5 Things You Need To Know About Hydrilla To Catch More Fish!

[@C.Adams82]

There's a section on Dale Hollow that's in 20 ft and the hydrilla tops out to the surface. It's a very small section around mid lake.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very cool!

[@ukjw2]

Wow. Had no idea there were open chambers inside this stuff. Figured it was just solid from bottom to top

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad I could help

[@kenmartin7129]

Is it possible to get pictures of hydrilla and Milfoil, when you are talking about them? It would help beginning anglers (especially Me) to identify them. Because, it's all just weeds to me. Just asking! Love the tips and info but I'm not sure what exactly you are talking about?

[@MattStefanFishing]

The thumbnail pictures show them relatively up close. But its good feedback for the future

[@kenmartin7129]

@@MattStefanFishing Sorry, I saw the I saw the thumbnail afterwards. The thumbnail disappeared as soon as I clicked on the video. I was hoping to see it floating in the water. But, Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. It means a lot.

[@steventakach8128]

Perfect timing, I leaving for Florida 👍👍😎

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@trevinjacobson6655]

All of my biggest fish were caught in thick hydrilla right on the edge of it. Got a spot that hasn’t let me down yet

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds like fun!

[@jeffreyrodgers5835]

Im in central Florida and ive seen it completely shut a lake diwn to all biats except maybe a mud boat. It makes a ton of bait and ive seen it get so thick it chokes itself out and dies off. This state sprays it so much and i always here people complain what happened to the fish. It always seems to shut down the bite just saying maybe we should find another way like harvest it and turn into free fertilizer or something equivalent

[@MattStefanFishing]

wow

[@DanielBoone337]

I get the invasive side but I know when the hydrilla died off on Toledo because of high waters it crippled our lake for a long time. Hopefully they figure out how to manage it because I would hate to go back to fishing a lake without it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yeah removing the grass is bad

[@gaylehodnett4057]

I live on Toledo Bend. The hydrilla was killed with another spreading weed.

[@MattStefanFishing]

dang

[@rickhensley2251]

Can't get enough of the bass in grass videos. It all can be a pain to fish, but good things seem to happen when fishing grass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You got that right!

[@shannonkirby9295]

Great video, Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tomoverbey5526]

I hit like before the video started cuz i knew it was gonna be good

[@law1831]

Thanks Matt, good info on my least favorite aquatic plant

[@MattStefanFishing]

Any time!

[@StrikEagle9]

Your video on milfoil really helped me understand one of my favorite ponds even better. I really appreciate these videos discussing a bass's ecosystem.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@theultimatesteelshooter8610]

Thx for this! Here on my home reservoir in Florida hydrilla is the key to catching bass. If you’re not fishing near, over or through it you can pretty much expect not to catch anything. It is a fantastic water filter though and the St Johns WAter Authority which built this reservoir 8 years ago for water management so far has a good hydrilla management plan in place. They also stocked it with 1,000,000 fingerlings. In the year its been open to fishing there have been 95 bass over 8 lbs and 35 over 10 and that’s only the on3s being recorded. I know a couple of local guides on the reservoir who routinely catch 8 lbers and never record them and one guide who already has 3 10 lbers. Was out yesterday and we catch 18 bass fishing worms and swimbaits in scattered hydrilla on big flats and then punching matts. Biggest was only 5 lbs catch punching Amat’s along the edge of a 9’ canal. Th3 are no docks, riprap, river beds, rocks, etc- just som pits, canals, etc dug in the reservoir when it was made and hydrilla. If you don’t like fishing hydrilla this is not the place to go fishing. If you want a legitimate shot to catch a 5lb + bass on every trip howeve ...

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds like an amazing fishery!

[@genepost9377]

Great Video and Channel,appreciate your insights, Could you do a video on dealing with rough water days thnanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good idea!

[@shannonkirby9295]

None of that where I fish. I hate not having grass

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love fishing grass!

[@Stumpjack]

Love these "5 Things" episodes. Even if someone already knows this stuff it's a great segment or series, and appeals to the OCD part of my personality! Ha!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I enjoy doing them!

[@mort3770]

They’re called “Listicles”.

[@joer.7100]

Great topic & the next video opportunity is to talk about the effects of water willow on our lakes. Thanks Matt!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great suggestion!

[@N5KDA]

Hey Matt, Thanks! What about coontail. I'm not sure now if what I see in one lake is hydrilla or coontail. It grows thick but only runs out to about 20 feet of water. The pics I see makes them look very similar. BTW, we have watershield that starts a few feet from the bank and comes out 10 to 15 feet depending on water depth, then the coontait or hydrilla starts and goes out to whatever water depth it stops growing in.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Im going to do a video on the differences

[@dcslapout5697]

Don’t have to worry about it here on Jordan, they have been spraying heavily for last few years

[@MattStefanFishing]

I’m not a fan of spraying

[@johnrayner5599]

Thanks for the lesson on this problematic plant, I really dont like it for ay reason and will go out of my way to avoid it. How about the 5 best things about building your own rods, thats one I think would be of interest to many of us.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good idea!

[@jelmo1057]

Hydrilla, the reason 50# braid exists!!😄

[@MattStefanFishing]

Fact!

[@Jeeg_Quebec_CAN]

5 differences of southern and northern fisheries! I'm up in Canada where the Berkley B1 was and the points you made on choking bays is right on. Can't find alot of bass, but sooooo much pike live in these things.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thats a good idea! Thanks!

[@fishingthesouthwest4179]

You ever fish a reaper on a ned head? or split shot rig anymore? Thanks for the great daily tips with substance not fluff.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Havent used one recently but used to catch some fish on it

[@juleswinnfield826]

Learned about its origin today. Again, you used one of the few words that transcends salinity, body of water and species.... 'Current' . My first experience with Drilla was on Okeechobee, yes fun but i agree it can be problematic. Thanks for the vid.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks! It can be fun to fish but also completely out of control at times.

[@morganheberling]

i get stuck in hydrilla mats in my belly boat sometimes. wraps around you legs and shuts you down. lol.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That sounds miserable

[@johncloud2851]

I am going to have to send you a video of my Uncle's private oxbow. I believe the hydrilla has taken over, but there's a channel between each bank. Literally topwater only.

[@MattStefanFishing]

It can happen

[@michaelvice6805]

Need a 5 thing for proper boat launching edicate Lol.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha! good idea!

[@phillipbrooks1289]

Coontail if you haven’t already please

[@rcallies82]

So how do you identify milfoil vs hydrilla?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Hydrilla is a much courser plant with short stiff limbs. milfoil is much softer and usually has a red tip. Looks more like a cats tail. Google both and you'll see they are very different.

[@calebc6028]

happens real bad in missouri man made lakes.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing