Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat What to do with cedar deck boards?

In cleaning out my pond, a T-shape cedar dock structure was removed. The boards are 5/4 x 6". Lengths range from 40" to 8'. I thought about repurposing the wood for a new dock, but now is a good time to build fish structure in the empty pond. What are some good wood designs to consider? The fish stocking plan is LMB -or- SMB, YP, FHM.

Horizontal platforms for the minnows?
Cube shaped cribs filled with something?
Teepee or A-frames?
Other?

Thanks.

Cut them into 28-32" lengths. I think 36" would make them quite heavy. Then lay them flat next to each other in a horizontal row of 6-8 (4 feet total) Whatever is manageable to move around (once floating). Then 3 or 3 'stringers' down the length to tie them together. It is fine if it is flexible stringer like chain, or cable or even thick non-rotting rope.

These then need a lead rope on them and you lay them out in the pond. For a few months they will float on their own till they get waterlogged. These become the flat 'mats' that the fathead minnows will attach their eggs to on the underside. Eventually they will waterlog and sink. So planning ahead you can either add old foam board or other plastic floats on the underside to keep them suspended near the top, or you can put props of some type under the 'mats' so that when it waterlogs it stays at least 24" or so off the ground.

There are pictures in the archives somewhere of larger mats that a member made, maybe 10-12 feet long total but they get unwieldy to move around if they are too long.

I would repurpose them for a new dock. Use Penofin wood stain/sealer to preserve them.

Good idea to remake the dock too if they just need powerwashing, drying out and resealing!

If you are interested, I found the old thread with good pictures of pallet stacks and floating minnow structure.

Minnow structure ideas

A few posts down in the link above user 'larrybud' attached pictures that you have to click on. He had his suspend with rope all the way across the pond (or a corner of your 1 acre pond maybe) for better suspension. Regardless boards will waterlog and I'm not sure poly rope by itself will float them. You could add PVC that is capped for buoyancy or add foamboard, or old motor oil plastic jugs or 2L pop bottles with lids on the underside here and there.