Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Discount Bream Housing

Most of us have probably seen Bruce's upscale, high-rise "Bluegill Condominium":





For those on a budget, here is my 100% recycled (some pieces for the second or third time) attempt at a low rent equivalent. While it would undoubtedly be inadequate for the huge blueblood Bluegills in Nebraska, it should suffice for the humble bream in my pond (Baltic Avenue as opposed to Boardwalk). I think of it as a Trailer Park for Redneck Sunfish.

I really, really like that. Does it have a brain?

Theo, I like it. Like you, I have what my wife calls junk and I call surplus building materials. Where do I send the official Trailer Trash cap?

If you lay that down on its side it would be catfish trailer trash heaven.

Bruce:

The brains are in the gallon jug, which doubles as a float. I figure that way I can make it smarter or dumber as needed. :rolleyes:

Eric:

It IS on it's side. :p

DD:

Brilliant! You also know how to turn nuisance garbage into something you can claim is neither. You have always been my favorite moderator!
___

My Son helped me put it together, then posted the picture at one of his forums with the caption "Proof positive my Father is clinically insane."

A perfect example of why the regulation in public reservoirs, "only natural fish attactors allowed".

I'll take 10 just like that.

No duct tape? The thing must suck then.

Just kidding.

Donald Trump, look out.

WARNING, WIL ROBINSON!

The bottom one looks like it would fit my rent budget.

Was Picaso insane ?

Is that Jimmy Hofa in that bottom one?

Theo, I think it is brilliant. Thanks for sharing!

Does it qualify as Section 8?

Gator

Amazing, simply amazing!

Hey Burgermeister...do ya think it trumps a '58 Studebaker for structure?

That can only be labeled as Art!

I just deleted my last post. I think the funning had run it's course. I believe it will be functional. It looks 'fishy' to me. I was going to suggest a "Top Theo's Fish Structure" contest, but I honestly don't think I could compete. Very ingenious.

Thanks, BM. We could have an old vehicle structure contest, and I'm sure your Studebaker would be right up there.

Here's another slightly different angle of Theo's structure...

I knew you were an ALF fan. So sad......

Theo wont have any more problems with cat-fish with the alf-lost in space discount bream trailer park.

Theo, ship it to the Atlanta Airport Authority. They'll buy anything
and proudly display it prominantly and call it art.

I doubt it's limited to just Atlanta. For many years, Port Columbus (Ohio) airport featured a statue called "Brushstrokes in Flight." It always looked to me like two paint brushes being assaulted by a gang of ambulatory bananas. :rolleyes:

I finally got the redneck sunfish trailer park (now officially nicknamed "Robby" by my family, after the "Lost in Space" robot) deployed in the pond today, after delays from good and bad weather and health. The fact that it was a great day (90 degree air temp, 81 degree water temp) to accidentally go swimming clinched the timing.

We let our pool noodles do the hard work of stabilizing the awkward monstrosity, and it was all accomplished without taking a plunge. I may move it to slightly shallower water closer to shore when we go swimming later this year; have to see how it attracts fish in the current position.

Theo did you sink it by pulling the noodles out or did it sink with them in it ? If it pulled down that many noodles it must be heavy.

That thing is creative, fun, useful, practical and disturbing all at the same time.

The noodles just make it look, I don't know,...too commercial. I say the fish will load up around it, especially as your weather gets hotter. Maybe its already hot?

I pulled the noodles out and added a dozen or so fist sized rocks (to the upper white plastic tub) to sink it. There were already about 25 pounds of scrap iron and steel in the big bottom tub when it went in the water, but I'm tired of plastic structure floating up after placement, so I added the rocks to be sure.

I have a marker buoy (gallon jug) tied to the top so I can locate it easy while fishing from shore. The rope for the buoy was handy to tow it into place.

You talkin' about me or Robby? :p

The real question is: Can you swim?

Or is the life preserver just for visual effect and leading by example?

I can swim. I always canoe with a life preserver to 1) set an example for my kids and 2) provide insurance in case something weird happens or I do something stupid. I once gave myself a concussion while driving fence posts by hand, so the option 2 insurance is a good idea for me in many activities.

Ah yes, "insurance in case something weird happens.."

The first year we owned our pond, my friend and I were out on the canoe at around 1AM. It was about 45 degrees outside, and the water temps were maybe low 50's. At this time of night, we were not fishing, but instead just drinking, etc.

My friend is about 225 lbs. compared to my 155 lbs. He's in the front of the canoe.

Next thing I know, the canoe starts hard rocking from side to side, and then in the drink we go. That cold water is pretty exhilirating when you dont' expect it.

I did have a moment of fear as the many layers of clothing I was wearing got soaked through. We were in about 15' of water, and I was shocked for a moment, before I swam for shore.

In the end, CSI determined that it was not our fault at all, but instead that Navy Seal Team 6 was on night manuevers, and sabotaged our ship. My friend swears that when he was underwater, he came face to face with a frog-man, and had to grapple & fight for his life.

I think that goes in the Pond Boss funnies thread.

You know the "100 degrees of canoeing" rule? If the air temp plus the water temp isn't at least 100 degrees F, don't go out in a canoe.

All but the most macho of canoeists follow this.

I use the "150 degrees" rule.

Is that the 180 degree rule? If the water temp. + the air temp. are not 100 then do a 180 degree turn and head for the house and sit in front of the fire. :p

That's good, EW.

Theo...I just have to ask...a concussion? Driving post by HAND? Please elaborate...I'm trying to picture the "hows and whys". Was your wife laughing "with" you, as mine always does?

Matt:

Never do dangerous activities when you are PO'd...

I was using a post driver. In case you don't know, that's basically about 3 feet of 3"-4" steel pipe with a plug welded to the top and two handles welded to the sides. You put it over the T-Post, raise it up part way, slam it down, and repeat. It's a human-powered pile driver.

I was ticked off about something and lifted the post driver too high, off the top of the T-Post. When I brought it down, it bounced off first the post and then my skull. For a little while, the tree right in front of where I had been working was purple and orange instead of brown and green. Then everything was back to norbal.

When I could stand up again, I walked back to my In-Law's construction trailer (this was about 20 years ago, on their place before they built a house and lived there) and told my wife I was through working for the day and I was really tired. She wouldn't let me sleep! (And she wasn't laughing at all.) But it was my second concussion so I was wasn't worried, just sore, tired, and confused.

You ever see an egg that cracked inside the chicken and grew a second layer of shell over the crack to repair it? I have a spot like that on my skull. And I drive T-Posts with a sledge hammer, which has been judged by my wife to be safe for me to use.

I know that feeling Theo. I had 2 concussions too. I was washing my tractor with a pressure washer. I had raised up my front loader to get at the front of the tractor better. I remember pulling the hose and walking around the front of the tractor, and the next thing remember was looking up at the sky. That loader bucket didn't even budge. Another time I got dinged playing football, and ended up in the girl's restroom. I had to get help finding my locker. It was almost funny.