Real Weeds,has anyone used them?

[croixeyes]

Has anyone used these and also,has anyone been checked by the dnr while using them.Im wondering how they feel about manmade structure in the water?

[Deitz Dittrich]

You are going to get a lot of replies to this..

I have used them.. and will continue to use them. They work!.. No doubt in my mind they work!

As long as you bring them home with you.. they are legal! You are not allowed to litter in the water, but you put these down, and then pull them back up and take the back home!.

I have to admit, I was VERY sceptical at first! VERY SCEPTICAL... the first time they worked for me I thought it was luck.. the second time, I thought maybe? Just maybe?...

Now I am not so sure I will go on a trip without them? Sure I have fished sine then without them.. but I had them along!

[LMITOUT]

I hope to find out soon as I have a weedbed (5 of the individual weeds) sitting in a box waiting to attract the big one! Maybe this weekend....

[BDR]

Are you asking about the structure on a string?

[croixeyes]

BDR...Yes stucture on a string is the item in question.

[harvey lee]

I have to agree with everything that Dietz stated. I have not used them much for eyes but for the pannies I have used them quite often and they have been a good addition to my gear.

[Matt Johnson]

Not many guide trips go by where I don't drop down several SOS's (Structure on a String).

The job of a lure is to attract fish and hopefully trigger them into biting, but not often does the lure hold fish in area because of the lure alone. Dropping down the SOS goes one step further by not only attracting fish, but holding them in the area as well.

Fish relate to structure, and when you're working a structureless area, you can bet any new structure is going to draw some attention. Heck, I even add the SOS where weeds are already present. Set up a line of SOS's just off the already present weed line and you'll find yourself acting as a detour to cruising fish.

The SOS really excels in situations where fish are constantly roaming a basin or constantly wandering around a piece of structure. You'll gradually see fish begin to school up near and in the SOS's. It's actually pretty cool to watch if you have an underwater camera. You can also use the Camera Cable Structure (CCS) and attach a Reel Weed to your camera cable.

I've been using the Reel Weeds for a couple years now and you'll see me using them again this winter! Definitely a fun (and effective) toy to have with you on the ice!

[muc33]

Matt, how do you think they would work in our SW MN 6 foot mud bottom lakes where cabbage and weed lines don't ever really exist like norther lakes with structure. The only structure we have in any lake is the occasional rock pile.

[FOOTDOC]

Please explain to me just exactly this item consists of? It is a new concept to me and sounds interesting but uncertain as to what it may be. Thanks

[Rick]

They should work very well in those conditions.

URL is very similar and they were fantastic there.

[harvey lee]

I use them on Washington chasing slab crappies and panfish. I usually use them in a big basin area where there is no structure.

[Matt Johnson]

They will actually work fairly well in those conditions and I wouldn't think twice about using them over large mud flats. Mille Lacs is a prime example. Although relatively deeper than you're 6 foot flats, the large expansive flats are always suspect to roaming fish, and having a series of SOS's in the area can really increase your odds in keeping the fish in your area.

I spent several days on the ice down in the Southern part of MN last winter, and I found the SOS's to be very productive for me. Those mud lakes are actually the lake types that I oftentimes find myself using the SOS's more on.

Weeds serve several purposes... not only are they there for oxygen and to attract forage, but they also provide comfort for a variety of fish. In large open areas, you can expect certain species to use the SOS's as a "new home." They will actually find shelter in the newly recognized SOS's.

Now, this is not always something that happens automatically, so don't expect every fish in the area to all of a sudden relocate and hold by the SOS's. But, you can expect them to cycle through and eventually stay after that level of comfort is reached. Sometimes that only takes a matter of seconds and other times it might take a few passes before they decide to hold to the SOS's. Each lake is different, and just like any other aspect of fishing, patterns can very and nothing is concrete.

To make a long story short, I've really become fond of the SOS and CCS. The guys at LaDredge Outdoors (Reel Weeds) have really come up with a neat product that I feel will help ice anglers have a more productive day on the ice. From everything to panfish, perch, walleye, pike, bass and everything in between, the SOS has be effective on introducing a new way of attracting and holding fish.

[PerchJerker]

After resisting the urge to try them the last 2 years, I finally gave in and bought some this year. I told my wife they were to entertain the kid while we were fishing

[Lure Lightning]

Dont the pike tangle the heck up out of them

[john.wells]

cheaters

[Kyle Sandberg]

A couple of questions.

How do you lower and raise the weeds?

How much do they cost and where can you get them (i.e. store or only wedsite)?

Do they interfere with the vex?

[Surface Tension]

Matt, thats some good info.

I use them. Its hard to prove they help because well how can you compare. I know theres usually more fish caught out of my shack then the guy next door.

I've only got one but need to pick up a couple more.

I use 4oz of lead to get my SOS down. Something else I do is stir up the bottom with it once in a while. I know that helps a lot.

[toughguy]

I just got a 5 pack at the ice show. I can't wait to use them this weekend.

[beef]

I have used to Reel Weeds/SOS once and I will be using them ALL the time now.. I was out on Monday with the Nasty Cold Front and Full Moon combo... I had the Marcum 560 down and was watching how the SOS works with Perch and Walleye's..

Needless to say the fish were "cruising by" before the I lowered the weeds.. After about 30 minutes of fishing with the SOS's I had multiple walleyes and perch stopping and holding tight to the weeds. The fish would actually get right into the middle of the SOS's and would ambush my jig.. I feel it did improve the bite and helped me catch more fish.

My clients showed have a blast using them out on guided trips this winter...

Beef

[Doop]

Do you guys lower them down the hole you are fishing out of? I would imagine you'd have one heck of a mess while bringing up a fish right?

[Deitz Dittrich]

doop, deffinatly not... you use seperate holes. Its kind of fun comming up with different shapes to "plant" your weedbed. I have used a cross, straight line, a square and a "V"... and used other holes to fish out of.

[riverrat56]

Whats the cost on these guys?

Also how do you decide how high or low to place them in the water colum?

Anyone ever try making something similar? I'm thinking a piece of rope with a duck decoy weight on it and some christmas garland or something attached to it?

[Doop]

Where can a guy pick up some real weeds?

I do like the idea of making your own...not a bad thought!

I was on Thorne Bros and they didn't have any...what about Cabelas?

[harvey lee]

http://ladredge.com/

You could go to thier web page and learn alot. The prices should be there.

As far as at what depth you put them this is what has worked for me.

I usually try to place them in the area that I see the fish I want to target. If the crappies are suspended, then I will keep them in that area or if I am going to put down 5-7 strings then I will stager them at different depths with all of them coming close together.

In regards to making your own, I would be somewhat concerned with what chemical you might be putting into the water as you may put something there that would not be good. Real weeds have been designed to be used in the water without a harmful efect. If you look at the cost diference and how well LaDredge has designed the holder at the top of the weeds why might one want to.

[BIG DS]

There have been posts on here in the past about people trying to make their own and all ended with similar results, they broke and peices were left to pollute the lake. The plastics used to make the SOS is non-toxic to the waters you are using them in and are designed to stay flexible in extreme cold conditions. The SOS product is well designed and resonably priced. I would discourage anyone from trying to build their own.