Need advice from an experienced fisherman

[yobuck]

Read anything Whitey Outlaw has out on his style of fishing...

I have done that also, and would love to meet and fish with him. I even bought one of his BnM Santee rods.
Watch the videos close, you might catch him using a rake also.

[Yonder]

Most any garden store has a four prong, grubbing rake, about 5" wide We call em "gator getters". They are fine for clearing a small hole. Come with a 5' handle. Change it out it suits you, works fine as is, takes up little room, in the boat.
We don't wade or float tube around here...... Unless you want to be called Stubby.
Good luck, stay on em!

[try'n hard]

Depending on what type vegetation it is I use a brick tied to a piece of rope to make a hole. Throw the brick in as far as you can then pull it out dragging the weed mass with it. I know this is ideal for hyacinth. You would be surprised how well this works. I do 3 or 4 holes spread out then come back to the first hole to fish

[yobuck]

Depending on what type vegetation it is I use a brick tied to a piece of rope to make a hole. Throw the brick in as far as you can then pull it out dragging the weed mass with it. I know this is ideal for hyacinth. You would be surprised how well this works. I do 3 or 4 holes spread out then come back to the first hole to fish

I see no reason that wouldn't work, but its also necessary to remove any weeds down deeper in the hole, otherwise the jig gets hung up on those.

[Eagle 1]

garden rake duck taped to section of pvc pipe clear out a hole every 25 yds or so then go back 30-60 min. later .Get-r-done !

[Yonder]

When your stuck fishing Lilly's or duckweeds, clear a spot with one of the methods above and dip.
Resist the urge to keep relocating the minnow. Let it, or a jig under a float, sit till the cows come home!
Just a little movement now and again. The more you pick it up and down, the more likely you'll get hung up up!

[NUBSTER]

Back in the day, we used a straightened clothes hanger with holes drilled on both flattened ends; tied bait to bottom on short leader; tied top to 10# line and slid the rig down next to the reeds. NO hangups! No weight needed.