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Aquatic Plant ID
They go by different names. You may call them “weeds,” “grass” or “moss.” Aquatic plants are an integral part of the Tennessee River’s ecosystem, whether providing nutrients for the species at the bottom of the food chain, cover and ambush areas for largemouth bass or food source for the multitude of local waterfowl.
This guide provides information to help you understand when these plants are most productive, where they grow and—most importantly—help you identify them. Whether you are an angler, property owner or any other lake user, we invite you to learn more about the aquatic plants present in our Tennessee Valley region reservoirs.
The guide also offers season-by-season tips for fishing among these plants.
Floating and Floating Leaf Plants
Frog's Bit
Frog's Bit (Limnobium spongia), a native plant, will likely go unnoticed in spring as the perennial grows back from overwintering buds, floating to the water surface to sprout new growth. Mature plants provide perfect cover for bass to ambush their prey.
Description
Frog’s bit can be free-floating or rooted. The leaves are thick and leathery. They are rounded in younger plants but become more heart shaped as they get older. Young leaves tend to be bright and shiny above and reddish underneath. The underside of young leaves also has a central disk of red spongy cells. As the plants mature, the leaves point upwards and begin to curl up on the sides. The leaf stalks have ridges on either side and are very stiff.
Habitat
Frog’s bit is native to the Southeastern United States and can also be found in California. It grows in lakes and ponds and can form dense mats that displace other aquatic plants in certain conditions. Frog’s bit can be found in many reservoirs and ponds in the western and southern portions of the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Frog’s bit is a small, often free-floating plant with small kidney- or heart-shaped leaves. Leaves will have elongated stems which occur in clumps, giving frog’s bit a “bouquet” look.
Where to Find It—Can be found floating or rooted closely to the shoreline.
Similar Species—Frog’s bit may resemble water hyacinth; however, frog’s bit lacks the bulbous stem of water hyacinth. Water hyacinth roots are usually purple tinged whereas frog’s bit roots are white. Frog’s bit can also resemble fragrant water lily; however, fragrant water lily has a distinct “v” notch in the leaf.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Frog’s bit will likely go unnoticed in spring as the perennial grows back from overwintering buds, floating to the water surface to sprout new growth. Frog’s bit won’t be easily found until summer, so targeting this species should be avoided until summer.
Summer—Like most other aquatic plants, frog’s bit will rapidly grow during summer and become more noticeable both floating and rooted to nearshore areas. Mature plants provide cover for bass to ambush their prey. Flip a bait close to the stems of frog’s bit and hold on. Mature plants will also send off runners, so fishing a bait on the bottom around mature plants can also yield bites as bass congregate around these structures.
Fall—Frog’s bit will begin to decay as the water cools, providing an opportunity to fish areas that were previously too overgrown to fish. Work a weedless topwater like a frog across and through decaying plants.
Winter—Frog’s bit will be gone by winter throughout most of the valley, so targeting this species should be avoided until the following growing season.
Drawbacks
Although native, frog’s bit can become a nuisance given the right growing conditions and sometimes requires management.
Shoreline Plants
Frog's Bit
Frog's Bit (Limnobium spongia), a native plant, will likely go unnoticed in spring as the perennial grows back from overwintering buds, floating to the water surface to sprout new growth. Mature plants provide perfect cover for bass to ambush their prey.
Description
Frog’s bit can be free-floating or rooted. The leaves are thick and leathery. They are rounded in younger plants but become more heart shaped as they get older. Young leaves tend to be bright and shiny above and reddish underneath. The underside of young leaves also has a central disk of red spongy cells. As the plants mature, the leaves point upwards and begin to curl up on the sides. The leaf stalks have ridges on either side and are very stiff.
Habitat
Frog’s bit is native to the Southeastern United States and can also be found in California. It grows in lakes and ponds and can form dense mats that displace other aquatic plants in certain conditions. Frog’s bit can be found in many reservoirs and ponds in the western and southern portions of the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Frog’s bit is a small, often free-floating plant with small kidney- or heart-shaped leaves. Leaves will have elongated stems which occur in clumps, giving frog’s bit a “bouquet” look.
Where to Find It—Can be found floating or rooted closely to the shoreline.
Similar Species—Frog’s bit may resemble water hyacinth; however, frog’s bit lacks the bulbous stem of water hyacinth. Water hyacinth roots are usually purple tinged whereas frog’s bit roots are white. Frog’s bit can also resemble fragrant water lily; however, fragrant water lily has a distinct “v” notch in the leaf.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Frog’s bit will likely go unnoticed in spring as the perennial grows back from overwintering buds, floating to the water surface to sprout new growth. Frog’s bit won’t be easily found until summer, so targeting this species should be avoided until summer.
Summer—Like most other aquatic plants, frog’s bit will rapidly grow during summer and become more noticeable both floating and rooted to nearshore areas. Mature plants provide cover for bass to ambush their prey. Flip a bait close to the stems of frog’s bit and hold on. Mature plants will also send off runners, so fishing a bait on the bottom around mature plants can also yield bites as bass congregate around these structures.
Fall—Frog’s bit will begin to decay as the water cools, providing an opportunity to fish areas that were previously too overgrown to fish. Work a weedless topwater like a frog across and through decaying plants.
Winter—Frog’s bit will be gone by winter throughout most of the valley, so targeting this species should be avoided until the following growing season.
Drawbacks
Although native, frog’s bit can become a nuisance given the right growing conditions and sometimes requires management.
Submersed Plants
Frog's Bit
Frog's Bit (Limnobium spongia), a native plant, will likely go unnoticed in spring as the perennial grows back from overwintering buds, floating to the water surface to sprout new growth. Mature plants provide perfect cover for bass to ambush their prey.
Description
Frog’s bit can be free-floating or rooted. The leaves are thick and leathery. They are rounded in younger plants but become more heart shaped as they get older. Young leaves tend to be bright and shiny above and reddish underneath. The underside of young leaves also has a central disk of red spongy cells. As the plants mature, the leaves point upwards and begin to curl up on the sides. The leaf stalks have ridges on either side and are very stiff.
Habitat
Frog’s bit is native to the Southeastern United States and can also be found in California. It grows in lakes and ponds and can form dense mats that displace other aquatic plants in certain conditions. Frog’s bit can be found in many reservoirs and ponds in the western and southern portions of the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Frog’s bit is a small, often free-floating plant with small kidney- or heart-shaped leaves. Leaves will have elongated stems which occur in clumps, giving frog’s bit a “bouquet” look.
Where to Find It—Can be found floating or rooted closely to the shoreline.
Similar Species—Frog’s bit may resemble water hyacinth; however, frog’s bit lacks the bulbous stem of water hyacinth. Water hyacinth roots are usually purple tinged whereas frog’s bit roots are white. Frog’s bit can also resemble fragrant water lily; however, fragrant water lily has a distinct “v” notch in the leaf.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Frog’s bit will likely go unnoticed in spring as the perennial grows back from overwintering buds, floating to the water surface to sprout new growth. Frog’s bit won’t be easily found until summer, so targeting this species should be avoided until summer.
Summer—Like most other aquatic plants, frog’s bit will rapidly grow during summer and become more noticeable both floating and rooted to nearshore areas. Mature plants provide cover for bass to ambush their prey. Flip a bait close to the stems of frog’s bit and hold on. Mature plants will also send off runners, so fishing a bait on the bottom around mature plants can also yield bites as bass congregate around these structures.
Fall—Frog’s bit will begin to decay as the water cools, providing an opportunity to fish areas that were previously too overgrown to fish. Work a weedless topwater like a frog across and through decaying plants.
Winter—Frog’s bit will be gone by winter throughout most of the valley, so targeting this species should be avoided until the following growing season.
Drawbacks
Although native, frog’s bit can become a nuisance given the right growing conditions and sometimes requires management.