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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
Giant Cut Grass
The large seed head of the native giant cut grass (Zizaniopsis miliacea) releases seed into the water during fall as leaves will begin to die off and decay.
Description
Giant cut grass is a rhizomatous perennial grass with a superficial resemblance to Johnson grass. It has scaly, root-like horizontal stems that grow under or along the bottom and send roots down and shoots up from nodes along its length. Giant cut grass grows to a height of 8-9 feet with narrow leaves 4 feet or more long. The leaves are smooth and hairless on the upper and lower sides but have sharp “cutting” edges. The terminal flower cluster is loosely and irregularly branched, 16-24 inches long and 2 to 6 inches wide. Branches of the flower cluster are upright, with pistillate flowers near the branch tips and staminate flowers lower on the same branch.
Habitat
Giant cut grass is native to the southern United States where it grows in dense, monospecific colonies in marshes, swamps and shallow waters around the edges of lakes and rivers. It provides cover for waterfowl. Giant cut grass commonly grows along several mainstem reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Easily identified by large, blue-green leaves with extremely sharp edges.
Where to Find It—Giant cutgrass can be found most often in the back of coves and wetland areas around a reservoir.
Similar Species—Cutgrass can resemble cattail; however, cattail arises from a single stalk.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Newly emerging sprouts and older, dead leaves of giant cutgrass provide refuge for some bait species. Fish a fluke or lizard in late spring as fish spawn close to cut grass.
Summer—Giant cut grass will rapidly grow and spread via its rhizome and above-ground root system (stolons) in summer, growing as tall as 10 to 12 feet tall. Giant cut grass will produce a large seed head in late summer. Actively growing cut grass can provide refuge for baitfish and invertebrates. Fish a shallow crankbait or swimbait nearby to catch schooling fish that are targeting such baitfish.
Fall—The large seed head of giant cutgrass will release seed into the water during fall and leaves will begin to die off and decay. As cut grass begins to die off in late fall, openings can form in once-dense stands. Try topwater baits parallel to cutgrass stands.
Winter—Giant cut grass will survive as a rhizome throughout most of the winter, resprouting in the spring. The dead leaves of cutgrass will often remain throughout the winter, providing an opportunity to fish near the shoreline slow-rolling a spinner bait or a Texas rig.
Drawbacks
Giant cut grass can cause water use issues and is often managed in a reservoir system.
Shoreline Plants
Giant Cut Grass
The large seed head of the native giant cut grass (Zizaniopsis miliacea) releases seed into the water during fall as leaves will begin to die off and decay.
Description
Giant cut grass is a rhizomatous perennial grass with a superficial resemblance to Johnson grass. It has scaly, root-like horizontal stems that grow under or along the bottom and send roots down and shoots up from nodes along its length. Giant cut grass grows to a height of 8-9 feet with narrow leaves 4 feet or more long. The leaves are smooth and hairless on the upper and lower sides but have sharp “cutting” edges. The terminal flower cluster is loosely and irregularly branched, 16-24 inches long and 2 to 6 inches wide. Branches of the flower cluster are upright, with pistillate flowers near the branch tips and staminate flowers lower on the same branch.
Habitat
Giant cut grass is native to the southern United States where it grows in dense, monospecific colonies in marshes, swamps and shallow waters around the edges of lakes and rivers. It provides cover for waterfowl. Giant cut grass commonly grows along several mainstem reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Easily identified by large, blue-green leaves with extremely sharp edges.
Where to Find It—Giant cutgrass can be found most often in the back of coves and wetland areas around a reservoir.
Similar Species—Cutgrass can resemble cattail; however, cattail arises from a single stalk.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Newly emerging sprouts and older, dead leaves of giant cutgrass provide refuge for some bait species. Fish a fluke or lizard in late spring as fish spawn close to cut grass.
Summer—Giant cut grass will rapidly grow and spread via its rhizome and above-ground root system (stolons) in summer, growing as tall as 10 to 12 feet tall. Giant cut grass will produce a large seed head in late summer. Actively growing cut grass can provide refuge for baitfish and invertebrates. Fish a shallow crankbait or swimbait nearby to catch schooling fish that are targeting such baitfish.
Fall—The large seed head of giant cutgrass will release seed into the water during fall and leaves will begin to die off and decay. As cut grass begins to die off in late fall, openings can form in once-dense stands. Try topwater baits parallel to cutgrass stands.
Winter—Giant cut grass will survive as a rhizome throughout most of the winter, resprouting in the spring. The dead leaves of cutgrass will often remain throughout the winter, providing an opportunity to fish near the shoreline slow-rolling a spinner bait or a Texas rig.
Drawbacks
Giant cut grass can cause water use issues and is often managed in a reservoir system.
Submersed Plants
Giant Cut Grass
The large seed head of the native giant cut grass (Zizaniopsis miliacea) releases seed into the water during fall as leaves will begin to die off and decay.
Description
Giant cut grass is a rhizomatous perennial grass with a superficial resemblance to Johnson grass. It has scaly, root-like horizontal stems that grow under or along the bottom and send roots down and shoots up from nodes along its length. Giant cut grass grows to a height of 8-9 feet with narrow leaves 4 feet or more long. The leaves are smooth and hairless on the upper and lower sides but have sharp “cutting” edges. The terminal flower cluster is loosely and irregularly branched, 16-24 inches long and 2 to 6 inches wide. Branches of the flower cluster are upright, with pistillate flowers near the branch tips and staminate flowers lower on the same branch.
Habitat
Giant cut grass is native to the southern United States where it grows in dense, monospecific colonies in marshes, swamps and shallow waters around the edges of lakes and rivers. It provides cover for waterfowl. Giant cut grass commonly grows along several mainstem reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Easily identified by large, blue-green leaves with extremely sharp edges.
Where to Find It—Giant cutgrass can be found most often in the back of coves and wetland areas around a reservoir.
Similar Species—Cutgrass can resemble cattail; however, cattail arises from a single stalk.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Newly emerging sprouts and older, dead leaves of giant cutgrass provide refuge for some bait species. Fish a fluke or lizard in late spring as fish spawn close to cut grass.
Summer—Giant cut grass will rapidly grow and spread via its rhizome and above-ground root system (stolons) in summer, growing as tall as 10 to 12 feet tall. Giant cut grass will produce a large seed head in late summer. Actively growing cut grass can provide refuge for baitfish and invertebrates. Fish a shallow crankbait or swimbait nearby to catch schooling fish that are targeting such baitfish.
Fall—The large seed head of giant cutgrass will release seed into the water during fall and leaves will begin to die off and decay. As cut grass begins to die off in late fall, openings can form in once-dense stands. Try topwater baits parallel to cutgrass stands.
Winter—Giant cut grass will survive as a rhizome throughout most of the winter, resprouting in the spring. The dead leaves of cutgrass will often remain throughout the winter, providing an opportunity to fish near the shoreline slow-rolling a spinner bait or a Texas rig.
Drawbacks
Giant cut grass can cause water use issues and is often managed in a reservoir system.