Trimming lily pad fields to your "Liking"

[The Quadfather]

I just have a question I wanted to throw out to people, and see if anyone has ever done this..

In my local lake it is pretty easy to fish the lily pad fields straight through them, so long as they are still immature, in the Spring time. Once they are full on grown, like now, my best game is pitching baits to the edges of the pad fields.

I was considering bringing a pair of garden hand clippers, and cutting a channel from the outside of the pads... into the center of a large field of pads. Then in that center area cutting out a hole 5-10 sq. ft. Thus allowing me to pitch my gear into the hole, and draw it back through the channel. Potential ambush strikes from bass along the channel.
Sure, the stock of the lily will still be under water, but it is the pad tops that hang you up, weedless gear or not.

I am all about using weedless rigs, T-rigged Senkos, Weedless jigs, etc. But seriously, when you draw you gear through dense pads, even if it doesn't hang up, it just rides the tops of the pads back to you.

Also, do people find that large mouth are more likely to be taking cover under docks that have a 1-2' gap between the top of the water, and the dock? Or do you find equal amount of fish under docks that are completely flush against the water?
I feel like the docks that have the gap/ which makes for diffuse light, are more productive.

[returnofthefish]

Wow Quad, sound like your starting to get serious with bass fishing. I think I read one of your previous reports from your home lake (Bitter Lake). Good job as always catching bass from your float tube.

[The Quadfather]

Wow Quad, sound like your starting to get serious with bass fishing. I think I read one of your previous reports from your home lake (Bitter Lake). Good job as always catching bass from your float tube.

Well, what I prob need to do is just move on down the road to some <fresh> new lakes, lol.
I'm sort of bored and frustrated with my regular game. But on a serious note... A little habitat haircut doesn't sound bad.

[natetreat]

I don't see why you wouldn't put a channel in the pads, that sounds like a great idea! Maybe the lakefront homes might get irritated if it looked awful, but it sounds like a good idea to me.

[The Quadfather]

Well, of course you know how some homeowners on lakes can be... But seriously, it's like cutting back blackberry bushes.

[natetreat]

Cut a smiley face in the pads facing their yard, then they can't complain. It sounds like a great idea! If there were rows through the pads say every 5 feet where you could drop a cast through. That would be really cool.

[Bilgewater]

In a book written by a tournament-fishing pro, the author writes about driving his boat through pad fields, using the main engine to cut up the pads. A couple of hours later, he returns and fishes those cut-up areas.

One pad field in a Thurston County lake has a 2-foot wide slot in it, straight as an arrow, from the outer edge back to the shoreline bullrushes. Not at all typical of the usual random and irregularly shaped openings in pads.

[JS]

You could get some punching gear that would penetrate the pads....may be less of a hassle than doing aquatic gardening. LOL. But if you really wanna cut em up, I say do it! Im sure I know the exact pad fields you are trying to thin out, they do get thick later in the summer. I wouldnt mind fishing your aquascaping when youre done either! Keep us posted.

[oneshot]

I too think this is a good idea long as the home owners are not all up in your grill over it.. i know some people like to down logs and other debris into there lakes to create cover..why not kill some lilly pads too!

[The Quadfather]

Ya, I'll prob do a little aqua-scaping soon. But seriously, I'm not going to go in there and muck up someone's little private cove or anything. There are pad fields with no houses in front of them. Give that a shot, fish it a bit after...and see if any results.

[returnofthefish]

good luck quad. sounds like something worth trying.

[tlang]

Sounds like a great idea I would just say be very conscious of what "shape" you are actually cutting out. I can see my self taking a proud step back to admire my handy work then realize I just accidentally carved some male genitalia into my favorite fishing hole!

Im curious to know how this turns out.

Good luck

[Gringo Pescador]

Quad - before you do I would do some more checking 1st. A coworker of mine lives on a lake in Black Diamond and tho she would love to cut the lilly pads back from her dock, she cannot because it is considered wildlife habitat (or something like that). I've heard similar from other lakeside homeowners as well. I would hate to see you out there with your clippers and get hit with a ticket.

[Amx]

Sounds like a great idea I would just say be very conscious of what "shape" you are actually cutting out. I can see my self taking a proud step back to admire my handy work then realize I just accidentally carved some male genitalia into my favorite fishing hole!

Im curious to know how this turns out.

Good luck

Now if it was female that WOULD be your favorite .... aahh, ... ummm, ... never mind...

[The Quadfather]

By the weekend we can put this story to rest. I will post pics.
And Tom, I like your thinking.

[Anglinarcher]

In this state, I would never suggest anything. In many states they sell broadleaf poisons you use to thin or create "spots" in lily pads or spatter dock fields. In WA, that requires an environmental impact statement, a permit, and permission from the king.

The engine works OK, but the funny thing is that it cuts a pretty small path. On one lake I fish, I take a slightly different path each time to keep a channel open. With some of the newer props, it won't even cut the stalks at low to moderate speeds. They are designed that way for safety, so your prop may or may not work well.

One company in MN sells weed rakes to cut paths in pads or spatterdock fields. This works really well, but again, in WA, ..... who knows? I have considered making an under tow cutter bar, but ...... I would not report using it on this site.

Now, the one question you asked, about docks. As far as a bass is concerned, a dock is just overhead cover and shade. A wide dock creates better shade, so it is better then a narrow dock. A dock a long way off the water often allows sun under it while a dock close to the water creates more shade...... so, in theory, a dock that floats is better, but....

Bass get far back into the shade, therefore under the dock. With that in mind, a floating dock with no space under it has bass way back under it that never see a lure. They will have more fish under them, because they don't get hit as hard, but that does not make them better to fish. A dock that has some room between the waster and the bottom of the dock is one you can skip a lure under, way back to a waiting fish, so while there may be fewer fish, you tend to catch more.

One option a lot of amateur fisherman tend to overlook is a moving dock, called pontoon boats. A parked pontoon will gather bass and baitfish in a mater of an hour or two. I try to skip soft lures under it, but I have heard a lot of "pros" skip flipping baits with lead heads under the pontoons between the motor and the hulls. Back east no even gives it a second thought but in this state, a lot of people think that the sound of a sinker bouncing off a hull is damaging the aluminum.

Oh the options, you have got to love bass fishing.

[BentRod]

Hey Quad,
This should make the job easier!

http://foryourshore.com/index.cfm?actio ... ategory=29

Good luck with your aquatic gardening. Sounds like a good idea to me.

[backwater]

My neighbor when he was younger used to take a long chain and connect the ends to each corner of the boat and drag it.

Anyone ever fish Downs Lake in Eastern Washington,home of the 3 ft lily pads, they cut channels there.

[The Quadfather]

Since this one resurfaced, I should mention that I did make an attempt at some hand trimming, but I found the amount of snarl of stems that is under the surface was quite more than what it seems when U look at the top of the water.
Essentially it was too much work. I would never get all crazy into dragging chains or power tools, considering I don't live on the lake. If I did, then of course it would be a different story.

[swb69]

I know I am getting in a little late on this, but here's an idea. I would not try to do anything this year. As you said the stems under the pads get to be a real mess by this time of year. I grow lilies in a garden pond and by August my fish can hardly move through them without hitting the stems. If you want to keep a channel open, the best idea is to start in the spring just when the new pads surface. The stems from last year will be laying on the bottom. If you cut your channel then, and keep it open, it should be a little easier. The problem is that the pads grow extremely fast, and as you make room the pads you leave will spread out. You will have to go fishing and trim the pads weekly. I don't know if that is practical for you. Another Idea is to get as many people as you can to drive through the channels you want. The props should cut a narrow path, but again it has to be kept up. Personally I use heavy jigs to penetrate the pads or drag a frog or lizard across the top, letting it drop in between the pads. Yes it is frustrating to get hung up but the alternative is a lot of work.

You are right not to use any noticeable equipment. WA has very strict laws concerning lakes, rivers and such. WA considers water property of the state, so I would not do anything that would bring unwelcome attention. Also, habitat alteration is not looked on kindly by the state. I do not believe it would not be worth the risk. I can not see them questioning a "boat path" cut through the pads though, I've seen this on several lakes.

Finally, DO NOT, under any circumstances, use any type of pesticide in, on, or around the water. This would lead to huge fines and maybe even a stay at the "grey bar hotel". WA is more than strict about this. I know farmers and landscapers that have gotten themselves into serious trouble by spraying along waterways. It would be beyond foolish, for any reason, to try.