Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management deadfalls

I was wondering what everyone's opinions were on deadfalls in a pond--pro/con. I have a medium-sized honey locust on the edge of my pond that "is not long for this world." To fell it on the bank would be difficult as it will inevitably hang up in the other trees. I know it would be a decent structure in the pond, but I wasn't sure if it would be good in the long run as it decomposes.

If the sap is gone I doubt that it would be a problem.

Locust lasts practically forever. It was always our wood of choice for fenceposts.

With all the thorns on Honey Locust, I think it would be a fishing line and fishing lure magnet. But, it will last a LONG time in the water!

My fishing buddy trimmed/fell a Black Locust to create another opening on the shoreline for fishing. The fishing area is now aptly named "blood, sweat and tears"

When he was done it looked like he had been attacked by a bear! It was hilarious watching him as he was not about to let the tree get the best of him . Some of those thorns were over 4" long!

Keith

PS - It's been great structure for LMB, and he feels so rewarded when he pulls one out of there! And Scott's correct. It's best to use a weedless rig when fishing in/around it!

I had some of those Honey Locust trees on the lower south east side of the property. I was trying to get a path cut through there with the brush hog...those thorns snagged me up and darn near pulled me off of the tractor before I could get free of them. I cut those rascals down to the ground.
Charlie

FWIW Growing up on the farm in Indiana we always used locust fence posts when we were building fence. The reason was they were strong, hard and took many years to rot off. IMO I would think locust would work well in a pond if it is seasoned first as DD1 stated.

Trying to drive a steeple into well seasoned locusts posts can be an exercise in futility.

How big of a hammer do you need to use on that steeple?

I can see how it IS an exercise in futility!!!

I probably should ask, who do you get to hold the steeple?

Now.....city folks call em' staples. We always called em' steeples.

http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=903321

http://eruditeredneck.blogspot.com/2006/05/oklahoma-steeple.html

Thanks, all. I'll let it go into the pond. Hedge (osage orange) is another really hard and long-lasting wood. It also makes a really hot fire. This particular locust is thornless. I have several with no thorns while others are a nightmare. I can't tell you how many tires I've repaired. Some don't bear all those pods either. An old farmer told me that honey locust are male or female, the males having no thorns needed to protect the fruit. From what I've read, I don't know if that's right or not, but some trees have a preponderance of male flowers over female flowers.

Regardless, I have an enormous amount of dying trees of all types on my property. I'm losing elms at an alarming rate.

OK Sparkie, I'll let ya slide on that one.

Honey Locust are magnets for whitetails! Sometimes the juice is worth the squeeze.