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#7804 02/14/06 08:55 PM
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I'm gonna start collecting the required junk to create structure/habitat. If things go right, I'll be done pushin' dirt at the end of the summer....I want to be ready to do the bottom stuff before it gets wet. I plan on using a few different types of structure. My focus on this thread is tire habitat.
I reached out to a local tire guy that gets into "larger than automotive" work. I called him today, told him my plans, and asked him if he would like to off-load used tires instead of paying to cart 'em off....positive response. His first question to me was "what are lookin' for, truck tires or earth mover tires?" I only have a Dakota PU with a 5K# 6.5' x 16' utility trailer, so I told him that truck tires are probably the goal.
I gotta move these things to the project; more than a couple of miles. Should I take him up on some the monster tires or just work with stax of the truck tires? I haven't really decided on the fish blend yet, but I see myself heading for the standard BG-LMB-CC mix. Does anybody see pluses or minuses for tire size?

#7805 02/14/06 09:19 PM
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Brettski :

Tires can be used in a number of different ways. Look at this slide show link from ahvatsa's pond where he partly burried some large tires and put some out flat. Others will put them tied together in mounds or fences. It really depends on your pond plan. Don't count on anything using them as a spawning area. I prefer using other natural objects like trees, rocks, brush ,gravel, pallets , stumps and dirt mounds and ditches for structure and cover.

http://photobucket.com/albums/b165/ahvatsa/

Here is a link to the structure manual :

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000123

http://www.sdafs.org/reservoir/manuals/habitat/Main.htm

Last link below is for tires :

http://www.sdafs.org/reservoir/manuals/habitat/tires.htm
















#7806 02/14/06 09:22 PM
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I'd think the biggest drawback to monster truck tires would be the size and weight with resulting difficulty moving them, plus Lusk says size the structure to the fish. Small, tight structure for forage fish, larger & more open structure for predators. Now if you wanted huge blues or flatheads ...


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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#7807 02/14/06 09:26 PM
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So, Theo...
Based on my projected mix, should I be considering smaller tire structure for the forage fish AND larger for the predators? Help me here...still kinda toopid on the fish thing.

#7808 02/14/06 09:33 PM
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It depends on how you are going to use them. Look at the pics and get an idea of how they are used. You could for example do what ahvatsa did and stick xmas trees in the buried tire opening for small fish or several large limbs for bigger fish.
















#7809 02/14/06 09:33 PM
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B-ski, Do you know anybody who has scrap of this stuff?



Lusk thinks it just may work for smaller fish--and it's economical. Maybe if you intermixed nearby bigger tire structures with smaller vertical condos you could cover all your bases.


Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
#7810 02/14/06 09:39 PM
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My personal thinking is regular sized tires can be used to make structure sized for regular (i.e. LMB) predators, and aren't "tight" enough (without creative additions such as plastic mesh, which wouldn't really be very hard to do) to be optimum for forage fish. IMO monster tires are bigger than needed.

Realize I am looking at the world through conventional tire-sized eyeballs - when I finally do tires, it'll be with the 160 or so 13" to 16" tires I have on hand for another purpose (their retirement from that use is looming).

BUT - if they're all free - it's your labor. Invest as much as you can/care to, in whatever size mix you like. I do like the way ahvatsa (I keep thinking he's Hawaiian :rolleyes: ) stuck his big tires in.

Look at the links ewest gave and get many more opinions than just mine.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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#7811 02/14/06 09:51 PM
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I agree with Theo --no need for monster tires. The problem with them is they will give you a hernia or if they get away and roll over someone or thing you will never explain how they relate to fish structure. \:D :p
















#7812 02/14/06 11:01 PM
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Thanx, Oh great wizard of Ponds...very helpful and triggering the DaVinci side of me. I will admit that the almighty Kahuna Avahtsa has instilled great inspiration with his project. Ewest, great linkage and support as always. I gotta take some time on da side and study. Bruce, give me a verbal tour of your new condo project. Please point out the selling points and why this is a desired location...is it because of the "schools"? Doh! But seriously, take me back to the fundamentals of why that simple Trump tower is fish-friendly. Theo, you just sound tired. :rolleyes:

#7813 02/14/06 11:49 PM
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When I built my lined ponds I had to hold down one seam with standard 8 X 8 X 16 concrete blocks with the two holes in them. When the pond was filled I went into the pond with scuba equipment and found all of the largest bluegill backed into the holes. One bluegill to a hole. It seemed to me that this corrugated drain tile, if I'm using the correct term, would be an inexpensive way to concentrate the best bluegill in an area that was nearby the small dock being built.


Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
#7814 02/15/06 06:15 AM
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Bruce, that is great info about the BG using the blocks.

B'ski, Commercial plumbers are a good source for leftover pieces of larger PVC.

Heck, I still prefer rock piles and brush.


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
#7815 02/15/06 06:35 AM
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Isn't the tubular thing the same type structure that CC are lookin' for to spawn? About 2 years ago, I came real close to buying a beautiful 2 Ac pond that was stocked with CC. The owner told me that he had dropped tile sections to the bottom to encourage spawning. As I read thru the forum, most of the print to this regard agrees, albeit a questionable level of positive results.

(edit)Ya know, I'm thinking about Bruce's Tile condo...the 4" tile is cheap as dirt. I could easily see building a a couple of these with that stuff, but would the smaller diameter be restrictive to promoting use? Bruce's model home appears to be something closer to 8" dia stock.

#7816 02/15/06 08:00 AM
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Brettski: I found the same kind of deal when I was looking for tires -- the guy was happy to let me haul a trailerful off instead of paying someone else. I got the ones about 4 to 5 foot in diameter (there were much bigger ones available). Then it was a matter of rolling them down into the pond and using the tractor to arrange them. Here are some photos:









#7817 02/15/06 08:12 AM
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The good Cap'n complains at little...
 Quote:
I got the ones about 4 to 5 foot in diameter (there were much bigger ones available). Then it was a matter of rolling them down into the pond
Yeah, I can see you were bustin' your butt gettin' em down there.
;\) \:D

#7818 02/15/06 09:00 AM
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They're probably old photos - the Captain looks like more of an Ensign in them.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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#7819 02/15/06 09:32 AM
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I know that tires would work pretty well in my pond but I don't have much access to them.

What about pine tress? Any issues with pine needles raising the acidity of the water? I know that they are a softwood and will break down quicker but I've got almost 200 acres of nothing but pine and some rock. Use what you got right!?!

#7820 02/15/06 10:41 AM
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Jake B

Most places that sell tires have plenty of old ones. Perhaps your not near any place such as that but they will give them to you in most cases. If you do use tires and you band them togeather in the upright postion be sure to drill holes in the top to get rid of the air so they will sink. Someone else will have to advise about pine trees, I would not think some would hurt, a few per acre perhaps.
Big Jake

#7821 02/15/06 11:17 AM
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Thanks Big Jake will look into it.

#7822 02/15/06 12:27 PM
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Jake B :

I assume you soils are naturally acidic as a result of long term pine and oak growth. If so you will need to lime anyway so a few pines will not make any difference. Just add a little more lime. If you need structure ideas look at the links at the start of the thread in addition to the ones on your thread.
















#7823 02/15/06 12:30 PM
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FWIW, I had some tires brought to my property and wasn't smart enough to use them in the pond right away. If you like swarms of mosquitoes, this is a good idea. :rolleyes:


Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
#7824 02/15/06 01:26 PM
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Pure genious, Mastah Bruce! Don't fish eat Mosquito larvae? \:\)

#7825 02/15/06 02:07 PM
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I'm certainly no expert on this. But I recently visited a local hatchery and the guy showed my how he grows forage in his forage pond. He simply lays about 3 to 4 foot wide strips of black construction plastic in his pond around the edges in less than 3 foot depths. He says that minnows (I don't remember what kind he raises)will stick their eggs to the underside of cover. So the black plastic is twisted a few times so it won't lay flat. The fish lay eggs on the undersides. The black plastic helps the water stay warmer. That's all he has for structure in these lined ponds and he raises forage by the ton. Each pond is about 75 feet square.


Gotta get back to fishin!
#7826 02/15/06 02:50 PM
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Just an idea of what I did with tires...about 100 here all together. I've a buddy with a repair shop. He delivered, unloaded and stacked them...save him about $250.

These 4 bundles of tires each have 20-25 tires in them. I punched holes all over them with a carbide bore that we use to ream out nail holes prior to repair. Staked each pile w/2 steel posts.

They rest on a steep bank and will be submerged under from 2 to 6 feet of water. Last summer, before the drought sucked my pond down by about 3.5 feet, they were nearly covered...now about 2/3 exposed, again...wife hates it. The little fishes were all over them, as were the tadpoles...

[img]http://images.snapfish.com/346326859%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D3233534484728nu0mrj[/img]


Anyway...this shows a down-looking shot of how I lined them up between the tractor and the truck. With a come-along, I stretched that SS 3/16" cable awful tight, and added 2 clamps. Drug them to the pond, and was still able to drag them (downhill, by hand) to where I wanted them. Had about $20 worth of cable and clamps in the whole thing. Wish they'd go under again... \:\(

[img]http://images.snapfish.com/346326859%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D3233534484874nu0mrj[/img]


In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times. My wife figures I'm due to die any day now...



#7827 02/15/06 04:47 PM
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Matt,
Is this an X-ray of your back after you dragged the subject tires in Pic #1?
\:D

#7828 02/21/06 09:03 AM
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Good'un Brettski. Naw, I drug 'em to the high bank with the tractor, and then just sorta "guided" them downhill to where I wanted them. Wasn't really a drag, so much as a controlled slide. Stucka couple half t posts in the bank and just let 'em hang there.


They are an absolute magnet for lil fishes...


In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times. My wife figures I'm due to die any day now...



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