Reel Weeds- Making from scratch

[TruthWalleyes]

I've read up on people's responses to reel weeds. Seems they work well for people.

2 Questions:

1)It seems simple enough to construct your own reel weeds, but has anyone here tried it? Success or failure?

2) Are these a hassel with freezing and transportation - When you pull them out of the water, they must freeze instantly on most days, then once you get them home you've got a dripping mess. Does anyone have any insight on this?

[KMR85]

there was a discussion about these in some other forum...don't remember where. people have made them for much cheaper than purchasing the marketed ones. go to a joann fabrics or hobby lobby or something and look for fake green leaves that look similar to what you might see in a lake. use decoy rope or something and tie a weight on the bottom end. once you get on fish people say they help keep them around.

[JimBuck]

I'd be careful about the fake plastic leaves that you decide to use. Many of those are manufactured with awful chemicals that can release into the water over time. The reel weeds are a better option if you care about the future of the waters you fish. As for freezing, the reel weeds don't really absorb much for water. Run your hand through them to squeeze any water out and you'll be good to go. Good luck!

[polarsusd81]

I pull my reel weeds out and give em a shake quick as they come out of the hole to get the water off. I mean as soon as they pop out they get the shake.

[dan z]

I have made my own since day one. just bought another strand of weeds from HL and going to be using it this evening. the thing about the self made ones you can save a ton of $$ and you have a bit of pride because you made it yourself. some of mine look like pine tree's, half alive and the other ones look like fish tank weeds just longer. they all seem to hold fish really well. I have them strung up on 2x4's with about twenty ft of tip line and weighted with whatever... good luck on your set-up

[mrfish1991]

after reading all these posts on real weeds and making your own i got to thinking...

what about stringing spinnerbait skirts upside down about 4 inches apart?

[TruthWalleyes]

I'd be careful about the fake plastic leaves that you decide to use. Many of those are manufactured with awful chemicals that can release into the water over time.

This is good advice, I was thinking about christmas decor. Lots of that for cheap right now. Often these materials do not come with any MSDS etc. How would you know if it is harmful or not?? Ingorance is bliss??

[TruthWalleyes]

Now that sounds like work! mrfish1991

[dan z]

Originally Posted By: JimBuck

I'd be careful about the fake plastic leaves that you decide to use. Many of those are manufactured with awful chemicals that can release into the water over time.

This is good advice, I was thinking about christmas decor. Lots of that for cheap right now. Often these materials do not come with any MSDS etc. How would you know if it is harmful or not?? Ingorance is bliss??

I have seen a lot worse things in the waters we inhabit ie: dead batteries, tires, propane tanks the list goes on and on... I even seen a dead cow last year. but it is a good point

[mrfish1991]

heres what i was thinking...3ft section of braid line (or something equivalent) with a snap swivel on the end (for the weight to keep it down). on the line use a bobber stop and an oversized bead. the bead would keep the spinnerbait skirt up. slide the skirt on upside down and move on to the next...

thats just what im thinking..might be a little looney and harder than i think its going to be..but thats how i would do it.

[TruthWalleyes]

I think i'm going to do a little shopping for some greens and maybe i'll post a picture of what i developed.

[dan z]

you missed out on the sale last week at HL the greens were on sale 50% off yesterday the one I bought was 16 something with tax... but if your in need of a vex battery batteries+ has them ten bux of right now

[TruthWalleyes]

Forgive me this morning, what is HL?

[dan z]

tryin to keep the moderators on there toes hobby lobby

[leech~~]

Truth, made my own from xmas garlen from Manards, decoy rope for cord, large nuts for weights, fulnoodle cut in to small peices for floats. It seems like all I ever get coming in to them is a bunch of little Perch. But if the little guys come by, the big guys should come by some time. I think time is the issue and leaving them down long enough for the fish to find and become accustom to them. And who wants to sit in one spot to long when your running and gunning!

[TruthWalleyes]

Jeeze, coulda-shoulda figured that one out. Can't wait to get outta here and do some fishing tonight!

I lack a vexlar... Any helpful suggestions besides madison or washington around kato?

[dan z]

email me zimmerman underscore dan underscore c at yahoo dot com underscore is beside the zero key touch with the shift key should look like this _

[TruthWalleyes]

Your email was blocked dan. I think pm's are disabled.

try mine, no spaces.

[dan z]

email sent

[MNfishtrapper]

I see that Gander sells a 5 pack for about 50 bucks and a two pack for about 20 I think. Is the two pack enough or is it much more effective to have the 5 pack?

[dan z]

IMO the two pack is not enough for were i fish might be different were you fish

[TruthWalleyes]

If i can make something on my own i for cheaper than the store i will...just left fleet farm, picked up 50ft and 8" wide evergreen type stuff, just have to straighten and tie the 100ft of cord i bought too. the greens were $7 for 50' so i just picked up 2 incase i may want more sometime. You'll probably only be able to find the stuff for a short time.

I think this stuff looks darn close to the REEL WEEDS.

http://s359.photobucket.com/albums/oo32/truthwalleyes/?action=view&current=613704709.jpg

[Fever]

I have and use a five pack and am going to add two more. I find that they do work and feel comfortable dropping the money for a product I can trust and depend on. I like fiddling with things from time to time but when it comes to ice fishing I don't want to be messing with something I made to save a few bucks when It freezes up or doesn't work properly. I've had the same five pack of reel weeds now for two ice seasons and have yet to have a single problem deploying them or picking them up. Too bad they cant somehow coax the fish into biting more consistantly though... this season has been tough with all the changing / inconsistant weather.

[dan z]

If i can make something on my own i for cheaper than the store i will...just left fleet farm, picked up 50ft and 8" wide evergreen type stuff, just have to straighten and tie the 100ft of cord i bought too. the greens were $7 for 50' so i just picked up 2 incase i may want more sometime. You'll probably only be able to find the stuff for a short time.

I think this stuff looks darn close to the REEL WEEDS.

http://s359.photobucket.com/albums/oo32/truthwalleyes/?action=view&current=613704709.jpg

got yourself a grove eh great deal. I hope they still have some left I might just drop down to FF in owatonna to git sum...

[dan z]

oh another on another note do you think these things would hold crappies if they are suspended just leave the weeds in the suspended spot or is that not natural ne tips or input would be great...