Man...I love hydrilla

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Finally, my lake actually has real deal Hydrilla growing! The spray company isn't so aggressive with the spraying now. They only spray the shoreline now instead of covering entire areas of the lake.  So I'm really hopefully that the grass away from the banks will survive. I've been regularly catching five fish an hour lately. It's been several years since theres been actual grass in the lake. Usually it's just milfoil and some scattered hygrophila, and chara. One area has a nice mix of eelgrass, hydrilla, and a few pads mixed in. Man, I'm really hoping that this stuff gets left alone. Fishing hasn't been this much fun for a while. The fish are looking much healthier than the fish I was catching earlier in the year. No skinny or stunted looking fish.

Good times.

[suzukibullfrog]

I hear ya man. My grandparents live in community where they used to spray every inch of the lake and my grandfather would have a heart attack(not really). But finally this year they stopped spraying and only did the shoreline and man are those fish looking good. I caught about a 2.5 peacock and a bunch of nice 1.5 largemouth in there not to long ago.

[salmicropterus]

Enjoy it while you can cause I am sure the spray brigade will be back as soon as some homeowner association dude sees one strand of grass. The knowledge base of these Homeowner Association is nil for the most part and the lake management companies they hire are more than willing to the HOAs money and spray away.

[suzukibullfrog]

well very true. the power trip of HOA is nuts. they will do anything to get there way.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Actually they were out spraying yesterday.  The guy really only hit the shoreline.  The only spots he concentrated on were the culverts just to keep the water flow open.  So who knows, we'll see what happens.  I just wish those idiots in the HOA knew that grass helped keep the lake healthy.

[salmicropterus]

Most of them just don't get it. They see vegetation and think it is sign of trouble and not an indicator of an oxygenating lake. Certainly there have to be controls because only us hard-cores like to see mats LOL. I have gone to my HOA with a marine biologist to explain and the result is pretty much a vegetation-free lake due to overspray. It's like "don't bother me with the facts"

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I'd love to see some mats pop up, but I know thats not realistic. Right now there are four or five spots with some very nice vegetation growth. One area actually has the hydrilla topped out a bit, nothing ridiculous though. I understand the culverts need to be open for water flow. I'm fine with that. Part of keeping the lake looking nice is to have the grass which filters the water while at the same time allowing the water to continue moving. The benefits to somebody like me are obvious. Grass means forage which means bass. I just don't understand how people can't figure out this concept.

[gar-tracker]

Just a little thought from the other side, Hydrilla can also completely take over a lake and make it inaccessible.

While I love it for its fish holding capacity its still an exotic and can choke a lake out if left unchecked.

There never going to kill it off so I personally don't mind a little control.

*Runs out of room ducking from a shoe flying through the air*

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I agree completely.  The main reason why they spray is probably to keep it from taking over a waterway.  There should be a happy medium though.  They may never kill it off completely, but the last few years they've done a really good job of trying.  At least now it looks like they're finally letting it grow some.

[evrgladesbasser]

My HOA backed off on spraying as well. But that was due to increases in other maintenance costs that they considered more important. Not because they got smart or started caring about fishing. Next year, HOA dues go up, and spraying resumes at closer intervals.

Enjoy it while you got it!

[RoLo]

Without a doubt, we bass anglers LOVE hydrilla, but hydrilla is a double-edge sword.

Hydrilla is a weed by the truest sense of the word, (a plant out of place).

When hydrilla coverage reaches about 25%, the state needs to initiate control

because once coverage reaches 50%, they're usually fighting an expensive but losing battle.

The hurricane-trio of 2004 did more to control hydrilla than 1000 megatons of herbicide.

Hurricane Charley put the FWC ahead of the curve, and that's where they've stayed for 6 years.

As much as I love the stuff, matted hydrilla is a horror show, and can bring

watercraft navigation to a virtual standstill. From what I understand, Lake Varner Georgia

is currently dealing with hydrilla issues, where coverage is approaching 75%!

My heart goes out to boaters with less than 50 hp mills, because in matted hydrilla

they'll have to tilt their motor shaft every 25 yards to clear the prop >

Roger

[Randall]

Without a doubt, we bass anglers LOVE hydrilla, but hydrilla is a double-edge sword.

Hydrilla is a weed by the truest sense of the word, (a plant out of place).

When hydrilla coverage reaches about 25%, the state needs to initiate control

because once coverage reaches 50%, they're usually fighting an expensive but losing battle.

The hurricane-trio of 2004 did more to control hydrilla than 1000 megatons of herbicide.

Hurricane Charley put the FWC ahead of the curve, and that's where they've stayed for 6 years.

As much as I love the stuff, matted hydrilla is a horror show, and can bring

watercraft navigation to a virtual standstill. From what I understand, Lake Varner Georgia

is currently dealing with hydrilla issues, where coverage is approaching 75%!

My heart goes out to boaters with less than 50 hp mills, because in matted hydrilla

they'll have to tilt their motor shaft every 25 yards to clear the prop >

Roger

Coverage on Varner is nowhere close to 75%. Closer to 10% maybe around five % matted on top. The 75% is a huge lie made up by the lake managers and spread to the media. I am guessing they are doing it to get support for grass eradication. They seem to be spreading lots of other lies to the media and other places right now to get support for stocking grass carp.

There is a movement started by a study on eagle deaths at the University of Georgia to eradicate all Hydrilla all over the South in the name of saving Bald Eagles. Varner is just the second lake where they want the grass removed. Once they get a precedent where they can say they removed the grass and the eagles are not dieing anymore in this study it will not be long till lakes like Guntersville, Clarks Hill and the lakes in Texas will no longer have grass. In the case of a lake like Guntersville where almost everyone depends on the fishermen spending money it will be the end to great year round fishing and the local economy will suffer a huge loss.

[BASSclary]

I like having hydrilla up here in NOVA, but it's the super-thick Milfoil that I really dis-like  >

[SoFlaBassAddict]

You guys have grass that far north?   

[salmicropterus]

Just a little thought from the other side, Hydrilla can also completely take over a lake and make it inaccessible.

While I love it for its fish holding capacity its still an exotic and can choke a lake out if left unchecked.

There never going to kill it off so I personally don't mind a little control.

*Runs out of room ducking from a shoe flying through the air*

Totally agree-what I am talking about is a spraying program that eradicates any sign of vegetation. Fortunately where I live they still honor "no spray" signs (for the time being)

[RoLo]

Without a doubt, we bass anglers LOVE hydrilla, but hydrilla is a double-edge sword.

Hydrilla is a weed by the truest sense of the word, (a plant out of place).

When hydrilla coverage reaches about 25%, the state needs to initiate control

because once coverage reaches 50%, they're usually fighting an expensive but losing battle.

The hurricane-trio of 2004 did more to control hydrilla than 1000 megatons of herbicide.

Hurricane Charley put the FWC ahead of the curve, and that's where they've stayed for 6 years.

As much as I love the stuff, matted hydrilla is a horror show, and can bring

watercraft navigation to a virtual standstill. From what I understand, Lake Varner Georgia

is currently dealing with hydrilla issues, where coverage is approaching 75%!

My heart goes out to boaters with less than 50 hp mills, because in matted hydrilla

they'll have to tilt their motor shaft every 25 yards to clear the prop >

Roger

Coverage on Varner is nowhere close to 75%. Closer to 10% maybe around five % matted on top. The 75% is a huge lie made up by the lake managers and spread to the media. I am guessing they are doing it to get support for grass eradication. They seem to be spreading lots of other lies to the media and other places right now to get support for stocking grass carp.

There is a movement started by a study on eagle deaths at the University of Georgia to eradicate all Hydrilla all over the South in the name of saving Bald Eagles. Varner is just the second lake where they want the grass removed. Once they get a precedent where they can say they removed the grass and the eagles are not dieing anymore in this study it will not be long till lakes like Guntersville, Clarks Hill and the lakes in Texas will no longer have grass. In the case of a lake like Guntersville where almost everyone depends on the fishermen spending money it will be the end to great year round fishing and the local economy will suffer a huge loss.

Staff reporter Crystal Tatum; Sep 16, 2010

Quote: "About 70 percent of 820-acre Lake Varner is now covered in hydrilla"

Link:     http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/newtonnews/headlines/103104724.html

[BASSclary]

You guys have grass that far north?

Suprisingly very very thick also.

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Just a little thought from the other side, Hydrilla can also completely take over a lake and make it inaccessible.

While I love it for its fish holding capacity its still an exotic and can choke a lake out if left unchecked.

There never going to kill it off so I personally don't mind a little control.

*Runs out of room ducking from a shoe flying through the air*

X2 Toho has areas we can't even troll to because it is too thick. >> ducks behind desk<<

[RoLo]

You guys have grass that far north?

Suprisingly very very thick also.

You said a mouthful

Although New Jersey is chockfull of lush plant beds,

Canada has even more, particularly Eurasian Watermilfoil,

Elodea (Canadian waterweed) and Pondweed (cabbage).

Roger

[Chris at Tech]

Without a doubt, we bass anglers LOVE hydrilla, but hydrilla is a double-edge sword.

Hydrilla is a weed by the truest sense of the word, (a plant out of place).

When hydrilla coverage reaches about 25%, the state needs to initiate control

because once coverage reaches 50%, they're usually fighting an expensive but losing battle.

The hurricane-trio of 2004 did more to control hydrilla than 1000 megatons of herbicide.

Hurricane Charley put the FWC ahead of the curve, and that's where they've stayed for 6 years.

As much as I love the stuff, matted hydrilla is a horror show, and can bring

watercraft navigation to a virtual standstill. From what I understand, Lake Varner Georgia

is currently dealing with hydrilla issues, where coverage is approaching 75%!

My heart goes out to boaters with less than 50 hp mills, because in matted hydrilla

they'll have to tilt their motor shaft every 25 yards to clear the prop >

Roger

Coverage on Varner is nowhere close to 75%. Closer to 10% maybe around five % matted on top. The 75% is a huge lie made up by the lake managers and spread to the media. I am guessing they are doing it to get support for grass eradication. They seem to be spreading lots of other lies to the media and other places right now to get support for stocking grass carp.

There is a movement started by a study on eagle deaths at the University of Georgia to eradicate all Hydrilla all over the South in the name of saving Bald Eagles. Varner is just the second lake where they want the grass removed. Once they get a precedent where they can say they removed the grass and the eagles are not dieing anymore in this study it will not be long till lakes like Guntersville, Clarks Hill and the lakes in Texas will no longer have grass. In the case of a lake like Guntersville where almost everyone depends on the fishermen spending money it will be the end to great year round fishing and the local economy will suffer a huge loss.

Staff reporter Crystal Tatum; Sep 16, 2010

Quote: "About 70 percent of 820-acre Lake Varner is now covered in hydrilla"

Link: http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/newtonnews/headlines/103104724.html

No one is disputing that the quote was made

But the truth is not there.  I can't claim to know anything about the study or the bird issues, but I can say that the lake is nowhere near 75% matted.  And I was there yesterday.