As the title says, is there a point in which too much grass becomes harmful to bass and stunts/limits their growth?

I fish/manage a 4 to 5 year old, 12 acre lake in Alabama. This summer the grass has consumed the lake.

We normally can keep it contained and under control but nothing work this year. I know what hydrilla and milfoil are and it is neither of those. I plan on posting pictures later in the week in this same thread.

Currently about 60-70% of the lake is choked off from grass, with only the deepest parts not being covered. However, the deepest parts still have it on the bottom but it has not reached the surface yet. The grass is so thick that it starts from the bottom, reaches the surface, and creates thick mats. A boat with a trolling motor cannot make it through the mats. Even with a push pole I struggle to push my boat through. The grass mats reach as far as 60 feet from the bank. Every night and morning the grass emits some sort of oil or gas into the water, it looks as if it is a clear oil slick across the surface.

 

I am concerned because we have put lots of time, effort, and money into the lake to get it to where it is today. Copper sulfate has been suggested but we cannot afford the amount needed to push back the grass. I feel as though the bass are not able to feed like they should because the grass gives baitfish and crayfish so much cover. Last year the biggest bass weighed in was 6 pounds 10 ounces and that is only 4 years after being stocked. However, no one has registered a fish larger than 3 pounds this year and the lake has been fished much heavier. I sometimes catch a glimpse of small bass jumping 2-3 feet out of the water after dragonflies and mosquitos which has me thinking they may be starving.

 

Any input, tips, or advice is appreciated!

-Fishblitzer

Bob Lusk the Pond Boss, 30+ yrs of practical field experience in the art of lake & pond management. Lusk has a Bachelor's degree from Texas A&M in wildlife & fisheries management.

https://www.pondboss.com/index.asp

And what services does the state offer for pond management?

Give the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources a call to find out what they can for you, if anything.

Don't forget the grass eating carp, too.

LMB evolved in heavy aquatic growth and shouldn't have a problem living in heavy cover. The problem is they are difficult to locate and present lures to catch them. Green aquatic growth produces dissolved oxygen, provides shelter for young of the year prey and bass.

Agree Bob Lusk is a good resource and that is good advice.

I wouldn't introduce any other fish species until you know what the outcome is. Harvesting aquatic grass/weeds around boat docks using a weed cutting boat is a common practice employed by some small lake owners.

Take a look at punch rigs and other effective lure presentations to catch bass in the grass.

Tom

Have you seen what bass live in in okachobee??? It's gonna be way harder on the fisherman than the fish.

Every body of water in the state of Texas excluding rivers, creeks, & bayous is man made. Texas Department of Wildlife & Fisheries lead the nation in the management of ponds, lakes, & reservoirs and fisheriest biologist; Bob Lust is considered one of the best.

Pond Boss web site offers tons of free advice!

You'll want to reduce much of that vegetation for several reasons. Probably a nutrient issue. Do visit out the Pond Boss site.

I was gonna say it's probably curly leaf pond weed but I don't know about some kind of oil slick. As for copper sulfate that that isn't used to kill weeds. It stops the slime and algae not the weeds. What you want for the weeds is called Reward. Really you need to apply it as early in the year as possible. Like shortly after ice out. The weeds are there growing under the ice already. The longer you wait the more weeds grow and the harder it gets to kill them. It also can become hazardous to the fish if you were o kill the whole pond at once if it is totally covered.