I'm pretty accustomed to milfoil but I'm finding that hydrilla tends to snag baits much easier. Does anyone have advice for tackling these weedy haunts with CR/TR and swim jigs. The obvious solution is to drop weight size, however strong wind are something I must factor in. So yeah, any tips on eqiipment/technique would be appreciated.

Please, no one tell me to rip a lipless crankbait out of the grass. That's like telling Tim Duncan that using the backboard will help his jumpshot. I'm just looking for tips for slow moving baits which remain on bottom.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/79539-heavy-hydrilla-tactics/

Texas and Florida rigs, if it gets snagged that means its not set-up properly and the bait has some sharp edges that's catching on the weeds. Also, modify the weed guard on jigs to make it smoother for you. Sometimes it does not come right, out of the box.  

If ya gonna fish Hydrilla ya gonna get hung, it's part of the game.

Vertical: keep you flips/pitches/punches as near vertical as you can.

That's a good tip Catt, and ya, snags are inevitable. But would you say that there is a combination of weight, hook size, and line that lessens the extent that you get snagged. Same thing with jigs, I've heard santone make a pretty weedless swim jig.

That's a good tip Catt, and ya, snags are inevitable. But would you say that there is a combination of weight, hook size, and line that lessens the extent that you get snagged. Same thing with jigs, I've heard santone make a pretty weedless swim jig.

First off I do not own a swim jig!

When fishing Hydrilla I'm fishing on the bottom, that is where the biggest bass are.

I like Terry Oldham's jigs but there are plenty good grass jigs out there. Siebert Outdoors makes some mighty fine jigs.

I also throw Texas Rigged plastics a lot with Rage Tail, Gene Larew, & Bass Assassin's New Tapout at the top of the list.

T-rig weights: 3/16 - 1 1/2 oz

Jig weights: 1/4 - 1 1/2 oz

i'd punch it also but i'd be sure to use tungsten.  i don't know how big the beds are but if big i'd move fast till i felt the tungsten click against a rocky bottom underneath the hydrilla.  then i'd slow down and soak it in those areas. if the bed are small i'd work them slow and thorough. it really isn't that deep so you can get away with 3/4-1oz...plus they'll get you more bites

The beds aren't quite at the point where they need to be punched, theyre submerged a pretty good ways down. More or less I'll be dragging a trig/mojo rig in this deep stuff. However the entire lake is surrounded by bulrush, which I'll be smashing big weights through.

Also, I found if I will pop the bait through the grass that it won't get hung. As opposed to trying to drag it through the stuff.

Explaining how I fish deep grass is difficult to put into words!

I never drag a Jig or Texas rig, I hop it up off the bottom almost like stroking but not as violently. It's a technique I learned from Larry Nixon years ago.

After the cast I pause 20-30 seconds before reeling down to feel for a bass. Then it's 3 quick short hops followed by another pause...I do this all the way back to the boat!

Larry Nixon Da man!!