building brushpiles

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Anyone have any input on building brushpiles?  I was thinking my best bet would be to tie up a bunch of cut branches and tie them tight to a cinderblock.   Also thinking the best way to launch them would be to drag them onto the ice this winter and wait for it to melt.  

Are there other types of structure I should look at?  I saw  on bass tech how they used pvc but that would cost too much and I think tree branches would hold more fish.

Opinions?

[FlyRod]

LBH,

There are several ways to accomplish this. If it's a do-it-yourself project (or, better yet, with the help of some buds,) you might approach your neighbors and ask that any of them that use REAL Christmas trees save them for you post-holiday. If you wait until all the needles have dropped off the carcasses, so much the better. You can use cinder blocks to weight one, or a bundle of, say, 3-4 trees.

If it's safe, then the ice idea is a good one. (However, for some reason, we Texas types don't often encounter frozen lakes.)

If the ice is too thin, wait until thaw has occured, then try to enlist the aid of a pontoon boat owner. Load a safe number of blocks, to be attached just before "launching" the tree/trees, onto the boat, along with the trees (or, you can slowly tow some trees behind the boat.) Simply haul a tree alongside, tie the block thereto, sink tree, log GPS data.

The PVC idea is a good one, affording more permanence. Our Parks and Wildlife Div. recently sank some in Canyon Lake. they made up several metal tubs of concrete and inserted a few lengths of PVC in each, then dropped them at preselected locations after the concrete hardened. This provides permanence that smaller trees don't. Snags are less likely, and a tree is more likely to be dislocated than a PVC contraption.

If you are feeling creative, you might try constructing  PVC "Trees" that actually have a "branch" or two.

Also, if you have a friend who is a qualified SCUBA diver, he can assure proper placement and orientation of the attractor.

Good luck!

F.Rod

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Some good ideas flyrod, thanks.  The xmas tree thing is out because I don't live on this lake, actually about 40 mins away.  However, they just did some clearing on a lot where they built a house this year.  Tons of cut branches shoreside right now.  I'm actually thinking of finding 3 or 4 cinderblocks and buying a clothesline and doing somthing today while the materials are there.  I'm sure if I ask the owners, they won't object to me taking some of the branches.  The place I want to drop them is also close to this lot.

I like the pvc tree idea.  Nottoo expensive and tough to get hung up on.  

Thanks again.

[Dirk_Jig-lure]

Wishin I had a Brushpile !!!

[Muddpuppy]

You could also use 2 x4's.  Pre cut and drill the pieces and put them together with screws when you get there if space is an issue.  I think we had an old post called bass hurdles (maybe it's the right one) and there might be some links showing some on it.

[cgs2004]

A major advantage about PVC is that it lasts alot longer than a limb brushpile.  I read that a typical limb brushpile starts to rot out and disperse within 1 year.  I would recommend placing piles in area with little structure.  A large flat or something.  I put a few brushpiles in the lake I live on early this year which has very little cover to begin with.  It wasn't long before fish started holding in the piles, lots of fish, and some big ones too.

[Raul]

You can build cover with many things, PVC pipe, brush, old tires, one thing that you should be aware of is before you dump anything into your lake check the regulations, what you 're going to do could be illegal. Tires work well when you make a "reef" with dumping them in a flat where there 's no other kind of cover available, on points and near drop-offs.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Raul, If I ever saw anyone drop a tire in this place,....it wouldn't be pretty.  This is a gin clear reservoir.  Used as secondary water supply  for an entire state.  

[Gatorbassman]

Yea tires are not a good idea in most lakes around here. They could get you in a heep of trouble.

Hooker, I use to go around to Christmas tree collection points the week after and I would get about 300 tree and put them out untill the needles fell of and then put them out. The only problem with this is the only last a few years and they are gone.

There are a few positive things I have learn that might help. Somewhere in your area is a place that makes cinderblocks. They are usually very happy to give away all the broken and chipped ones they have. The idea about limbs is great but remember the best ones are large hardwood ones and it takes several cenderblocks to sink them good.

Here is what the Georgia DNR did on a local lake that was pretty much void of structure. It is an ongoing project and it has been great to be a part of.

http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=117&txtPage=3

[5bass]

LBH,there was a thread on this a while back,lots of good info in that one if you can find it.

[Gatorbassman]

Raul,

 The lures in your picture get better looking every time you change them. You got me waiting for the one with blond hair and blue eyes.