Here's a couple of layouts we put together for a few clients.
The Kelsay job was to add 25% of the 20% of surface area of the 6.5 acre pond in artificial habitat. The remaining 75% of the suggested 20% was installed with plants, boulders, rock/rubble and large wood. The goal was to add just over 1.3 acres of habitat, or 20% of the surface area as Bob suggests.
The smaller one acre pond in Texas, wanted all artificial habitat, with no weeds or aquatic plants. Note the travel paths from shallow to deep. It is based on 25% of the surface area in habitat.
DJS these pics show one option we use for feeders. These are in time order for building such a structure. You can plan and adjust how the structure will look and work by the size of the tree , how you hang them (top , bottom or middle tie)and the length of line.
ewest, I do the same thing, but use 10 foot metal conduit as the stake. They are very cheap and the Christmas trees will slide down the pipe very easily when waterlogged. I just tie a short piece of nylon rope to the tree with a loop knot on the end and slip the loop knot over the pipe. With the metal conduit pipe, you can drive it into the lake bottom with a fence post driver. Each year I add a couple of trees to each structure. Don't have to worry about the stake rotting.
TJ the only people who get to fish at the feeder for BG when the feeders are operating are small children or others who have not caught a fish. You might fit in one of those categories.
Once in a while when mgt dictates harvest or sampling (pics or condition)we allow fishing for BG at the feeder.
From this location we once sampled and some relatives (4 – 1 adult and 3 10-12 yr olds 2 who had never fished) using worms were catching about 1 BG per min for about 10 mins. I got out the StubbySteve’s and they started catching BG as fast as they (I) could unhook them and put it back in the water. On 4 StubbySteve’s pellets (one each) they caught 121 BG in 15 mins. Then we stopped because my hands were torn up as I was the hook remover , pic taker and condition analyst.
We fish the feeders with no negative effects - all in the name of responsible "management" All female CNBG between 5 and 8 inches are removed, resulting in exceptional male gowth.
Lots of fun to hook into a BG HSB - that's what it's all about for me...
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
Hmmm...addressed like a true attorney choosing his response carefully - neither commits to nor confirms anything! Sounds like a push off the dock to me, but maybe followed by a towel and a beer? Not like it's the first dock I've fallen off...I like my chances.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Here's a couple of layouts we put together for a few clients.
The Kelsay job was to add 25% of the 20% of surface area of the 6.5 acre pond in artificial habitat. The remaining 75% of the suggested 20% was installed with plants, boulders, rock/rubble and large wood. The goal was to add just over 1.3 acres of habitat, or 20% of the surface area as Bob suggests.
The smaller one acre pond in Texas, wanted all artificial habitat, with no weeds or aquatic plants. Note the travel paths from shallow to deep. It is based on 25% of the surface area in habitat.
Thoughts - On Kelsey project: Various pondweed cultivars will be introduced into NE ponds - Sago, American, Horned, etc. which will, depending on the water clarity, likely grow around the perimeter of the entire pond 3-10' out. One thing folks forget is that aquatic vegetation is "structure/habitat" - and unless there's a intensive management plan it should be added into the 20% formula, right? Just a thought...
On the TX project: Owner wants zero vegetation...hope he realizes that's impossible without heavy duty management plan. Did he stock hundreds of GC or does he own DuPont - ? Seems an improbable expectation, I guess you just shrug your shoulders and do what he contracts you to do...guy's gotta make a living after all.
PS: I really like the concept [utilizing post consumer product] and design of this PVC structure - superior IMO to globes or the standard trees with 1" PVC branches - which is what I've used, but because it was free/cheap/readily available.
Last edited by teehjaeh57; 11/14/1212:56 PM.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
TJ we fish for LMB at the feeders. It works well. Here is an example. This fish was caught at a feeder which is about 10 feet to the left of the camera position. We would not throw you in the lake but this fish might drag you in.
Here's a couple of layouts we put together for a few clients.
The Kelsay job was to add 25% of the 20% of surface area of the 6.5 acre pond in artificial habitat. The remaining 75% of the suggested 20% was installed with plants, boulders, rock/rubble and large wood. The goal was to add just over 1.3 acres of habitat, or 20% of the surface area as Bob suggests.
The smaller one acre pond in Texas, wanted all artificial habitat, with no weeds or aquatic plants. Note the travel paths from shallow to deep. It is based on 25% of the surface area in habitat.
Thoughts - On Kelsey project: Various pondweed cultivars will be introduced into NE ponds - Sago, American, Horned, etc. which will, depending on the water clarity, likely grow around the perimeter of the entire pond 3-10' out. One thing folks forget is that aquatic vegetation is "structure/habitat" - and unless there's a intensive management plan it should be added into the 20% formula, right? Just a thought...
You bet, that's how I understand it. The 20% rule is a combination of all materials, including and especially the plants. Just under 15,000 sq. feet of artificial habitat was installed, about 35,000 sq. feet of vegetation and 9000 sq. feet of logs and boulders. The vegetation will increase over time.
In a best case scenario, a healthy weed line grows annually, without getting out of control. As ewest and Bob point out, most productive for fry and forage protection. I'll guess Chris had about 60% of the remaining habitat installed in aquatic vegetation. The boulders and logs add up as well to put him in good shape for now.
On the TX project: Owner wants zero vegetation...hope he realizes that's impossible without heavy duty management plan. Did he stock hundreds of GC or does he own DuPont - ? Seems an improbable expectation, I guess you just shrug your shoulders and do what he contracts you to do...guy's gotta make a living after all.
Agreed and discussed with client. "Least weeds as possible" was the request. They opted to install 25% of the surface area, or 11,000 sq. feet of artificial habitat.
Keep your eyes open, the material can be found in many places. The intention has always been to re-use/recycle what is safe for the fish and water. No different than old pallets, buckets, pipes, wood...stuff that will sit in a corner, or get tossed out anyway.
PS: I really like the concept [utilizing post consumer product] and design of this PVC structure - superior IMO to globes or the standard trees with 1" PVC branches - which is what I've used, but because it was free/cheap/readily available.
ewest, I do the same thing, but use 10 foot metal conduit as the stake. They are very cheap and the Christmas trees will slide down the pipe very easily when waterlogged. I just tie a short piece of nylon rope to the tree with a loop knot on the end and slip the loop knot over the pipe. With the metal conduit pipe, you can drive it into the lake bottom with a fence post driver. Each year I add a couple of trees to each structure. Don't have to worry about the stake rotting.
Great idea, stakes stay and gives you same spot to keep building/holding the fish.
TJ we fish for LMB at the feeders. It works well. Here is an example. This fish was caught at a feeder which is about 10 feet to the left of the camera position. We would not throw you in the lake but this fish might drag you in.
That is an amazing fish...I can't believe the health. It deserves a front cover, I just wish my man E was holding it!
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Cradle is a shallow unit of fine PVC strands for fry. It stands over 24" tall and opens to a good 42" wide ball of cover. Can be bent in any direction or left to open like a lava lamp........hey, got any of those laying around?
We have played a lot with different shapes and designs of habitat layouts. One cool tip we found out was when we run a line of habitat from north to south. Depending on the sun's location, the bass would prefer to stay on the east or west shaded side. Casting along the shade line is a killer tactic. Nothing new, just fun to install a shape and know where the fish will be at a given time. Pockets, points and inside turns are the "spots on the spot" when targeting predators.
That's interesting. So, in the morning, cast to the West side of structure and in the afternoon cast to the East side. Makes sense but I had never thought of it.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
Yes we design and place structure to provide shade all day so the LMB can move and stay in the shadows during warm weather. That is a good place to find them. Also for winter fishing we provide structure east to west so they can stay in the sun and in the structure and out of the wind (quiet coves) and next to shore opposite the prevailing wind. Northwest wind blows plankton to the SE shore and small fish follow to feed. An E-W line of structure just off that bank in deeper water in the sun is the idea.
I add trees every year as needed. Not all locations need trees every year.
I tie the trees on the post so they hang at certain depths and angles to cover the area wanted. After a year (or at replacement/renewal time) I cut the ropes (trot line string) and let them sink. Then replace to match conditions. Over time you have a cone from bottom to surface (or as deep as you want based on rope length on the still hanging trees). The bottom trees which have defoliated have more room (fewer and bigger branches) for larger fish while the new ones on top have thick branches for small fish.
Water in that feeder structure location is about 9 ft. Water at feeder on dock is about 5 ft.
We have about 100 such tree structures like that over 3 lakes. They range from about 4 ft to 25 ft of water. This does not include the shallow water ones which are not on posts but staked down (trees on their side) about 30 - 50 feet from the BG beds.
That is only part of the structure plan as we have all types - pallets , rock piles , tree tops , artificial pot structures , platforms and more.
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