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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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?
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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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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
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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.
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
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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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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. :p
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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:
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
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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
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
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The good Cap'n complains at little... 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.
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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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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!?!
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Lunker
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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
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Thanks Big Jake will look into it.
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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.
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Pure genious, Mastah Bruce! Don't fish eat Mosquito larvae?
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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!
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Lunker
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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...
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Matt, Is this an X-ray of your back after you dragged the subject tires in Pic #1?
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Lunker
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Lunker
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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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