Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Best location to concentrate crappie

Happy weekend everyone, my neighbor and I sunk an artificial “tree” structure I made after finding a picture of a structure on the forum that I thought I could replicate. We sunk it back in the fall with the (my) hopes of concentrating the crappie we inherited to start working their numbers down. We’re getting ready to sink the second “tree”, and my question is where do we put it in relation to the first one?

Pond is about 3 acres with an 8-10 ft max depth. Current structure is 4 ft tall and living in 8 ft of water. Bottom is pretty bare with no defined channel that I can locate. Trying to post some pictures but working from my phone isn’t working out so well.

In a 3ac pond with no structure, put them directly next to each other. Drawing power will increase with structure size.

10-4. Wish I could get the picture to post correctly, I used the “twin trunk” design and anchored the 2 4 inch PVC trunks at opposing angles in a cinder block, then threaded 6ft lengths of flexible pvc conduit through as branches. Pretty effective, and minimal snagging!

The only comment I can make is to put the structure where you may be finding the crappie already. If they have a favorite spot in the pond already, it would make sense to try and enhance that spot further.

If they don't have a favorite spot (away from the current added structure) then what Snipe says goes.

We set it out yesterday directly next to the existing habitat, with the branches almost touching. The original did a great job of concentrating various populations so our hope is that 2 will be better. Our “original” was a fallen pine tree that many a hook were sacrificed to. Side note - is it habitat or structure? Structure refers to the actual pond features, and habitat is what you add, right?

I use habitat and structure interchangeably...I don't know what I'm talking about...LOL...I'm just a rule breaker, I guess.

A basic definition of fish "habitat" is the environment in which they live. This includes anything in or around the pond that affects the inhabitants (including man made items).

But, here at PB, their definitions are used in a more strict manner for finer clarity. I'll let the more seasoned members set us straight.

Here's my understanding of the two terms. Structure is the actual framework of a BOW. Whether it be a long point, a steep dropoff into a creek channel, a gravel bottom adjacent to a soft sandy bank, etc.

Habitat can be both structure and cover, but typically refers to the areas fish want to spend their lives...grass beds, brush piles, rocky banks with laydowns, etc

Structure is either natural or designed as a pond is being constructed. Habitat is what lies on top of it, like a big brush pile on the edge of a drop or a patch of milfoil.

That's a good explanation Mike! I like to look at it as Structure being mostly the "City" and habitat is "the house" inside the city. All of it has to work together.. the fridge needs to keep food, couch needs to make you comfortable, AC for hot days and a good sleeping place. :-))