By Richard Simms -November 27, 2018
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Most fishermen just call it “grass.” Others refer to it as “milfoil” (although that is just one species of many). Scientific types called it “aquatic vegetation,” while most dock owners refer to it as “weeds” (or other names we can’t publish here).
Whatever you call it, the submergent (underwater) aquatic vegetation growing on area lakes has been the subject of never-ending controversy since it first appeared in the late 1970’s. There have been boon & bust cycles for the aquatic vegetation since then for a variety of reasons. But currently Chickamauga and Watts Bar lakes seem to be in a boon cycle.
Fisheries biologists and fishermen love it. They insist it provides greatly enhanced habitat for fish and is one of several factors that has led to Chickamauga being named one of the best bass fishing lakes in the nation. Meanwhile lakeshore land and dock owners despise it. Many say they are forced to pay thousands of dollars to private companies to keep their docks clear of vegetation, otherwise they would be useless.