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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I am planning to stack concrete pavers (leaving "caves" or placing riprap to make an artificial reef to act as habitat for crayfish. In what depth of water would a 1-2' high "reef" be most beneficial to crayfish?
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I have lots of crayfish in my forage pond.
it just so happens I have been out the last few nights with flash light checking things out. I have also snorkled in the pond to evaluate whats going on.
What I have seen of the behavior is the smaller ones are in very shallow gravel and the larger ones are in the deeper water.
The gravel along the shore has lots of tiny ones the pallet towers I made out deeper are full of larger ones.
I would say run your structure right from the shoreline out to 6-8 feet deep or so and you will have cover for the size classes.
I also snorkle a lot in a the natural lakes in Wisconsin that have lots of cray fish. I see this same patern, tiny ones up very shallow and the big daddy ones out in deeper cover.
Litteraly, as I turn over logs and rocks from shallow to deep they get bigger as I go.
Last edited by BobbyRice; 09/22/15 08:07 AM.
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
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Lunker
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I had not considered running the "reef perpendicular to the shore line. This would not only vary the depth at full pool, but would also accommodate water level fluctuations. The pond is full, so I will likely not dive to put in the structure -- 3 feet of depth might be my maximum depth for me. Thank you!
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another thought ...
use the smaller pieces in the shallow water and the larger ones as deep as you are confortable going. The smaller crays and utilize the smalle cracks etc better than the larger ones.
I litterally see tiny tiny crays in inches of water under very small pieces.
Last edited by BobbyRice; 09/22/15 08:37 AM.
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Do crayfish go deeper when winter is here? If so, then they might be easy pickings for the predators in the pond during winter if they have no place to hide.
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Do crayfish go deeper when winter is here? If so, then they might be easy pickings for the predators in the pond during winter if they have no place to hide. good point! I have never watched winter behavior my self , however I surely would think they utilize the deeper cover in the winter. RAH: I know you said you are thinking of adding to a depth up to about three feet. If you can get some in deeper it probably would be beneficial
Last edited by BobbyRice; 09/22/15 09:23 AM.
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
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Lunker
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My quick web checking indicates that pepershells burrow in the pond bottom to overwinter, but maybe someone can confirm?.
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I would suspect if they had somethng to borrow or hide under they would have a better chance of survival as to be able to make lots of babies in the spring.
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
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I have lots of crayfish in my forage pond.
it just so happens I have been out the last few nights with flash light checking things out. I have also snorkled in the pond to evaluate whats going on.
What I have seen of the behavior is the smaller ones are in very shallow gravel and the larger ones are in the deeper water.
The gravel along the shore has lots of tiny ones the pallet towers I made out deeper are full of larger ones.
I would say run your structure right from the shoreline out to 6-8 feet deep or so and you will have cover for the size classes.
I also snorkle a lot in a the natural lakes in Wisconsin that have lots of cray fish. I see this same patern, tiny ones up very shallow and the big daddy ones out in deeper cover.
Litteraly, as I turn over logs and rocks from shallow to deep they get bigger as I go. This is exactly what I have seen with our crays. The deeper I put the trap the larger ones we catch. I do agree from the waters surface to 8 feet of water is the best design if your going to spend the time doing it. Cheers Don.
Last edited by DonoBBD; 09/22/15 11:08 AM.
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Lunker
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I plan on starting at the waters edge, but I will not be diving to place the stones - Any volunteers:)
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diving might not be required, Im sure you could drop on top of each other in an area out a little deeper to make some habbitate out deeper.
Last edited by BobbyRice; 09/22/15 01:20 PM.
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Just ordered 14 tons of riprap. Now all I have to do is place it when it gets delivered! If the weather holds and I work fast enough, perhaps I will order the crayfish yet this fall.
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FWIW I just dropped 120 tons of rip rap in my waterways and around the shore. The stuff I got is limestone so I ordered washed stone. I was afraid I might affect the PH of the pond if I suddenly dropped a bunch of stone covered in limestone dust in it. Even with the washed stone, I still got milky water next to the shore and the BF tadpoles immediately started gulping air off the surface.
Last edited by Bill D.; 09/22/15 10:11 PM. Reason: Clarification
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I'll be placing stones for these jetties by hand, so I thought that I would start with just one truckload.
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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I'll be placing stones for these jetties by hand, so I thought that I would start with just one truckload. Did anyone else feel that twinge in their lower back after reading this?? Post some photos, please!
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1)
And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1)
Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT?
PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Need the exercise. Down 35 lbs since late July, but have 17 more lbs to reach target. As far as pictures, I'll post pics of the jetty, but not my sorry excuse for a stone mover:) You'll need to take a trip north to get those!
Last edited by RAH; 09/23/15 07:45 AM.
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Joined: Sep 2014
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yep Sparkie, I always think ahead when it come to anything involving my back and lifting. And then I don't do it  Tracy
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Tracy
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I think that I will wear a weight belt to protect my back since bow season is almost upon us.
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Joined: Sep 2014
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RAH, I just received injection into my shoulder a few weeks back, I am hoping it gets better before season in a couple weeks.  Sucks Tracy
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Tracy
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Up until the last 6 weeks, I never had shoulder problems, but my bow shoulder has been giving me rotator-cuff pain lately. I can still shoot fine since my string shoulder is OK. The weather is fantastic right now. I hope it holds.
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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13.5 tons of riprap delivered yesterday. I placed 3 loader buckets full in the pond to begin the first crayfish jetty (after finishing another tractor project). After placing the first 3 loads, the rock pile seemed to look bigger than before I removed the 3 loads. It definitely gets harder to place the rocks as the water gets deeper, especially walking in the mud bottom carrying rocks! I am happy about the results so far. It looks like lots of hiding places for the crayfish are being created. Perhaps my son will "visit" this weekend, and we can bond over a rock "bucket brigade":)
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Nice to hear. Pictures of your progress would be nice.
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I'll try. The job is kinda messy with the mud and such, so it does not mix well with a camera. I'll definitely take a picture of the first jetty when its complete. I am building in an area that has a gradual slope, so we'll see how deep I am able to go. I am keeping the top about a foot out of the water which will be about 6" underwater when the pond reaches the "future" full pool. The pond is currently 6" under full pool, but I will be raising the pond full-pool level 12" over the next few years using a water control box. This will start once the marginal plants have become well established.
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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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It is getting old (as am I) carrying rocks further out as the jetty is getting longer (now at 12 feet long). I am thinking of placing a piece of plywood in the bottom of an inflatable raft to float the rocks out to the end before placing them. Any experience with that from anyone?
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Joined: Jun 2012
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What about a hay elevator for small square bails. One with a bottom in it? Or even a bean elevator?
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