Pond / Lake Stocking And Cover Creation

[BassBoy10]

I've been fishing my local lake from my canoe and from shore, I havent noticed many branches or rocky areas. I have been wondering if I should start putting some branch structures along the drop off or larger rocks. Any comments are greatly appreciated, thanks.

[jiggerpole]

First I would find out if putting anything in the lake would cause problems of any kind for someone else. Some residents are picky about things and others may not care at all. If it belongs to the city, state, or is under the feds authority you would want to check with them first or you could get into a bind. The fisheries can recomend what you can and canot sink.

Having said that. Alot of people will sink cedars with a concrete block. Cedars hold their identity longer than other type trees. Dogwoods make good cover also.(Mostly for crappie fishermen) I have seen hay bales and pine straw baled up like hay and sunk for crappie. Bass will hang around these too. I have took busted up chunks of concrete and spread them out over a hard bottom shallow flat. This will create habitat for crayfish and the bream love to bed right next to each piece. The bass will enjoy this buffet. Any time I add structure, cover to a lake I put some thought into why it needs to be there.

I ask myself am I making a place for baitfish, spawing cover, ambush cover, deep water sactuary and what will most likely be using it and at what time of the year. I put it at different depths and I try to concentrate fish into group areas. Big timber mangled together at least 100 yards apart can make for habitat that all species of fish can enjoy. It can be alot of work but the rewards can be worth it.

P.S. Don't be suprised when you go to fish your new honey hole to see someone catching fish on it.

[Wild Bill [NY]]

_{Most states have laws against putting ANYTHING into the waters.}