Bass Fishing May - Jun 2017 | Page 73

MORE EELGRASS POSITIVES
By TJ Maglio Editor ’ s note : TJ Maglio pens FLW ’ s Bass science department . He has a degree in wildlife ecology and works with some of the top fisheries managers in the country .
Vallisneria , or eelgrass , might be new to some tennessee river anglers , but it ’ s certainly not new to that region of the country . it is a native aquatic grass , and if anything the recent spread should be described as a “ resurgence ” rather than an introduction . there could be many reasons for this , and more study needs to be done to unlock the specific factors involved , but it ’ s likely in some part due to the ( relatively ) cleaner and more stable water that flows through the tennessee river today as compared to 20 and even 40 years ago . one of the frequent goals of conservation biology is to restore native species that have seen decreases . in that respect , the increases in the eelgrass prevalence and abundance in the tennessee river system should be considered a very positive thing for the health of the system . the fact that it also improves the fishing is just a side benefit . in addition to it being good bass habitat and top-notch waterfowl forage , eelgrass provides other system services that make it a boon to fisheries . it grows dense root masses , creating a “ sod ” effect in areas with current , which minimizes bottom erosion . eelgrass also decreases turbidity and clears the water by trapping sediment . it also provides dense cover , which helps young-of-the-year bass and forage species , and harbors tons of aquatic invertebrates , which are hugely important to the whole food chain . in short , eelgrass is a good thing . grass with the baits , keeping them just above it and snapping the lure to pop it free when snagged .
“ Take a [ Rapala ] DT-6 crankbait and as soon as it buries up , you snap it and keep going if a fish doesn ’ t have it ,” Gross says . “ Big Traps come through it . ChatterBaits come through it . It ’ s not like burying up in milfoil . Eelgrass is real crispy .”
Gross throws his baits on 17-poundtest Seaguar fluorocarbon line on a 7- foot , 3-inch , extra-heavy Hammer rod with a Daiwa Tatula CT Type-R reel . Atkins throws crankbaits on 15-pound test and swimbaits on 20-pound test . Because of how eelgrass breaks free , neither believes it ’ s imperative to use heavy braided line as might be the case when fishing hydrilla or milfoil .
Electronics and Eelgrass
When Gross won at Pickwick , he used his Lowrance electronics to find bass relating to clumps of eelgrass and holes within the grass .
“ I can tell if it ’ s eelgrass and see how many fish are around it and everything ,” says Gross . “ Eelgrass in its early but it doesn ’ t completely die like they do and wash away .
“ I don ’ t know of anyone who has gotten on a big flipping bite around eelgrass in summer – maybe a swimbait or something if they are using it as a current break ,” he adds . “ Milfoil grows far apart and creates tunnels , and hydrilla grows tight and tough . Eelgrass is always green and alive . You can throw a 1 / 2-ounce Trap [ lipless crankbait ] in eelgrass , let it get a slack line and start working it back . If it hangs up you can snap it and it ’ ll come free .”
Gross favors a Jenko Big Wig Magnum hair jig and Tennessee River Tackle Tremor Head with a paddle tail or straight-tail swimbait , the latter for cooler water . On ledges in deeper water around eelgrass he ’ ll opt for a 1- or 1 3 / 4-ounce head to keep the rig down ; for shallow water Gross uses a 1 / 2- or 3 / 4-ounce head . Gross also will throw a Zoom Z- Craw on a swim jig or ChatterBait around the grass and sticks with shad colors for all the soft plastics .
Atkins favors a Berkley Warpig lipless crankbait in 1 / 2 or 3 / 4 ounce . He also prefers a Berkley Hollow Belly Swimbait with a 1 / 2- or 3 / 4-ounce head , depending on how aggressive the bass are .
Gross and Atkins fish the eelgrass the same way : ticking the top of the photo By patterson leeth
Tour rookie Justin Atkins says eelgrass creates new patterns for anglers to fish on the Tennessee River , particularly in winter .
MAY-JUNE 2017 I FLWFISHING . COM 71