Thick Hydrilla Fishing 2024

kfelton0002 reply :

I hope this topic hasn't been beat to death but one of the ponds I regularly fish is infested with thick hydrilla. I mean it is literally carpeted over with the stuff with very little open areas. Topwater frogging works okay at times but as it keeps getting warmer its just getting thicker and thicker. I want to fish the bottom of this pond because that's where the big girls seem to be but you can't get to them! Punching through with a bullet sinker and brush hog works okay but its dang aggravating. I know there are some big bass in this pond because I've seen them when the grass wasnt as thick. Aside from getting my hands on a half dozen grass carp I'm stumped. Any tips or tricks from anyone?

kfelton0002 reply :

Oh and btw.. that's the pond in the background of my profile pic. That was taken last weekend. Kinda gives you an idea of how thick the hydrilla is.

Catch and Grease reply :

I can't give any frogging tips because I'm not very good at it myself but if you really wanna get the big girls out try punching through the hydrilla with big 12" worms, Just make sure you are using some tough worms or they won't last long.

kfelton0002 reply :

Yeah that's the only thing I don't like about GYCB.. they catch bass but they don't last through many before you have to switch. Didn't really think about that though, thanks. I was just using the brush hog because I had been fishing weightless on top and dropping into what few open spots left and decided to try punching today. Got a couple bites but didn't land any with the sinker. Got one dink on the weightless brush hog Texas rigged before we got frustrated and went to try out another pond.

Catch and Grease reply :

I've been using the berkly power worms that are 12 inches and they seem to hold up pretty good....

Alonerankin2 reply :

You just have put the 1 to 11/2 bullit sinker or a punch rig... I use a 7'6" heavy and a 7'11" heavy once you get thru the top layer on hydrilla it opens up real good... Use small baits designed to be punched thru ... Smaller more aerodynamic for getting thru thick stuff.... Try 3/4 then go up... Gotta have strong gear to go in and get em out though! Good luck....

einscodek reply :

I'm afraid the only options are to work the edges which may or may not yield bounty depending on conditions OR to pitch through the thick stuff.

Its time consuming and aggravating at times but its about the only way when summer lunkers are hunkered in their mats..

kfelton0002 reply :

I'm using some heavy braid and a decent rod and reel but I do get concerned for the bass we pull in. You usually have 1 pound of fish to every 10 pounds of grass you pull in with it. I always worry I will pull their jaw off.

Brian Needham reply :

how heavy are you going?

1.You might have to go 1.5 oz or 2 oz

2. can you fish the canopy holes without ultra heavy weight?

3. have you fished the grass line/edge?

kfelton0002 reply :

I used a 1 ounce weight today.. I thought that was pretty heavy.

Yes the holes in the top produce okay but they're not huge. Weightless craws and brush hogs always produce at least a fish or two every time I go but the biggest i've caught there only weighed around a pound and a half or so.

I have fished every inch of that pond on top but punching through I only tried a few spots today just a trial run. Mainly in the center of the pound where the grass is thickest.

Brian Needham reply :

if it is thick then you are going to have to go at least 1.5oz in the mat and 3/4 or 1 oz in the holes.... some guys will go 2oz.

I got friends that fish Guntersville and never go below 1.5oz...... punching aint my style, its boring to me..

my approach to most things is go as big a you can get away with THEN see if you HAVE to scale back....

check out some punch rigs from siebert outdoors..... Mike can probably make you some as big as you need. Check him out.

Catt reply :

With hydrilla you have 3 options!

Fish over it

Fish edges

Fish mat

If you want to effectively fish the mat you'll have to dedicate plenty of time!

Fishing hydrilla mats can be time consuming, it's not uncommon to spend 3-4 hours with out a bite & limit out in next hour.

The other guys will give you plenty tips on tackle & techniques.

It's Bubba Bass Fishing

kfelton0002 reply :

Looks like I'm gonna invest in some heavier sinkers.. I shall give it a try. I won't give up until I'm pulling at least a 5 pound pig from that slop. We are also gonna change up our times a bit. We've been fishing mainly morning and early afternoon, so I think we're gonna try some evening and night fishing up there. I'm in love with the pond.. and I have a love hate relationship with the grass.

Mike L reply :

On 6/15/2014 at 10:06 AM, Brian Needham said:
if it is thick then you are going to have to go at least 1.5oz in the mat and 3/4 or 1 oz in the holes.... some guys will go 2oz.I got friends that fish Guntersville and never go below 1.5oz...... punching aint my style, its boring to me..my approach to most things is go as big a you can get away with THEN see if you HAVE to scale back....check out some punch rigs from siebert outdoors..... Mike can probably make you some as big as you need. Check him out.

Brian is right, to get to the girls you're gonna have to go where they live.

A 1-2 oz weight will get you there.

If you dont have any that heavy, swing the rod high and crash through useing a higher arc.

Also try useing a compact craw type plastic instead of brush hogs and big 10" worms.

You want the bait to come through as unabated as it can. The appendage's of the brush hog and a 1/3 of that worm can get hung up and ruin your presentation.

Mike

Also, before you pull it out to make another pitch, bring it up to the underside of the mat and bang a few times then drop it again.

Catch and Grease reply :

On 6/15/2014 at 10:33 AM, Mike L said:

Brian is right, to get to the girls you're gonna have to go where they live.

A 1-2 oz weight will get you there.

If you dont have any that heavy, swing the rod high and crash through useing a higher arc.

Also try useing a compact craw type plastic instead of brush hogs and big 10" worms.

You want the bait to come through as unabated as it can. The appendage's of the brush hog and a 1/3 of that worm can get hung up and ruin your presentation.

Mike

Also, before you pull it out to make another pitch, bring it up to the underside of the mat and bang a few times then drop it again.

I've done good with 12" worms and big weights in hydrilla...

Mike L reply :

On 6/15/2014 at 10:51 AM, Catch and Grease said:
I've done good with 12" worms and big weights in hydrilla...

Not saying it couldn't be done....use what you will.

My experience is with anything that can get hung up going down, I will try to avoid.

Mike

Catch and Grease reply :

On 6/15/2014 at 11:20 AM, Mike L said:

Not saying it couldn't be done....use what you will.

My experience is with anything that can get hung up going down, I will try to avoid.

Mike

I've had much more success using smaller baits like you said but there are days when I've pulled some good sized bass out with big worms, but to each his own

Mike L reply :

On 6/15/2014 at 11:31 AM, Catch and Grease said:
I've had much more success using smaller baits like you said but there are days when I've pulled some good sized bass out with big worms, but to each his own

Dont doubt that at all...

Mike

Alonerankin2 reply :

I will take a smaller missle type bait for that work any day over big worms or big craws

kfelton0002 reply :

They seem to really like craws in that pond. I have one specific color that they hammer on top, its watermelon with green and purple glitter and its yum brand. They hold up well. I will do trial runs with different baits and see what they like best and what holds up and performs best. I also have some big 10-12 inch berkleys powerbait worms in June bug and some pretty big stick baits. What color would you guys recommend? The water is fairly clear and barely stained a green hue due to the grass. I've been using natural colors like green and they seem to like that. I have gotten hits on different colors though, like red bug. Will natural colors work just as well on bottom under all that heavy grass or should I use darker colors?

Thanks for all the input.. I'm learning a lot from you guys! I'm like a sponge.. lol.

Catch and Grease reply :

Natural colors or dark colors should work just pick your poison, throw in a couple really bright colors every once in ahwile and your golden lol!

CaptMikeStarrett reply :

I have seen a 10 foot section of chain link fence with three cinder blocks tied to the end of it clear an area across a pond really quick. Tie a rope to the fence and hook to a truck on the other side and drag across it. It creates a channel that can be fishing.

This has worked in tidal creeks dragged behind the boat to deepen it. At my house we have a float tied to it and we drag it out and back each time we leave and return to the creek.

Works on ponds too.

Capt Mike

Sam reply :

K, please consider the following when fishing heavy hydrilla:

1. Get a paddle.

2. Use a watercraft (raft, skiff, kayak, etc.) that you can use to get out into the pond.

3. If you do not have a watercraft to get you into the pond then you will do this along the bank.

4. Using the paddle, make a holes in the grass about 3 to 4 feet across and as deep as you can go.

5. Wait one day.

6. Come back and flip and pitch your plastics into the hole in the grass.

7. You can use plastics with appendages using this method.

8. You can still use a tungsten weight.

9. You can consider pegging our not pegging the weight.

Keep the holes open as best you can. The bass will be attracted to the open space.

This is an old pro's secret so don't tell anyone.

Good luck and let us know if you try this method how you do.

kfelton0002 reply :

I can probably get access to a small Jon boat. I was thinking taking something like a rake and some old feed sacks to put the junk in while in the boat. I've read that the hydrilla makes it hard on the bass as it forces them into what little open space there is, like on the bottom or in the few open holes there is and they have to compete for this space. That's why the big girls are in the bottom and the smaller fish are closer to the surface in the holes. I'm going today to try punching through the stuff. I bought some heavier sinkers so we shall see if I can get me a big pig bass. I'm super pumped.

Bankbeater reply :

When I am fishing from the bank in cover that thick I go weightless. Reason being, if you do manage to punch through and get a bass, you will be dragging back a ton of weeds along with the fish. Try using a super fluke if the GY baits keep falling apart, and pitch the bait into holes in the weeds and let it sink.

kfelton0002 reply :

You end up dragging a ton of grass in with every fish by the time you get them in anyway. They want to swim down when their hooked so either way I'm gonna have to haul in grass. I'm using 30 pound braid and so far its doing fine.

Catt reply :

K.I.S.S.

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