Thanks Peepaw, that's a great compliment coming from a habitat expert. Snrub, what I put on paper and how it unfolds are sure to be two different things. I know this, though, I can throw away my post-hole digger. The soil is solid red iron clay - at least, it is down to 10 ft where we stopped the excavator. So, I may have to use a pile driver instead. In fact, a floating dock suddenly seems like an attractive option.
Esshup, hope you (and Peepaw?) are hunkered down in your basements by now... nasty weather for sure!
When you get back on line, thanks for the advice! My nephew (tournament angler) said exactly the same thing about the natural cover. If it makes a difference, I'm planning to put the brush in shallow water just off the banks so it's relatively easy to replace. I intend to plant the (live) sand flat with aquatic plants (maybe lilies?) for fingerlings and to help oxygenate the water. I could build up the submerged islands to within 3 ft of the water surface for additional plants as well. What do you think?
Also to your point, the tree trunks over the trench(s) will be hard to replace. If I use cedar or hardwoods, they will last longer. But, I can't find any good alternatives for this feature. If you happen to think of something, I'm all ears!
