Weed Kill

[no.4shot]

How do you guys deal with it when they put weed kill in a lake?  It always seems to hinder my fishing.

Thanks

No.4shot

[Raul]

I would say that you have to move away from the sprayed area like if it were the black plague.

Where I live I 've never seen ( and I don 't think they even do it ) weed spraying, however I have seen and been after the SAGARPA has sent the machines to clear the lake from water hyacinth, yup it 's easier to navigate but the fish develop a severe case of shutmouthitis  >.

Imagine you being under an umbrella most of the time and suddenly somebody comes and takes it away from you.    Not only the place gets all churned up but also there 's no shade anymore.  :-/

[Tin]

It makes things tough but just go find the closest cover or structure to the weed line and you will find the fish. A lot of the times though, the fish will stay there and hold in the remnants around here. Why? I dont know.  :-?

[mferris]

i have the same problem,they just killed the weeds off for the first time at this lake...i don't know if the bass stay close to the bottom or move deeper...the weedlines are gone..just a narrow band on the garmin with what might be an occasional clump..although i caught some bass early monday up shallow i didn't have much luck otherwise..i tried 10' power worm,dt10,jig/pig, and suspending jerkbaits without any luck...this sucks,i used to do well at this lake and it's 5 mins from my house!!!!!!!!

[fishfordollars]

I leave the area.

[Shad_Master]

This can really kill off a fishing area, especially a smaller lake or pond.  Usually the weeds along the bank are being sprayed and this will cause the fish to pull back into deeper structure, often outside of casting range.  But the long term effect is that there is no cover for the fish to spawn in the next season which eventually reduces the size and number of fish.

A pond near me has gone through this and has been reduced from consistent 2-4 #'ers to 10" fish as the common catch - but, as I am always reminded by the residents of the area, "doesn't the pond look nice?" >

[Cujo]

This is a common issue with fisherman.  There needs to be a balance between the stake holders or the people using the pond.  Too many weeds can spoil the fishing.  Yes, fish will move to new areas after a treatment.  If the treatment is only targeting certain species of plants then all the plant may not be affected and the fish will return.  In most situations, treating the nuisance vegetation will be a benefit to the fishery over time.  A mono culture of an invasive species is very detratmentle to the entire ecosystem.  You have to remember bass fishing is not the only activity that takes place on a lake or pond.  And yes, some people want to have a swimming pool for a pond and that is definitely the wrong way to go about it.  In most situations vegetation control is very beneficial to a lake or pond.  If left untreated they will eventually turn into swamps and wetlands, which in that case there would be no fishing.  Nature taking its course.  And yes, money and politics plays a role in what and how things get done.  In NY, they are very strict on how things get treated and with which product.  Vegetation control would not be done if there were long term negative affects to the fishery or the rest of the ecosystem.  Hopefully I did not make any one more angry, just want you to look at the bigger picture and more then just fishing.  Any time some one has questions to weed control please send me a pm.  I can usually provide alot of information on the subject.  I'm not always at my computer during the warm months, but I will get back asap.

[fishfordollars]

Lake Conroe just north of Houston was devasted many years ago when they dumped thousands of grass carp. They ate everything in the lake and the fishing suffered for years. They have done it again this last year, just not as many. After they eat all the grass the fish get very dependable as to where they relocate and the fishing is great until they are devastated by fishing pressure and predatation of young of the year. The school is still out as to what type of senario we will have over the next few years. There is still grass in the lake, but the grass carp are working it over. Time will tell.

[no.4shot]

thanks g=for all the replies guys.