Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,116
Members18,452
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
1 members (anthropic),
750
guests, and
227
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
Breaking that 10lb barrier is easy. When you hold up that 8 pounder for the photos, extend you arms as far as you can towards the camera. All the advertisements do it. 8 is now 10!
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420 Likes: 794
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420 Likes: 794 |
It's a great start, and Sparkie, I did WAG it and couldn't believe the numbers so I ran 'em. (Holy #(*^, that can't be right!!! Yep, it is!) You get more bang the buck so to speak for placing them near spawning habitat, but if the fish migrate to deep water during the coldest part of the winter, what do the forage fish have to hide in? Making highways from shallow to deep cover also helps concentrate the fish along those routes, making them easier to target. The other thing that you are fighting is the decomposition of the trees over time. If you can source other things that don't decompose as fast, that will allow your yearly structure placements to last longer. Seeing the WR turn around on the smaller fish means that what you are doing is working. After a year or two of doing the same thing, (small openings between the branches) you'll have to start working on placing cover that larger and larger fish will utilize. The larger LMB are not gaining WR because the food for them isn't of the correct size yet, and in sufficient quantity. As the little YOY fish survive year 1, 2 and 3, they will become better food for the larger LMB.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,792 Likes: 68
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
|
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,792 Likes: 68 |
Don't discount the presence of aquatic vegetation - it will help fill in some of the open water areas and provide refuge for your BG to escape, graze, and grow.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,285 Likes: 288
Moderator
|
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,285 Likes: 288 |
Don't discount the presence of aquatic vegetation - it will help fill in some of the open water areas and provide refuge for your BG to escape, graze, and grow. Bingo!
AL
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028 Likes: 274
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028 Likes: 274 |
And, quite possibly, it will happen whether you like it or not.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 109
|
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 109 |
Picked up 20 trees today for a 1.5 acre pond. I don't have a lot of other structure in the pond yet.. Do you think the 20 trees is good or should I get more? If more, how many more?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
I am not an expert but I am a fan of diversity. IMHO lots of different critters in a pond and not all want the same habitat. You can add more trees later if you think you are light. Have fun with it. For me, putting structure in is a lot of fun. You can really get creative! Cool plants, rock piles, homemade.....
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
I like a lot of structure spred out in lots of areas to give fish Dif. Areas to stay in . This gives the YOY a chance to grow up a Little and not be concentrated in just one area. Like Bill said get creative with it then fish it in the spring and see which areas the fish like then u can create more like that in different areas. I tie floats to it so I can fish the spots
Pat W
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 109
|
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 109 |
Thinking about it, I guess I have more diversity than I realized (4ft brick pile, 3 foot tire pyramid, 1 plastic barrel with hoses and soon to be Christmas trees)
I know there's the 20-25% structure rule but honestly is so hard to say yeah that's about 20% or not, you know?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
From what I have learned here, the giant unknown is the vegetation. It can pick its own percentage and you need to constantly monitor it.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 114
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 114 |
Haha, William, Congratulations! the posters on your thread quite literally wrote the book on such matters.
My personal experience is that I hate getting hung up on the trees and losing my tackle. I put all the trees in nearly the same location. As the fingerlings get older and bolder they sneak out and get eaten.
The trees that remain submerged completely have a really long useful lifespan.
So, if the forage fish can have a sanctuary to breed and grow they will become a sustainable resource for the entire lake.
And ultimately that is all our goal. I think...hahaha
Good luck!
Last edited by DogLoyalty; 01/02/15 10:14 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 114
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 114 |
One additional thought is that tannic acid from trees kills aquatic life...so, slow and steady is the course.
5-10 trees per year seems adequate to me.
but, to each his own.
DL
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 53
Fingerling
|
OP
Fingerling
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 53 |
Thanks for all the suggestions.
We've done some PVC structure in the areas that kids bank fish from so they don't get hung up. We are planning more for this year. While the PVC won't rot, it does get pricey and time consuming when you look at large quantities.
The beauty of the trees for us is that we can send an email out to the whole neighborhood, and they will bring us about 150 trees, and drop the off at our community dock.
I'm exited to get them sunk, and see how things progress.
The amount of knowledge, and experience available here is incredible.
I'll post pictures of the sinking party, and see if I can get some good sonar pictures of the trees.
William
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420 Likes: 794
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420 Likes: 794 |
You can make PVC trees from 3" thinwall ag drain pipe, and use 1/2" to 1" rolled poly tubing for the branches. If you search, you should be able to find the poly tubing for $0.10/foot or so.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|