Please explain how to post pics, if there's a simpler way! Honesty, I have no idea why it should be difficult....other forums I go to it's simple.
I totally agree. Amen. Amen. It is why I don't post pics here. As an example go back several years ago and look at those "scarred up" - defaced Photo-Bucket pictures that were very often used back then. IMO all those old pics are basically worthless today.
Rock Piles - IMO it would be more beneficial if those piles were at least 3 times longer and maybe a few of them start a foot shallower down to current depth in the pics. IMO Each of those current sizes of rock piles will not support very many crayfish. Depth placement is pretty good. One has to remember rock piles are primarily for small fish habitat as feeding areas (colonizing invertebrates) and refuge spaces. For better rocky habitat one whole shoreline should have a continuous rock pile although the height of the pile would not need to be as tall as those in the picture. IMO Two to three rock layers of height would be adequate.
Adding tree top brush between the current rock piles would improve the habitat complexity.
Hey Bill, please clarify: "maybe a few of them start a foot shallower down to current depth in the pics." Are you saying "shallow" in terms of closer to shore as it slopes up? For the one on the right (shallower location) it's already within a few feet of shore......I can do that, but it's already going to be pretty shallow....if you mean extend another 3' in the other direction, that's easy....(well...."easy", even though I'm doing it 100% by hand, so it's a slow process...) For the one on the left, with the steep slope up to the bank, are you saying extend THAT practically up to the bank?
My intention for the rock piles here is for "small fish habitat" as you mention. A place to hang out safely before they inevitably get gobbled up. I can definitely do the "tree top brush" between....but if you're suggesting maybe that I could make the two piles instead be ONE CONTINUOUS pile, extending up to the shoreline, I could do that. Do I read that right? And of course what simplifies that process would be that they would only need to be a couple layers high. Please clarify, and I'll put this in motion!
Crayfish: I had originally thought of adding crayfish, since I had visions of my own personal supply of them for when I feel like whipping up some delicious Louisiana Crayfish Etouffee- but I was advised right here on the forum, that for me it would wind up being nothing more than quickly-depleted "expensive bass food." After that I gave up the idea. However, since my HSB will be stocked in late October at 5-7", and presumably it'll take awhile for them to get big enough for the crayfish to become easy prey....maybe that gives the crayfish enough time to develop a large enough population to withstand the pressure.....? But also, I have a pond liner....so if crayfish would try to burrow down into that, it's a big problem.....please advise.
