Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat PVC tree to thin?

Started building PVC trees toda and was wondering if this tree looks to thin?

What do you mean thin - width , to few limbs. Can't tell about angles of the limbs. Here is a good one.

Yes to few of limbs. Right now I have them spaced at 4" thinking of reduing it to 3" spacing. Plan on putting this about 1.5' to 2' into the bottom of the pond. I had seen the other pictures before just wondering if they should have more limbs before I drill more of them

Think about this first. Know where each tree is going and what you want it to do. For example if you want it for small baitfish attraction , survival and attraction of large fish around but not in it, then lots of close spaced limbs is what you want. If you want it for large fish habitat in deep water then think fewer wide spaced limbs with extra vertical reach. You can even do multiple trees in one location with both lots and few limbs - some to attract small fish and one to concentrate large fish. So think out your plan first.

I just did the math. The vert is 60". The bucket is about 15" tall. There is about 1" unused are at the top of the vert. 60 - 15 - 1 = 44. 44" divided by 15 limbs = 2.93"

The plan is to place about 6 of them on each side of the pier in easy casting distance to attract bluegills and bass. Also going to have a bunch of them aranged as a T on the other side of the pond to gather fish. Pond layout



They are 5 and 10 feet tall, with each one put into the pond bottom 1 1/2 to 2 feet. I may have to cut some of the 10 footers down by 1 to 2 feet.

That is a great looking plat and concept.

A couple things to consider. IMO the need to attract fish to the pier by placing lots of structure near it is overrated. The pier is a huge piece of structure and attracts loads of fish without help. The placing of a lot of structure near (within 75 ft) of the pier may not be the best use as it may attract stuff away from the pier. When I think a pier needs structure help I put a small xmas tree under the pier and one lay down xmas tree on each side of the pier 30 ft away. It can also be dangerous if swimming is contemplated with people jumping off the pier. Yours may be far enough away.

Second one or two of the tall pvc trees would sure work well in the 12 ft plus area just in front of the gravel spawning area.

Thanks, I cannot wait to get started but still have 4 to 5 months before we start moving dirt. THe contractor and myself have to many other things going to start before then. I just finish drilling the holes in 8 5' trees and 8 10' trees. I made a template out of tyvek for where the holes go and it really speeded up the process.

I agree with Ewest, any structure near the pier not within casting distance will only pull fish away from the pier and would be best used somewhere else. If you put a feeder on the pier this is even more true. The diagram is great, what did you use to create it? What do you mean by "a template out of tyvek?"

-HH

Lassig

Great pond design - bet you are chomping at the bit to get rolling. I also would like to know what software or program you used to create such a nice diagram.

Sorry for the late response, I was at the farm planting fruit trees. The unfortunate thing was it rained most of Saturday and then snowed 3 to 4" last night. The program I used was Visio by Mircosoft. Then I printed it to a jpg so I could post it here.

I am getting really exicted about getting started. I have the trees done, woodduck boxes built, and tires and pallets collect for additional structure.

Thanks Lassig - I don't know if I have that program or not. I'm pretty PC illiterate outside of word and excel and email.

Nice to hear about your progress...what fruit trees are you trying?

Most likely you don't have the program, it is an extra that has to be purchased seperately. I use it a lot at work.

I had 10 apple trees already planted from Morse Nursery (3 times a charm variety pack). This time I got more involved in picking the exact trees. I added 3 bartlet and 2 warren pears to the existing orchard. I did this for me to eat and to bring the deer to the orchard earlier in the season with the earlily drop time.

I planted a second orchard on the north side of the property. Here I planted 3 Yates, 3 goldrush, 3 Liberty, 3 Warren Pear, and 3 Kieffer pears. This should give me a fruit drop from mid/end August till end of November. I plan on eating some of this fruit and have plenty for the deer.

Did you plant dwarfs or standard size trees? We can only plant standards in my area, the bears will destroy the apple and pear trees trying to get to the fruit if they are the dwarf size. Sounds like you have a great mix of varieties...

The original apple trees are full size. The apple trees I just bought are on M.111 root stock (semi) and the pear trees ae on OHxF97 root stock (semi). I have them all caged with 2x4 welded wire 5' tall which does great for keeping the deer out but I don't think they would stand up to the bears.

We have to cage any fruit trees as well, I use much the same technique that you did. Nothing keeps a bear from doing what it wants... When you got bear this size wandering around, you just let them do what they do and pray the are stupid enough to wander by you during bear season! HAHA

We have bears like that in Wisconsin at our property south of Rhinelander. Only about 6 to 8 more years and I shoud be able to get a permit to hunt them. I only have 6 preferece points and end 12 to 14 to get a permit as a nonresident.

That picture is from our hunting property in PA. Fortunately bear tags are over the counter in PA. Only a 3 day season, no baiting and no dogs. Makes it real hard to kill a bear.

lassig, are bears that scarce in Wisconsin that a permit is hard to get, or is the teddy bear crowd keeping it that way?

No bears are doing well and are in strong numbers in Wisconsin. In fact the DNR just doubled the number of permits available. It is a combination of the DNR doing a good job of making sure they are not over harvested and many people wanting to hunt them. For every permit available 10 to 12 people are applying for it. Plus I am a nonresident which puts me at the back of the line.

Our bear season here in CA is pretty open. Tags are over the counter for residents and we can bow hunt for a month or so then rifle and also use dogs. The seasons last from late August (bow) until early December or until 1,700 bears are taken statewide, whichever comes first.

They estimate PA has 15,000 bears statewide and usually 3,000-4,000 are harvested. I have never seen so many bears, bear damage and bear sign in all the years my family has owned land there. The PGC feels enough bears are being harvested though. VA is having bear issues too... Particularly near the national parks where bear hunting is not allowed. Bears are fearless of humans and way overpopulated.