pianistfishermanguy Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Can anyone help me establish the difference between Hydrilla and Milfoil? I've tried looking at photos of it on google/images, but I cant really see the difference. I'm heading to Guntersville next month, and I really need to be able to tell the difference. If you can help, I would appreciate it. Thanks! Quote
Super User Gatorbassman Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Eurasian Milfoil Hydrilla Quote
Super User Shane J Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Those are cool diagrams, Fluke. The milfoil is much softer, and appears fluffy almost. When it gets really grown in, you can look across the water, and it looks like a field with the tips that grow out of the water. I like to toss a plastic toad that makes some noise like a Rage Tail Toad right across that stuff, and bring out the bass that are hanging around under it, or punch through it with a tank of a Tx rig (pegged), with a creature bait or big plastic worm like an Anaconda! It can be a pain to fish, but the fish often use it for cover, and you can always see baitfish and bluegills cruising around these areas of dense milfoil and hydrilla. Quote
gadawgsr1 Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Okay, I'll bite... What does it matter? Do bass prefer one over the other? I know I'm new to the "dynamics' (I have caught fish for years and not worried about the dynamics) of bass fishing but isn't underwater cover just that: underwater cover? Quote
Super User Gatorbassman Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Quote Okay, I'll bite... What does it matter? Do bass prefer one over the other? I know I'm new to the "dynamics' (I have caught fish for years and not worried about the dynamics) of bass fishing but isn't underwater cover just that: underwater cover? Sometimes, Yes When found in the same lake Millfoil starts growing in early spring and bass will move into it to find something to eat. As the spring turns to summer you will notice that the Hydrilla is growing a lot faster and taller than the millfoil and in some cases it will choke the millfoil out. As it heats up the water looses its ability to hold oxygen the Hydrilla, and what millfoil is left will be producing oxygen so the bass will move into it to stay alive. Whatever plant is producing the best oxygen and holding the most food will be holding the most bass. I won a late summer tournament with Senko77 a few years ago and the pattern was simple. I spent three days dragging a 1oz jig and pulling up Millfoil. Most of the Millfoil in the lake was dead but when I found a patch that was green the bass were stacked in there. I didn't need to catch a fish in practice to know where the fish would be during the tournament. I found four spots like this in my area of the lake and we ended up with a 25.8lb sack with a 9.98 kicker. 2nd place was 12+lbs. Quote
gadawgsr1 Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Okay, I'll bite... What does it matter? Do bass prefer one over the other? I know I'm new to the "dynamics' (I have caught fish for years and not worried about the dynamics) of bass fishing but isn't underwater cover just that: underwater cover? Sometimes, Yes When found in the same lake Millfoil starts growing in early spring and bass will move into it to find something to eat. As the spring turns to summer you will notice that the Hydrilla is growing a lot faster and taller than the millfoil and in some cases it will choke the millfoil out. As it heats up the water looses its ability to hold oxygen the Hydrilla, and what millfoil is left will be producing oxygen so the bass will move into it to stay alive. Whatever plant is producing the best oxygen and holding the most food will be holding the most bass. I won a late summer tournament with Senko77 a few years ago and the pattern was simple. I spent three days dragging a 1oz jig and pulling up Millfoil. Most of the Millfoil in the lake was dead but when I found a patch that was green the bass were stacked in there. I didn't need to catch a fish in practice to know where the fish would be during the tournament. I found four spots like this in my area of the lake and we ended up with a 25.8lb sack with a 9.98 kicker. 2nd place was 12+lbs. Very interesting. The bodies of water around here are covered up in both types of plants. I will have to give fishing "in them" a try. I usually throw just in front of the cover and pulll the lure along that front rather than in it. Quote
Super User Catt Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Hydrilla will completely mat the surface offering a better canopy from the heat of summer. Hydrilla grows in deeper water and will grow denser thus holding more heat making it an excellent location for winter bass fishing. Quote
Super User SPEEDBEAD. Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Okay, I'll bite... What does it matter? Do bass prefer one over the other? I know I'm new to the "dynamics' (I have caught fish for years and not worried about the dynamics) of bass fishing but isn't underwater cover just that: underwater cover? Sometimes, Yes When found in the same lake Millfoil starts growing in early spring and bass will move into it to find something to eat. As the spring turns to summer you will notice that the Hydrilla is growing a lot faster and taller than the millfoil and in some cases it will choke the millfoil out. As it heats up the water looses its ability to hold oxygen the Hydrilla, and what millfoil is left will be producing oxygen so the bass will move into it to stay alive. Whatever plant is producing the best oxygen and holding the most food will be holding the most bass. I won a late summer tournament with Senko77 a few years ago and the pattern was simple. I spent three days dragging a 1oz jig and pulling up Millfoil. Most of the Millfoil in the lake was dead but when I found a patch that was green the bass were stacked in there. I didn't need to catch a fish in practice to know where the fish would be during the tournament. I found four spots like this in my area of the lake and we ended up with a 25.8lb sack with a 9.98 kicker. 2nd place was 12+lbs. 9.98 ;D Quote
Super User flechero Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Quote 9.98 ;D As soon as I saw it, I wondered who would take the first shot! Well played, Wayne. ;D Sorry Gator! Quote
Super User RoLo Posted September 17, 2009 Super User Posted September 17, 2009 Eurasian watermilfoil (milfoil) might be confused with coontail, but should never be confused with hydrilla. Hydrilla grows in whorls of tiny leaflets, while milfoil has delicate feather-like foliage. The surest way to differentiate hydrilla from milfoil is to simply ****** a piece out of the water. Hydrilla will hold its form unchanged, whereas milfoil collapses out of the water, like a sprayed spider. Hydrilla can be further confirmed by running a finger along the underside of a leaflet. The underside of hydrilla has a uniquely rough feeling, due to those tiny prongs pictured in the diagram. Water clarity permitting, both milfoil and hydrilla are capable of growing in water over 15 ft deep (milfoil can grow 20 ft deep in clear water) and both plants are very capable of forming surface mats. Roger Quote
Super User Gatorbassman Posted September 18, 2009 Super User Posted September 18, 2009 Quote Quote 9.98 ;D As soon as I saw it, I wondered who would take the first shot! Well played, Wayne. ;D Sorry Gator! After three years of ribbing from you guys I've gotten used to it. lol And for those who don't know. That 9.98 is still my personal best. : Quote
ab8aac Posted September 18, 2009 Posted September 18, 2009 well when you go don't forget CAT's lesson on fishing the grass mats i.e. , a crawdad colored rattle trap pulled parralell to the mat, it will pull those fish out of the mat and when they ambush it they will hit it with a ton, won me our club tournament last week-end come to think of it I guess I ought to send him something for the lesson huh........ :-* Quote
Super User Catt Posted September 19, 2009 Super User Posted September 19, 2009 Hydrilla Can grow in oligotrophic (low nutrient) to eutrophic (high nutrient) conditions Can grow in 7% salinity of seawater Can grow in only 1% of full sunlight Low light compensation and saturation points and low CO2 compensation point make it a competitive plant because it can start growing in low light before other plants do Quote
Super User RoLo Posted September 19, 2009 Super User Posted September 19, 2009 Hydrilla Can grow in oligotrophic (low nutrient) to eutrophic (high nutrient) conditions Can grow in 7% salinity of seawater Can grow in only 1% of full sunlight Low light compensation and saturation points and low CO2 compensation point make it a competitive plant because it can start growing in low light before other plants do You gotta luv the stuff. I've got hydrilla growing in my car radiator, and that water reaches 180 deg F But no bass yet Roger Quote
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