Milfoil and Hydrilla, Lake Guntersville.

CouchTater · July 16, 2007, 07:28:39 PM

There was some interest in my last report about Hydrilla and Milfoil. Years ago thats all there was Milfoil. Now that Hydrilla has pretty much choked out the Milfoil, the bass have adapted also. On the other hand, there is so much hydrilla that you can't just pull up to a patch and hope to catch fish. There is a flat that is several miles long. The fish can be anywere in the flat.

Here is a pic a couple years ago of the hydrilla in about 5 ft of water. The hydrilla was about 4 ft high:

Can make it hard to Troll in:

This is a pic of the hydrilla matted up:

POE · July 17, 2007, 12:08:07 AM

nice pics! i have always wonderd what it looked like thanks.

bassfishing5 · July 17, 2007, 03:18:05 AM

Yep Yep. I'm all too familiar with that hydrilla. Big pain. So is anyone going to do anything about it yet?

Bassinkorea · July 17, 2007, 03:24:51 AM

That must put some pressure on the trolling motors.

CouchTater · July 17, 2007, 08:04:57 PM

Quote from: floater md on July 17, 2007, 03:18:05 AM
Yep Yep. I'm all too familiar with that hydrilla. Big pain. So is anyone going to do anything about it yet?

NO!!!! I hope not atleast. The majority of the lake has hydrilla in it. If the eradicate the hydrilla this lake will go down hill QUICK. Now granted it would make a come back ie: Chickamauga Lake in TN, but there is no way to get rid of it perm. only eradication. If that happend there would be a small war in North Alabama.

They ususally spray around the docks and boat houses, but its private contractors that do that, not TVA. They have two big boats with a harvester type arms on both sides that "mow" the grass. They will cut lanes in the grass to get to different areas and keep folks from running long distances to cross the river.

Me and a buddy won a tx last year in one of those lanes. We stayed there and culled twice!!! Every one thought we were fishing the mats but the fish were using it as a lane also.

The towns of Scottsboro and Guntersville have thrived from the multiple tourneys and people that come from out of state to fish. Matter of fact a big fish tourney last year (2 days) generated over 400,000 in revenue. One weekend!!!! I have seen people from all over the continental US and some foreigners here fishing.

I would go as far to say that Guntersville Lake is the only lake in Alabama were your chances of catching a 9-10 lb bass are good. Especially in the Spawn, last year a guy fishing the BFL as a Co-angler won with three fish. Of course the 12lb big fish helped alot.

BK,

It is tough on TM's but there are ways out of it.

Bassinkorea · July 19, 2007, 06:16:34 AM

Quote from: CouchTater on July 17, 2007, 08:04:57 PM
BK,

It is tough on TM's but there are ways out of it.

Can you give me any clues

Andrew · July 19, 2007, 10:21:26 AM

Quote from: CouchTater on July 17, 2007, 08:04:57 PMIt is tough on TM's but there are ways out of it.

Only way out of it is to buy a Minn Kota.

z22 · July 19, 2007, 11:53:28 AM

Andrew is right motorguide doesnt have anything for the grass.

CouchTater · July 19, 2007, 08:37:29 PM

Quote from: z22 on July 19, 2007, 11:53:28 AM
Andrew is right motorguide doesnt have anything for the grass.

Hey now

My lil 46lb thrust MG does pretty good....after you clean it off

z22 · July 19, 2007, 09:19:51 PM

If you had a minn kota you wouldnt have to clean it off.

Andrew · July 19, 2007, 09:24:13 PM

Quote from: CouchTater on July 19, 2007, 08:37:29 PM
Hey now My lil 46lb thrust MG does pretty good....after you clean it off

I broke three 42lb motor guides off my boat then i put a big minn kota 70lb thrust maxxim pro on it. Its a monster. On high feels like i'm getting bout 10mph lol.

CouchTater · July 19, 2007, 09:30:47 PM

Quote from: z22 on July 19, 2007, 09:19:51 PM
If you had a minn kota you wouldnt have to clean it off.

I'm not getting another TM until I get another boat...

z22 · July 19, 2007, 10:15:33 PM

But your next one will be a minn kota right??

Swede · July 20, 2007, 10:04:26 PM

The MinnKota with the weedwedge prop with the curved tips on the blades works like a champ. If you don't have one of those try lifting the TM just enough to slip a 12 oz bottle of water in between the TM and its mount. Easily set the TM back down trapping that 12oz bottle. TM will now blow grass down versus straight back - has helped me in the past keep a lot of the hydrilla from getting caught on the shaft.

Bassinkorea · July 20, 2007, 10:08:56 PM

Quote from: Swede on July 20, 2007, 10:04:26 PM
The MinnKota with the weedwedge prop with the curved tips on the blades works like a champ. If you don't have one of those try lifting the TM just enough to slip a 12 oz bottle of water in between the TM and its mount. Easily set the TM back down trapping that 12oz bottle. TM will now blow grass down versus straight back - has helped me in the past keep a lot of the hydrilla from getting caught on the shaft.

Hey Swede, that sounds like a great tip for the tips page

GamblerMatt · August 15, 2007, 04:35:09 PM

I first went to Gville last year in sept. I had a MG 74lb trolling motor. The very next week I ordered a 101 Minnkota. It was amazing of how much difference there was. I auctually bent a key on the MG and ran my tm batteries down. I fished all day with the minnkota and it was amazing to see the grass churning up and blowing everywhere. I lost no time plowing through the grass. Where it seemed like all I did the first day was babyset my MG. I have a 2200 gambler and there was no problem pulling it through anything.