Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Bucket sizes

I saw a thread on here that discussed stacking 5 gallon buckets kinda Lincoln Log style for structure. Was this intended for breeding structure or ambush / hiding structure? Also, what size do the buckets need to be? I have access to literally thousands of plastic plant pots that range in size from 1 gallon to 3 gallon. Are these too small? Was thinking they could be arranged in a spiral staircase fashion around a central post in 8-10 foot of water to within 3 feet of full pool. Any ideas?

Thanks

Gunny

Gunny:

It sounds like you've already got a real good idea.

I have used large (5 & 7 gallon) buckets for CC spawning structure (I don't know if they used the buckets, but they spawned inside something in my pond) and assorted bucket sizes as attractors for BG. My bucket utilization for BG habitats is a take off on Bruce Condello's original BG condo. He has found large BG like to hang out in the holes in the pipe. Visibility is not good enough in my pond for me to see that, but fishing results show that my version of this structure at least draws BG to it's vicinity.

Bruce's BG Condo design:



My knock-offs, using buckets instead of some of the corrugated plastic pipe. We also run a surplus of (busted) buckets in the horse business.




I think 1 to 3 gallon buckets would be a very good size to attract BG.

Thanks Theo. What diameter is the corrugated pipe you used in those structures...looks like 6" about 24" long...is that pretty close?

Thanks again

Gunny

I used mostly 6", some 4", and one piece of weird 5", and I think nominal length was about 21" for the more normal-looking piece shown on the pond bottom. IIRC Bruce's condo is 8" pipe.

Good deal...the 1 gal are about 6" across and 7-8" tall and the three gallon are bigger, obviously. A friend has thousands since shutting down a tree operation...think I will be getting a few truckloads for structure

As far as placement, am I right to assume about 3' below full pool and up to 10' deep? Also, should I string them together about four feet apart in a long line with trees/stump reefs at the end of the line, or place them farther apart with stumps in between or a combo. The bucket structures and rootballs will comprise most, if not all of my structure as they are what I have available...any other ideas of things I can construct with them or orientations of them?

Gunny, please be aware that if you need structure installation services, they are available. More importantly, it is done with safety as the first priority. DISCLAIMER: Pond Boss is not responsible for involuntary enrollments in any type of mental institution.

Here is the archive on structure with lots of pics and ideas.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463

Gunny, I have my structure topping out at 1-2 feet below full pool, which keeps it under the water most years even in mid-Summer. If I lost more to evaporation each year, I would think about planting them a little deeper. And I'd go ahead and run them down (almost) to the bottom, figuring that way the fish can find whatever depth they like best on any given day.

ewest's structure archive has tons of great ideas which will likely inspire you to think up other configurations.

Sunil, never disparage personal protective equipment. Great-Grandpa Gallus lived to 97 by never taking off his Winter flannels too early in the month of June.