fake weeds

[Tom7227]

a couple years ago there were numerous posts about fake weeds while ice fishing. I haven't seen any recently. Has the fad faded? I bought some 2-3 years ago and have never used them. May try today since I'm going out this afternoon. My guess is that they won't do much.

[BartmanMN]

They definitely won't hurt your chances. If you plan to sit in a location for awhile, then I'd put them out.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I've got the plastic reel weed that you put/clip on the camera cord cable. I think it works nice to mask the cable, and I've noticed that it does seem to help keep fish around a little longer vs not. It's not much work to use it since you're putting the camera down anyway.

I've also got a pack of the fake weeds that are like a cheap cloth, and never tried them.(Got them on clerance for $9.) Just seems like way to much work to put them down. Also, I'm kinda scard that if I had them down that a fish would get tangled in them with my line.

I'd say that they'd be worth a try, but I wouldn't spend to much on them. Mobility to move is more key IMO to catch fish then the fake weeds holding them.

[nofishfisherman]

I've always thought they'd be good on a lake like URL without any real natural structure. They'd be a pain to use if moving around but if you set up a permanent or wheel house and had some extra holes available it might be worth a shot.

On most other lakes I think you're better off finding the natural structure that is holding the fish and setting up in that location. Thats going to be more productive for you versus setting up in an area without much structure and hoping to lure the fish away from natural strucutre to your man man structure.

[harvey lee]

When I use to use my underwater camera alot, I really like the camera cable structure.

The Reel Weeds, I use to use them when I was fishing panfish but not any longer.

I rarely sit in one spot for that long of a period and it was a chore to pull them up and then move and recut a pile of holes.

Did they hold fish, yes I believe they did work. I think this is a good item for a ice fisherman that is not very mobile.

[Farley]

I've never found them to help much. Even last night I was out and a buddy was fishing about 15 feet away from me, he was marking crappies and I wasnt. Pulled up the weeds and I started marking fish.

Other times I just havent seen that much of a difference in what I caught using them to what other people caught not using them.

Gimmick.

[TruthWalleyes]

Haven't used mine in two years, and the first year i used them twiec.

I think if you aren't on the fish, the weeds won't necessarily bring them in...I stay way too portable to plop weeds down. However, staying in a sleeper on mille lacs last weekend had me thinking that some weeds might have kept some perch around longer.

[TroutYammer]

I tried them and foud that they are a hassle and really don't help much. I quit using them the day I caught a larg northern pike and it wrapped all the fake weeds and my lines into a huge mess. I ended up tearing down my entire setup that day, throwing the fake weeds into garbage can and never looking back!

[Deitz Dittrich]

It comes down to what kind of fisherman you are.. I you move a lot, they can be a hassle as many have stated.. your hands get wet, ect.. That said, if you are on a good piece of structure, and plan to sit it out. I have no doubt they work.. I have had WAY to many times where I have had them down and been fishing the same areas as buddies and have me work them over in fish numbers. They do work.. But many days, do not work as good as staying mobile.

[Eric_Kruger]

i agree they are a sit and fish kind of tool. But I have had luck on barren shallow sand flats just dropping one or two down. it seems like the fish will relate to them as structure on areas like that, and hang on them whenever possible.

[Zelmsdawg]

Others have pretty much said it best. I have some but use them less and less as you can't be as moblie and they do take time to set up and break down. And its sucks putting them away when its cold. That being said, I have outfished others using them when its a structure-less area and fish (I think) roam aimlessly.

So I think they do have there place, just not a big one

[Hawg]

Sorry to be so opinionated but if you buy these things you have way to much time and money.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sorry to be so opinionated but if you buy these things you have way to much time and money.

I suppose the same could be said about a lot of things, Crank down fish houses, Suburbans, any boat with over 50 hp, flashers, ect..

But if you like gadgets and such and like to think you have the upper hand on people.. They are actually kind of fun. I have them, use them.. and have neither too much time or too much money.

[Hawg]

Boy Deitz, you draw tough comparisons. You have none of the above and own fake reeds? Just bantering you, I understand what you're saying.

[Farley]

I have had WAY to many times where I have had them down and been fishing the same areas as buddies and have me work them over in fish numbers.

Maybe you're just a better fisherman than your buddies??

[dan z]

had them and still have them use them way less now than when they were the hot fad, do they work sometimes/ sometimes not depends on a lot of variables. I think they absorb so much smell from your auger next to them while venturing out that they smell of gas/oil and thats makes them a fish scareing device

[motley man]

Put tree limbs, Christmas trees down outside edge of permanent house if it's staying put for a while. Fish will collect around them and wander around area. If you fish a flat weedless area they are a great attractor for small panfish, minnows, crawfish, bugs, which fish investigate. Also chop up your dead minnows and chum every once in awhile to give scent in area.

[Rick]

I agree with Deitz. They definitely do hold fish longer in areas devoid of weeds.

I've seen it on URL for Crappies and weedless flats for all kinds of fish.. Those who had them were by by far out-catching those who did not.

My advice would be to make sure you are in an area with no weeds, that has fish cruising before putting them down. The reason for that is because they definitely are more time consuming to deal with.

but....

they ARE EFFECTIVE when used in the correct conditions.

[kg2]

I think they absorb so much smell from your auger next to them while venturing out that they smell of gas/oil and thats makes them a fish scareing device

For what it is worth... I think Professor Jones at Pure Fishing did a pretty good job proving that fish don't smell gas and oil. Substances need to be water soluble for fish to smell them.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Put tree limbs, Christmas trees down outside edge of permanent house if it's staying put for a while. Fish will collect around them and wander around area. If you fish a flat weedless area they are a great attractor for small panfish, minnows, crawfish, bugs, which fish investigate. Also chop up your dead minnows and chum every once in awhile to give scent in area.

Mot man- what you are doing is illegal. Your not allowed to put trees and or any other cover in the water without permission from the DNR. The reason the reel weeds and such are allowed, is that you are taking them home with you each trip.

[Sonicrunch]

Mot man- what you are doing is illegal. Your not allowed to put trees and or any other cover in the water without permission from the DNR. The reason the reel weeds and such are allowed, is that you are taking them home with you each trip.

what if I took the trees and branches with me when I left?

Theoretically speaking.

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, I think they work, but as others have said, they are a hassle. I'll do the effort to put them down if I know I'm not planning on moving and if I know I don't have to worry too much about the holes freezing shut on me.

[Sonicrunch]

So, what we need is a better system for deployment.