Are you implying that the water is poor quality? Weeds on the bottom can actually be very beneficial for redears. The light penetration must get to the bottom for rooted vegetation to exist, and the consequence would be good oxygen for the redears to utilize in the warmer, 39 degree water. The only problem would be if the vegetation starves of light and rots during the coldest months.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
