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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
Water-Willow
Native water-willow (Justicia americana) flowers in early summer through fall. It creates shoreline habitat for invertebrates and attracts various fish species.
Description
Water-willow is an emergent perennial herb that spreads by rhizomes and has slightly ribbed, smooth, unbranched stems up to 3 feet tall. Leaves are opposite along the stems and smooth, narrow and tapered at each end. They attach directly, or by a short stalk, to the stem. Orchid-like flowers occur in short, dense spikes at the end of a slender stalk that rises from the leaf axil. The short calyx tube has five lobes. The petals are purple to white and frequently spotted. Each flower has two lips. The upper lip is notched, and the lower lip is 3-lobed.
Habitat
Water-willow forms dense colonies along rocky or sandy stream beds and shorelines throughout eastern North America. It is one of the most common aquatic emergent plants in streams and reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Leaves are opposing around the stem and flowers are bi-colored in violet and white.
Where to Find It—Water-willow can grow in a wide range of sediment along the shoreline, often stretching out as deep as five feet of water. Water-willow will grow within very rocky substrate.
Max Depth—0 to 5 feet
Similar Species—Water-willow may resemble other shoreline species but is widespread and much more common than most.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Native water-willow emerges from seed and from previously existing underground roots (rhizomes) in early spring. Newly emerging water-willow creates excellent vertical structure for fast rolling a spinnerbait or fishing a fluke or senko.
Summer—Water-willow rapidly expands through rhizomes. The plants will begin to produce a white and violet flower in early summer and will continue to flower through fall. As stands become thicker, invertebrates and baitfish will congregate in the vertical structure of water-willow. Fish a shallow crankbait or swimbait around edges and in shoreline pockets of water-willow. Transitions between water-willow and other species or structure are also productive.
Fall—Plants will begin to die back and drop seeds into the water column in fall. Fishing edges and pockets will remain productive through fall. Run a buzzbait parallel to the edge formed by water-willow or work a spinner bait back into water willow stands.
Winter—Very little water-willow will be present in winter, so targeting this species should be avoided until spring.
Drawbacks
Water-willow has caused some issues with water use and management is sometimes needed.
Shoreline Plants
Water-Willow
Native water-willow (Justicia americana) flowers in early summer through fall. It creates shoreline habitat for invertebrates and attracts various fish species.
Description
Water-willow is an emergent perennial herb that spreads by rhizomes and has slightly ribbed, smooth, unbranched stems up to 3 feet tall. Leaves are opposite along the stems and smooth, narrow and tapered at each end. They attach directly, or by a short stalk, to the stem. Orchid-like flowers occur in short, dense spikes at the end of a slender stalk that rises from the leaf axil. The short calyx tube has five lobes. The petals are purple to white and frequently spotted. Each flower has two lips. The upper lip is notched, and the lower lip is 3-lobed.
Habitat
Water-willow forms dense colonies along rocky or sandy stream beds and shorelines throughout eastern North America. It is one of the most common aquatic emergent plants in streams and reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Leaves are opposing around the stem and flowers are bi-colored in violet and white.
Where to Find It—Water-willow can grow in a wide range of sediment along the shoreline, often stretching out as deep as five feet of water. Water-willow will grow within very rocky substrate.
Max Depth—0 to 5 feet
Similar Species—Water-willow may resemble other shoreline species but is widespread and much more common than most.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Native water-willow emerges from seed and from previously existing underground roots (rhizomes) in early spring. Newly emerging water-willow creates excellent vertical structure for fast rolling a spinnerbait or fishing a fluke or senko.
Summer—Water-willow rapidly expands through rhizomes. The plants will begin to produce a white and violet flower in early summer and will continue to flower through fall. As stands become thicker, invertebrates and baitfish will congregate in the vertical structure of water-willow. Fish a shallow crankbait or swimbait around edges and in shoreline pockets of water-willow. Transitions between water-willow and other species or structure are also productive.
Fall—Plants will begin to die back and drop seeds into the water column in fall. Fishing edges and pockets will remain productive through fall. Run a buzzbait parallel to the edge formed by water-willow or work a spinner bait back into water willow stands.
Winter—Very little water-willow will be present in winter, so targeting this species should be avoided until spring.
Drawbacks
Water-willow has caused some issues with water use and management is sometimes needed.
Submersed Plants
Water-Willow
Native water-willow (Justicia americana) flowers in early summer through fall. It creates shoreline habitat for invertebrates and attracts various fish species.
Description
Water-willow is an emergent perennial herb that spreads by rhizomes and has slightly ribbed, smooth, unbranched stems up to 3 feet tall. Leaves are opposite along the stems and smooth, narrow and tapered at each end. They attach directly, or by a short stalk, to the stem. Orchid-like flowers occur in short, dense spikes at the end of a slender stalk that rises from the leaf axil. The short calyx tube has five lobes. The petals are purple to white and frequently spotted. Each flower has two lips. The upper lip is notched, and the lower lip is 3-lobed.
Habitat
Water-willow forms dense colonies along rocky or sandy stream beds and shorelines throughout eastern North America. It is one of the most common aquatic emergent plants in streams and reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley region.
Identifying Features
What It Looks Like—Leaves are opposing around the stem and flowers are bi-colored in violet and white.
Where to Find It—Water-willow can grow in a wide range of sediment along the shoreline, often stretching out as deep as five feet of water. Water-willow will grow within very rocky substrate.
Max Depth—0 to 5 feet
Similar Species—Water-willow may resemble other shoreline species but is widespread and much more common than most.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Native water-willow emerges from seed and from previously existing underground roots (rhizomes) in early spring. Newly emerging water-willow creates excellent vertical structure for fast rolling a spinnerbait or fishing a fluke or senko.
Summer—Water-willow rapidly expands through rhizomes. The plants will begin to produce a white and violet flower in early summer and will continue to flower through fall. As stands become thicker, invertebrates and baitfish will congregate in the vertical structure of water-willow. Fish a shallow crankbait or swimbait around edges and in shoreline pockets of water-willow. Transitions between water-willow and other species or structure are also productive.
Fall—Plants will begin to die back and drop seeds into the water column in fall. Fishing edges and pockets will remain productive through fall. Run a buzzbait parallel to the edge formed by water-willow or work a spinner bait back into water willow stands.
Winter—Very little water-willow will be present in winter, so targeting this species should be avoided until spring.
Drawbacks
Water-willow has caused some issues with water use and management is sometimes needed.