Thread: Alligator Weed

My step-dad has a swamp that runs through his property and its full of cypress trees. There is a huge pipe in the middle of a levee that goes all the way across that swamp that when it gets hot summer and the water is just trickling through u can sit in one spot and catch cooler fulls of beautiful black crappie! From the time I was 16-24 I bet I have caught a couple 18-wheeler loads of crappie from that pipe. Well the last 4-5 years the alligator weed has gotten so bad that I can not make it anywhere near my legendary honey hole! I got into spider rigging and got a big comfy boat and I just kind of forgot about the place for a while.....now im longing to feel that thump again in one of the most beautiful places in god's green earth! My question is......How do I kill this weed? When I do kill it........Does it sink to the bottom and out of my way??? Or does it remain and just not thick anymore? I can durn near walk across it now. It floats around and has become packed to where it doesn't float anymore. How do I prevent it from building up after I get rid of it? I HAVE to get rid of it....that place is too good to just not fish anymore. I would prefer to stay IN the boat while getting rid of it. It is one of the most gigantic spider/cotton mouth/alligatory territory I have ever seen! But....I am desperate enough that I will get out of the boat if I have to. I will just create a living will before I do! Thanks in advance for any advice!

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Take a rake and pile it on the bank and spray rest with herbicide be my guess . Lets see what the biologists recommend .

Don't rake it on the bank unless you want it growing on the bank. It grows in and out of the water. It can grow by setting roots or free floating. It is a big pain in the arse! If is nearly imposible to completely get rid of it once it is in a water body. This is why it is important to inspect your boat and trailer after you are done fishing. One little sprig of this left on a trailer, boat, live well water is enough to become a big problem. I also suspect that birds could be spreading it as well. Not good stuff.