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I'm fishing an important tournament on a deep clear, cold, lake that is laden with algee slime all over the lake. The algee is on the bottom of just about every rock bar and hump. I'm planing to fish just for smally's and I'm thinking about using a drop shot and/or a Carolina rig with a floating soft plastic attached to the business end. Do you guys think my approach is OK? How would you tackle this condition?

Butch, I am trying to think of a situation that I have come across like this but other than winter and strip pits I can not remember a lake like this. I think as not even an parttime biologist that Algea is in the water colume and not attached to the bottom. I believe what you see is a thin slimey weed that is also dying do to poor water chemistry. Remember clear water is no indication of good healthy chemistry. Some real clear lakes have a PH of either Battery acid or lye, if you doubt this try and keep fish and weeds in your pool. I would believe that any lake like this has to provide areas of shelter,food and spawning habitat. based on the seasonal patterns I would start looking at the first break that goes all the way to the deepest water that can support life (must have light, no light no life) and after I found the bass I would pick a tool to catch them my preferance here would be a small jig under a slip bobber that is allowed to drift across any area suspected of having Bass. I would use 4# Berkley Vanish line and my second choice would be a 3" smoke senko or smoke sassy shad on a light head. I n clear water either medium size baits with high speed presentations or tiny baits with slow horizontal presentations. Good Bassin Dan Bass

Butch- I'm glad to see Dan came up with a plan that probably will produce in the lake you described.
By the way, please let us know how you made out in that lake. That way we all learn.
Thanks for posting.
And Dan, thanks for your usual good analysis
Good Fishing, JoeMo Moderator

The advice was too late as I was already on the road. About 3 patterns produced 1. shallow pond attached to the lake that contained normal milfoil, grubs, senkos, and wacky worms all lg mouths. 2 First cut "how about that" with pop r's, spinnerbaits all small mouths. 3. docks. Fyi: 25 years of bass fishing and this member finished 27 out of 75. But I learned an important message: small bad looking coves hold fish in the spring, and spend a full day at practice on the water. I got there late and practiced only 4.5 hours out of a possible 9.
Thanks "the wait till next time kid" Butch.

butch, soory it was a little to late. Where is this lake just as info, as I am trusting a lake report with out actually seeing for myself. as for bad coves in the spring dark bottom is what I look for especially if it has the sun most of the day. I hope my advice helps. Good Bassin Dan Bass

Dan: It was big green lake in green lake WI.
White color baits dominated all catches, even a spinnerbait was more productive with white blades. More slime covering this lake than anything I've ever seen.

Thanks
Butch

Butch, I was struggling when you said it was clear with slime covering everything, a big green lake sounds right algae is water suspenede vegetation and most algae lakes are anything but clear. White has always worked for me in those conditions when I think clear water I think good lush weeds in water 20' to 30' deep provided the bootom has the right composition. Most algae lakes are that way due to over fertalization of surounding lawns and farm land.