How do I get rid of tules (reeds)

I have a pond that is being taken over by tules. They are very ugly and I want to remove them. They are brown now and the water level is low so the time to remove them is now. They have these large, corkscrew roots that make it impossible to pull up by hand.

My current plan it to cut them off at the base with a Sawzall. Obviously thy will grown back. Will putting herbicide on the exposed roots kill them?