Last time out my line was gettin fouled with cotton like sheddings from cotton willow trees? Wherever it comes from it caused some big problems while casting and reeling in.

My top guide would get clogged with the cotton and wasnt able to reel in the line without first picken it out. The little bits that made it through the guide would reel onto the spool and when casting would cause big issues you can imagine yourself.

Have you tried inserting a sprugle cottonaway on the tip to shed it off the line?  

Cottonwood tree. Common around the Great Lakes for sure. When I was living near Cleveland and they are in full bloom, the carp in the streams would inhale the seed pod clusters. Biggest carp I ever caught was on a white Clouser sight fishing a drift that they were eating the seeds. That fish ate a 4” clouser and it’s mouth was so big the lure was inhaled sideways and didn’t touch the lips. That was fun on a 5 wt (I went for smallmouth that day).

 

mono is easier to clean off than braid but the only way to really get it all off it so keep sliding it towards the lure and eventually retie. 

This was what I plucked out with tweezers after a tournament last weekend. Had to quit over an hour early because several of our reels and guides became unusable. 

Patience, cottonwood season lasts only a couple weeks.

 

oe

One of my best lakes has a hotspot that is surrounded by these trees.  This time of the year is a pain.  Wind pushes fish against a bank along with the cotton.  Here are a few things you can do:

1. Fish a bottom contact lure (soft plastic or jig) and hold your rod tip almost in the water to keep the line below the surface of the water all the way back to the boat.  

2.  Fish a bottom contact lure with a rod that has microguides.  Each time you reel in stop as the tip guide starts to fill up, pick it clean, and keep reeling. 

3.  Move someplace else until the cotton season is over.  

 

Whatever you do, you have to be patient and dedicated and NOT allow that crap into the spool on your reel.  Pick it before it gets to your reel.  If you can't exercise this kind of discipline...move on until it clears.  Sometimes I'm in the mood to be patient and catch the fish I know are there.  Sometimes I move on.   

Deal with it every year but fortunately it means fishing is good.

Been absolutely dreadful here for a few weeks...should be ending soon

7 hours ago, MAN said:

Have you tried inserting a sprugle cottonaway on the tip to shed it off the line?  

No, but i did just finish knitting 1/8 of a sock.

?

On 6/10/2022 at 5:34 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Patience, cottonwood season lasts only a couple weeks.

 

oe

 

Thankfully! 

This is the time of year that I need to condition myself to using leaders. Knots and fuzz balls sound about the same going through the guides.

On 6/10/2022 at 4:34 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Patience, cottonwood season lasts only a couple weeks.

 

oe

In a normal year, yes. Last year it went on for almost 2 months because it never rained here.

 

A good hard rain will take care of it. If it ever comes.

Cottonwood trees are the devil!!!!

Not sure if i am spending more time picking or fishing this week.