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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
Watershield
Watershield (Brasenia schreberi), a native plant, beings to grow from an existing root system in late spring, sending up slime-covered leaves that eventually reach the water’s surface.
Description
Watershield is a floating-leaved perennial with a slender rhizome and numerous elongated, multi-branched stems. The oval leaves alternate and have a centrally attached stem. Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 2 ½ inches wide with a waxy green upper surface and reddish or purple underneath. The stems and undersides of leaves are covered with a thick, gelatinous sheath. The small, purple, immersed flowers grow on stalks rising from the leaf axils. They have 3 or 4 sepals, 3 or 4 petals, numerous stamens and 4 to 18 pistils. The fruit is small and leathery.
Habitat
Watershield is found in lakes, ponds, swamps and slow-moving streams throughout the United States. It is an excellent source of food for waterfowl, especially ring-necked ducks. The plant is not common in Tennessee Valley reservoirs but is occasionally found in ponds and swamps.
Identifying Features
What it Looks Like—Watershield is easily identified by the “snot” covering its stems and leaves. Leaves are only a few inches across and oval in shape.
Where to Find It—Watershield can be found growing nearshore in mucky bottom, often by itself or with other floating species like water lily or lotus.
Similar Species—Watershield can look like younger water lily plants; however, watershield leaves have no notches and waterlily has a single, pie-slice notch in each leaf.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Newly emerging stems and leaves provide great fishing opportunities. Burn a swimbait over top and through new growth or work a swim jig up and down through newly formed vertical stems. Make sure baits are weedless, as stems are thick and unforgiving of exposed hooks.
Summer—Watershield will spread via stolons running along the bottom, sending up more and more gelatinous covered stems and leaves. It will begin to flower in summer and produce seed. As watershield forms surface leaves, fishing the edge with stickbaits or Texas rigged worms is recommended. An open understory often exists under the plants and holes in the canopy make it easy to get flipping baits down in the sweet spot.
Fall—After creating large colonies during late summer and early fall, watershield will begin to die back to stolons during the late fall. Watershield makes for a great topwater bite in the fall. Fish a frog over and around the floating leaves of the plant.
Winter—Watershield will overwinter and sprout again from existing structures in the spring. Watershield will be gone by early winter, so targeting the plant during this time is not recommended.
Drawbacks
Although native, watershield can become a nuisance causing some impacts to water use, especially around boat ramps and swim areas. Sometimes management is necessary in these areas.
Shoreline Plants
Watershield
Watershield (Brasenia schreberi), a native plant, beings to grow from an existing root system in late spring, sending up slime-covered leaves that eventually reach the water’s surface.
Description
Watershield is a floating-leaved perennial with a slender rhizome and numerous elongated, multi-branched stems. The oval leaves alternate and have a centrally attached stem. Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 2 ½ inches wide with a waxy green upper surface and reddish or purple underneath. The stems and undersides of leaves are covered with a thick, gelatinous sheath. The small, purple, immersed flowers grow on stalks rising from the leaf axils. They have 3 or 4 sepals, 3 or 4 petals, numerous stamens and 4 to 18 pistils. The fruit is small and leathery.
Habitat
Watershield is found in lakes, ponds, swamps and slow-moving streams throughout the United States. It is an excellent source of food for waterfowl, especially ring-necked ducks. The plant is not common in Tennessee Valley reservoirs but is occasionally found in ponds and swamps.
Identifying Features
What it Looks Like—Watershield is easily identified by the “snot” covering its stems and leaves. Leaves are only a few inches across and oval in shape.
Where to Find It—Watershield can be found growing nearshore in mucky bottom, often by itself or with other floating species like water lily or lotus.
Similar Species—Watershield can look like younger water lily plants; however, watershield leaves have no notches and waterlily has a single, pie-slice notch in each leaf.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Newly emerging stems and leaves provide great fishing opportunities. Burn a swimbait over top and through new growth or work a swim jig up and down through newly formed vertical stems. Make sure baits are weedless, as stems are thick and unforgiving of exposed hooks.
Summer—Watershield will spread via stolons running along the bottom, sending up more and more gelatinous covered stems and leaves. It will begin to flower in summer and produce seed. As watershield forms surface leaves, fishing the edge with stickbaits or Texas rigged worms is recommended. An open understory often exists under the plants and holes in the canopy make it easy to get flipping baits down in the sweet spot.
Fall—After creating large colonies during late summer and early fall, watershield will begin to die back to stolons during the late fall. Watershield makes for a great topwater bite in the fall. Fish a frog over and around the floating leaves of the plant.
Winter—Watershield will overwinter and sprout again from existing structures in the spring. Watershield will be gone by early winter, so targeting the plant during this time is not recommended.
Drawbacks
Although native, watershield can become a nuisance causing some impacts to water use, especially around boat ramps and swim areas. Sometimes management is necessary in these areas.
Submersed Plants
Watershield
Watershield (Brasenia schreberi), a native plant, beings to grow from an existing root system in late spring, sending up slime-covered leaves that eventually reach the water’s surface.
Description
Watershield is a floating-leaved perennial with a slender rhizome and numerous elongated, multi-branched stems. The oval leaves alternate and have a centrally attached stem. Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 2 ½ inches wide with a waxy green upper surface and reddish or purple underneath. The stems and undersides of leaves are covered with a thick, gelatinous sheath. The small, purple, immersed flowers grow on stalks rising from the leaf axils. They have 3 or 4 sepals, 3 or 4 petals, numerous stamens and 4 to 18 pistils. The fruit is small and leathery.
Habitat
Watershield is found in lakes, ponds, swamps and slow-moving streams throughout the United States. It is an excellent source of food for waterfowl, especially ring-necked ducks. The plant is not common in Tennessee Valley reservoirs but is occasionally found in ponds and swamps.
Identifying Features
What it Looks Like—Watershield is easily identified by the “snot” covering its stems and leaves. Leaves are only a few inches across and oval in shape.
Where to Find It—Watershield can be found growing nearshore in mucky bottom, often by itself or with other floating species like water lily or lotus.
Similar Species—Watershield can look like younger water lily plants; however, watershield leaves have no notches and waterlily has a single, pie-slice notch in each leaf.
Seasonal Fishing Techniques
Spring—Newly emerging stems and leaves provide great fishing opportunities. Burn a swimbait over top and through new growth or work a swim jig up and down through newly formed vertical stems. Make sure baits are weedless, as stems are thick and unforgiving of exposed hooks.
Summer—Watershield will spread via stolons running along the bottom, sending up more and more gelatinous covered stems and leaves. It will begin to flower in summer and produce seed. As watershield forms surface leaves, fishing the edge with stickbaits or Texas rigged worms is recommended. An open understory often exists under the plants and holes in the canopy make it easy to get flipping baits down in the sweet spot.
Fall—After creating large colonies during late summer and early fall, watershield will begin to die back to stolons during the late fall. Watershield makes for a great topwater bite in the fall. Fish a frog over and around the floating leaves of the plant.
Winter—Watershield will overwinter and sprout again from existing structures in the spring. Watershield will be gone by early winter, so targeting the plant during this time is not recommended.
Drawbacks
Although native, watershield can become a nuisance causing some impacts to water use, especially around boat ramps and swim areas. Sometimes management is necessary in these areas.