Hydrilla with Scatter Lilly Pads and Occasional Cypress.

[RKS3]

I am fishing a Oxbow off a main river with thick Hydrilla mingled with large Lilly pads and the occasional stump and Cypress tree. What techniques should I focus on? I am completely at a loss when it comes to fishing Hydrilla.

I did have about 5 - 1/2 pounders follow a spro frog all the way back to the boat they where just to small to take it.

The water depth is about 3 ft around the hydrilla.

The main lake is about 10 ft deep with standing timber I also plan on fishing but have it covered.

[Catt]

Two ways to fish Hydrilla; above it or below it

Try top water baits early & flip/pitch it late  

[RKS3]

What do you use to fish below it Catt? Weight lure etc?

Thanks for the reply.

[Catt]

Oldham's Lures Trailer Hitch Jig, 3/8 oz Black/Blue, Gene Larew Salty Hawg Craws in 6 with 1 ½ cut off the tail

Any thing Texas Rigged for flipping/pitching  

[hawgchaser]

I would run a big colorado blade spinner tickling the top of the hydrilla then let it sink down at the edge and slow roll it deeper. I would try black or the usual white chartreuse.

[bocabasser]

swim a jig trailered with a paca chunk senior.

[river-rat]

Everything suggested will do a good job. But my first choice on these types of lakes is a 1/2 oz. Johnson Silver Minnow (JSM) in either gold or black nickel. Add a trailer like a 4" grub, #11 pork frog, etc. Gold with a white or chartreuse grub, or black with a yellow grub will work extremely well. Sharpen the hook real well and adjust the weed guard to about 1/8" above the hook point and it will come through the heaviest cover imagineable.

I use the black nickel JSM early and late in the day or when it's overcast, and the gold after the sun comes up. It's a good idea to use at least 20# test monofilament or 50# braid on at least a mediu-heavy rod. This bait will catch large fish.

I've been fishing oxbow lakes for over 40 years all over Louisiana and the JSM still works -- especially in heavy cover.

[rondef]

In addition to the choices above I would consider throwing a Manns -1 and running over the top of the hydrilla.