally and year-to-year.

The number of times I've hit a familiar water body expecting to be using M power tackle, only to find the milfoil has had a banner year, or, worse, the coontail has taken over. Or vice versa. I once hit a pond I knew pretty well. But a cloudy summer and the introduction of a few too many grass carp cleaned out the gorgeous milfoil beds that I was so looking forward to fishing. Instead, it was a swimming pool, and I didn’t have a finesse rig with me. I have learned to always throw a finesse rig or two in the truck. They may stay there, but often, I’m glad I have them.

[Bankc]

Snap a few photos of it on your phone next time you're out.  Get a wide shot of the whole plant and a close up of the leaves, or something like that.  Then, when you're back home, you can look up the name of the plant and any important info surrounding it.  There are a ton of websites with info and pictures of aquatic vegetation.  Many are even region specific.  

 

The only plants I know the names of are the one's I've done this with, so I'm probably still a few credits short of an honorary PhD in aquatic botany.  But I've found it does come in handy knowing the names when talking about fishing to other people who also know the names.  So they might say that the bass were biting over by the water willows on T-rigged worms, and whereas before I'd probably be throwing at some bushy trees along the bank (thinking they were like weeping willows), now I know to look for something that looks more like bamboo.  

[WRB]

Only bass anglers refer to aquatic plants as “weeds or “grass” two words used for the same thing. Northern anglers use “weeds” and southern anglers use “grass”, everyone use both very confusing. If you bass fish some basic knowledge of aquatic plants where you fish is important. 

The basics northern region are junk weeds (Milfoil, Elodea, Buttercup). Cabomba (Cabomba Carolinians Gray).

Coontail (Ceratophylium L)

Sand Grass (Vitelli species, Chara species)

Eel Grass (Vallisneria Americana Micnx)

Tabacco Cabbage (Potamogeton species)

Curly Cabbage (Potamogeton Crispus L)

Broadleaf Cabbage (Potomogeton species).

Bass location in various aquatic plants can greatly affect your choice of presentation.

Tom

 

 

[avid]

Identifying grasses is very important imo

in Florida if you find hydrilla you’ve likely found bass 

[geo g]

Weeds can tell you the type of bottom in an area.  Especially important during bedding time.  It can tell you where there is a depth change.  It can provid shade when the sun is overhead and bright.  One of my fav is isolated clumps with two or more types of weeds are fish magnets.  They can tell you a lot by just being there.

[Bankbeater]

I know Eel Grass, Water Willows, Lilypads, American Lotus, and Coontail.  If I had my choice I would always fish the coontail.

[GreenPig]

I've identified the weeds in the 5 lakes I fish the most and simplified how I fish them. Fish the grass for LM and hard/rocky areas for Spots.

[mheichelbech]

  On 3/10/2021 at 3:44 PM, 813basstard said:

‘It’s a cross between Northern California sensimilla and Kentucky Blue Grass...’

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Hadn’t seen that word in quite some time!