Homemade Real Weeds?

[Fishing Realtor]

Anyone tried making real weeds/structure on a string themselves? Did it work? Thinking of just attaching sections of an artifical x-mas tree or wreath to a thick braid, and then wrapping in on a piece of lumber. Might save me $60...any other ideas?

[Neiko]

I bought a string at Michaels when I was with my wife. I put them on my camera cable to camoflauge the cord and it works great. They were on sale for $3.

[only ice]

I did this last year. A friend of mine is a garbage man. He saved me a artifical tree. I tied about 12 branches to some braided line about 15 inches apart. added a lead weight to get to the bottom, and have about 50 ft. of line tied around a chunk 5 (inchs )of broom handle. Very compact, and light. PS works GREAT!!!

[HuskerBen]

There are a lot of different options for fake vegetation. Michaels, or the craft section at Wal-Mart, has garland and other types of fake plants. Aquarium plants would probably also work. I've been thinking of trying it out, too.

[tisosy11]

This doesn't sound legal to do. Is it?

[CrappieAttitude]

I am not sure about the legality of it, however I know that many people have tried to create their own and have failed to find a material that is environmentally friendly as well as cold weather freindly.

Some of that plastic or artificial plants are loaded with paints that are not meant to be in water. From bleeding toxins into the water, to breaking off due to the extreme cold that ice fishing offers. Making your own can probably save you some money, however I am not so sure that it is worth risking. You never know what is in those materials now days.

I know that the reason why people are trying to create their own is because of the price tag of the Reel Weeds. I agree, they are a little spendy, however LaDredge has done their research and they know that their product will have no harmful affects to a particular body of water when slid down a hole. For me, that confirmation is money well spent.

Just my $0.02

CA

[Sandmannd]

Structure is legal as long as you pull it up and don't leave it. Things to remember if making your own is what chemicals are you putting in the water? The reel weeds are special products that don't hurt the enviroment. I made my own last year. Yes they work, but they don't hold up through time and you loose parts in the water. Only used them twice. Bought the reel weeds 5 pack from Thorne Bros and used them this year and they are awesome. They stay soft through the ice. IMO, buy them and save yourself some time and the water the chemicals.

[harvey lee]

I also tried to make my own and it was a flop as far as durabillity. LaDredge has done their homework for a very safe, longlasting product for the fisherman.

http://www.ladredge.com/

[TroyMcClure]

I agree with harvey lee.

It seems like this gets posted every week. If you search back a bit you can read all the tales of woe from using homemade weeds.

[jigging-matt]

This topic has come up a lot. I purchased some of the Nature Vision weedeze and think they work pretty good. On the opportunities that I had to use them thought they performed well. You just need to add weight and some line. But you get a 4 pack for $20. Not the same as the Ledredge Structure, but they are a lower price alternative, that is safe to put in the water.