Man Made Structure Location

[FamilyFishinFood]

Hey guys, my family owns a cottage on a small lake. The dam on the lake broke during hurricane sandy, but now that it is filled in again with a new dam, I'd like to put some cover in to help promote fish growth and spawning success and so on... you get it. I know that the time to do it would have been when it was high and dry, but I couldn't find a time to do it. I'm Thinking of making some concrete and PVC "xmas trees" and sinking them in various places, but I'd like some input as to where those places should be. Also, I've thought about putting down some sort of pea gravel in places... would this make a good spawning spot? Any suggestions are welcome, Thanks! 

I've included two pictures below.. one of the lake with no water and one with it full, although the name is blanked out... for obvious reasons 

Edited June 26, 2017 by FamilyFishinFood

[J Francho]

First, structure refers to the physical make up of the bottom.  Cover refers to things that bass can use to hide or ambush, like docks, weeds, laydowns, brushpiles, PVC trees, etc.

 

You'd better consult with the DEP before adding anything to the lake.  I know up here, it's illegal.  I know things are little different by state, so check first.

 

Locations I'd be looking for are the first break to deeper water, near spawning flats.  Or, any shallow water close deeper water.

[FamilyFishinFood]

Just now, J Francho said:

First, structure refers to the physical make up of the bottom.  Cover refers to things that bass can use to hide or ambush, like docks, weeds, laydowns, brushpiles, PVC trees, etc.

 

You'd better consult with the DEP before adding anything to the lake.  I know up here, it's illegal.  I know things are little different by state, so check first.

 

Locations I'd be looking for are the first break to deeper water, near spawning flats.  Or, any shallow water close deeper water.

I should have specified; its a small private lake. I should probably double check with the homeowners association though, come to think of it. Also, I didn't realize structure and cover were different, thanks for pointing that out.

 

I'm trying to upload the photos, but I have to compress them first. 

[J Francho]

I usually toss the pics up on Facebook, and let them resize it, and use "Copy Image Location" and paste it here.  That might help.

[FamilyFishinFood]

I figured it out using microsoft paint. Here's the picture of it high and dry.

And this is it full of water... it kept telling me it was too big but it was 86 kb.

[WRB]

Tiny lake or big pond depending on where you live.

Old tires make good foundations for gravel beds and can be cabled together for structure piles. To me anything that floats or grows or once grew and now under water is cover and anything on the bottom like rocks, bottom contour breaks, soil changes, channels, colvert, walls, foundations and the entire lake bottom underwater is all structure.

Missed a good opertunity when the lake bed was dry, now it's a lot more work. Sometimes trying to be secretitive doesn't pay off.

Tom

[scaleface]

If you sink them on points they will get fished by everyone . I would place them where people wont find them unless by accident .

[FamilyFishinFood]

Just now, scaleface said:

If you sink them on points they will get fished by everyone . I would place them where people wont find them unless by accident .

Not too many people fish the pond, but I'll keep that in mind. Any idea what spots would be good?

[scaleface]

If  it doesnt get fished then the points would be the idea place . Structure with cover is what bass anglers strive to find .  I can see a half dozen points or more . 

[FamilyFishinFood]

22 minutes ago, scaleface said:

If  it doesnt get fished then the points would be the idea place . Structure with cover is what bass anglers strive to find .  I can see a half dozen points or more . 

So cover off of points... got it. As for bottom composition, do you think pea gravel would work well?

[scaleface]

25 minutes ago, FamilyFishinFood said:

So cover off of points... got it. As for bottom composition, do you think pea gravel would work well?

  

I think Pea gravel would be a bass magnet. The lake appears silted  in. If it is than gravel should be ideal in my opinion .

[FamilyFishinFood]

1 minute ago, scaleface said:

  

I think Pea gravel would be a bass magnet. The lake appears silted  in. If it is than gravel should be ideal in my opinion .

 

It's actually not silted in... anymore. Hurricane Sandy broke the dam back in 2012, and that seems to have ripped all of the silt out of it, so its mostly sand now.

[WRB]

What with and when did this little lake get restocked?

If you look where you blacked out the name, 2 small knob points just above where there is a cove and just to the right of the mark are points that should hold bass. The small coves near the dam at the bottom and top of your photo are wind protected and in the sun, good spawning areas to add gravel structure. The entire back end of this lake should also be a spawning area depending on wind direction. The creek channel is nearly eroded however the S bend around a small point at the bottom and opposite side knob at the top right of the photo black stripe would be another good structure location.

Those spots should keep you busy and a good learning experience. 

You can dump in 8" X 16"  cinder blocks with hard wood branches wired on, better then commercial plastic cover. If you build gravel beds they should be any deeper than 2'-4' by about 30" and 8'-12' apart. Bass have thier own plan where to spawn! The structure makes good pre-post spawn locations and summer spots to fish.

Tom

[FamilyFishinFood]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

What with and when did this little lake get restocked?

 

 

The lake was never actually formally restocked. I say formally because it appears as if someone as released fish into it already, for better or worse. Thank you for the advice on structure and cover, I'll definitely keep that in mind.

[J Francho]

Tom nailed the areas I would have recommended.  I think it's fine to put stuff on points, but that's likely where there are already fish.  Something close, but off the point would bring more to those areas, and maybe bring size.

[Koz]

22 hours ago, FamilyFishinFood said:

I should have specified; its a small private lake.

 

Private or not, you're still beholden to EPA regulations. Just ask some farmers about dealing with the EPA.