Has anyone else noticed this year that the weeds in Lake Murray are worse than in previous years? It seems like I’ve cleared more lines more than ever while trolling for stripers and bottom fishing for cats. I cleared my umbrellas several times in several hours while fishing 10 or more feet off the bottom. Perhaps SCE&G needs to plan to drop the lake down this winter, they don’t drop it down 5-6’ like they did when I was young almost every year.
Let the weeds grow
I’m just concerned that we may have another weed issue coming on like the hydrilla issue we had years ago and rembember all those stripers dying last year?? Just saying…
quote:
Originally posted by striperswiperLet the weeds grow
AMEN!!
A lake with healthy vegatative growth will be much more productive over all.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Weeds are your friend.
The non-fishermen don’t like the weeds.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
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You said it Bow,Santee Cooper ruined lake Marion and Moultrie with their grass killing.Also,the fishing was better when they kept the water levels higher,but all the people living on the lakes cried.Very sad.
quote:
Originally posted by ZebcoI’m just concerned that we may have another weed issue coming on like the hydrilla issue we had years ago and rembember all those stripers dying last year?? Just saying…
The only “issue” hydrilla was ever involved in is when it gets removed from lake like Murray and Santee (Marion and Moultrie). Fishing hasn’t been the same on those lakes since. Granted, there are some less-desirable “weeds” and/or grasses out there but hydrilla isn’t one of them.
Grass in a lake has nothing to do with fish dying.
“…be a man and PM me.”
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ipc/hydrilla/pdfs/why_hydrilla_is_bad.pdf
Not saying that the weeds that I’m seeing are hydrilla … but I do remember there were areas of the lake that were nearly impassable (like area between lake point subdivision and wessinger island due to this plant some years ago… Guess it depends on how many grass carp are still out there…
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ipc/hydrilla/pdfs/why_hydrilla_is_bad.pdf
Not saying that the weeds that I’m seeing are hydrilla … but I do remember there were areas of the lake that were nearly impassable (like area between lake point subdivision and wessinger island due to this plant some years ago… Guess it depends on how many grass carp are still out there…
Couple of issues with this article. One, it’s written by someone in California and two, it’s written by someone in California.
From experience and in my opinion, the fishing and duck hunting was EXPONENTIALLY BETTER on Murray when the grass was present than it is now. Sure, it changed the way you fished and for trollers, it meant you had to clean baits a little more often but the only people that complained about it were the pleasure boaters and the jet skiers. Look at some of the most prolific bass fisheries in the country, Guntersville for instance. Grass is a HUGE part of the reason for its status as one of the best bass fisheries in the country.
Plus, there are a lot of references to “canals” in the article. Of course grass, native or non-native, is going to be an issue in such a confined space. If having grasses like hydrilla were an ecosystem disaster, state conservation agencies, like the SCDNR, would do more than just release grass carp and, in some parts of the country, use waterborn machinery to “mow” the grass in question.
“…be a man and PM me.”
I agree CA is way out there on a lot of research and environmental bs.
However; Did anyone ever figure why we lost so many striper last summer in the fish kill? Why were O2 levels so different or perhaps water temps were higher than normal? Hope we don’t see that again that’s all…
The grass everyone is seeing is not hydrilla…I wish it was… I think what everyone is seeing is Ruppia (widgeon grass)…but nam its really holding some fish and bait right now…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by ZebcoI agree CA is way out there on a lot of research and environmental bs.
However; Did anyone ever figure why we lost so many striper last summer in the fish kill? Why were O2 levels so different or perhaps water temps were higher than normal? Hope we don’t see that again that’s all…
Alot goes into a fish kill…way more than just an oxygen squeeze…we were still feeling the effects of the oct flood as well…when sceg had to dump the lake, it lost its stable oxygen if that makes sense. The stability of the lake was compromised after the flood. DNR had a good idea we were gonna have a kill the summer after the flood. I guess u could say the Oct flood caused the summer kill…the flood also caused more stuff to be dumped into the lake which the lake had to decompose…it takes oxygen to decompose stuff. So an excess of decomposing material, lack of stable oxygen, heat, etc…it was bound to happen…
Also Anytime we have huge amounts of rain during the summer it’s not good for the lower oxygen level.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by Murrymakerquote:
Originally posted by ZebcoI agree CA is way out there on a lot of research and environmental bs.
However; Did anyone ever figure why we lost so many striper last summer in the fish kill? Why were O2 levels so different or perhaps water temps were higher than normal? Hope we don’t see that again that’s all…
Alot goes into a fish kill…way more than just an oxygen squeeze…we were still feeling the effects of the oct flood as well…when sceg had to dump the lake, it lost its stable oxygen if that makes sense. The stability of the lake was compromised after the flood. DNR had a good idea we were gonna have a kill the summer after the flood. I guess u could say the Oct flood caused the summer kill…the flood also caused more stuff to be dumped into the lake which the lake had to decompose…it takes oxygen to decompose stuff. So an excess of decomposing material, lack of stable oxygen, heat, etc…it was bound to happen…
Also Anytime we have huge amounts of rain during the summer it’s not good for the lower oxygen level.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
Agreed! Those were much more significant as it pertained to the fish kills than any grass/weed in the lake.
I also agree that it’s not hydrilla we’re seeing but you’re right, it’s holding bait like a mofo.
“…be a man and PM me.”
Haven’t fished Murray since the early 90’s, but tell me about this widgeon grass…how deep is it growing? Is it widespread, or confined to small areas?
I might be coming one weekend this summer with my son bass fishing, he wants to see what Murray looks like. Any grass info would be appreciated.
quote:
Originally posted by pitcherHaven’t fished Murray since the early 90’s, but tell me about this widgeon grass…how deep is it growing? Is it widespread, or confined to small areas?
I might be coming one weekend this summer with my son bass fishing, he wants to see what Murray looks like. Any grass info would be appreciated.
Its growing in 15’ of water or less. I have only seen it close to the banks. Not on the isolated shallow humps away from the banks…the stuff I have seen is 3-6’ tall. I have seen the most from pine/Spence islands up to the big gap and everywhere inbetween including ballentine. I havent been out enough to figure out the exact pattern that it is using to grow on…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
It was all over the cove right behind sandy beach all the way over to shull island two weeks ago. In water up to 15’ deep and was about 3’ under the water in most places. Some of it was 10’ tall on my depthfinder.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
I have seen on the side imagery grass growing up 8-10ft off the bottom when fishing in 15ish foot of water, specifically by Wessinger Island. Seems bait is holding close to grass which creates work pulling boards, but can produce decent fish in the midst of all of it. It looks more like sago pondweed or slender pondweed which all have similar characteristics of widgeon grass. I’m no marine biologist just a simple fisherman but like Chip said, I have not seen any on humps or far off the bank either but I will do some scouting the next couple of days. If in fact, it is widgeon grass it is fantastic for waterfowl, but don’t know much of the affects on the fish. Lets just hope to keep some of it before our loyal legislature decides its not good for the jet skis and poontooners. Early 2000’s Murray had great waterfowl hunting and awesome fishing when the hydrilla was so widespread.
quote:
Originally posted by fishfinder84I have seen on the side imagery grass growing up 8-10ft off the bottom when fishing in 15ish foot of water, specifically by Wessinger Island. Seems bait is holding close to grass which creates work pulling boards, but can produce decent fish in the midst of all of it. It looks more like sago pondweed or slender pondweed which all have similar characteristics of widgeon grass. I’m no marine biologist just a simple fisherman but like Chip said, I have not seen any on humps or far off the bank either but I will do some scouting the next couple of days. If in fact, it is widgeon grass it is fantastic for waterfowl, but don’t know much of the affects on the fish. Lets just hope to keep some of it before our loyal legislature decides its not good for the jet skis and poontooners. Early 2000’s Murray had great waterfowl hunting and awesome fishing when the hydrilla was so widespread.
I had to go compare widgeon and sagolslender…lol…man all 3 look too close to call…I have no clue what it really is either. I was just giving an opinion because I knew it wasn’t hydrilla… I just hope it stays around. Any grass is better than no grass, even if that means I have to learn how to fish different ways during certain times of the years…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki