What do you think about this?

[uofa314]

I've tried a lot of different things for crappie structure, but this is the first time I have done this. I got the idea from a stake bed that I put out a couple of years ago. The stake bed is in 18' of water and the stakes were 10' long, so the stakes stick up about 8' from the bottom. I've caught a ton of fish in that spot and most of the time, the fish are suspended in the top of the stakes.

So, I thought I would try this: The lake is down 14' for winter pool. With the water down, I went to 7' of water and drove 4 stakes in the ground in a square. I then tied 4 tree tops horizontally to the stakes to make a square. The tops are suspended a few feet from the bottom. At normal pool, the tops will be in 21' of water and will be 14' under the surface. I think I will do a few more of these. Maybe it will work.

I'll try to attach pictures of the stake bed that gave me this idea as well as the suspended tops I put out.

[gabowman]

Looks good. The only problem I see with it is, unfortunately, everybody gets to mark a waypoint and fish it once the lake fills up.:o

[uofa314]

That is true..haha

But, I've been fishing on this lake for years and they draw it down every winter. Around here, 95% of the crappie fishermen don't come out until spring. By then, everything will be underwater. The bass fishermen do mark them and fish them some, but it doesn't seem to bother the crappie. But, these new side-imaging fish finders worry me a little. The structures I build will be easily found with those things. Maybe it will be a few more years before everyone has one of those. The day is coming though. I will just have to share I guess.

[sailfish1]

great idea, i have been also planning on putting out stake bedsand give them a try in the next month as well

[uofa314]

Here's another one of these spots. I like the looks of these. I can't wait to try them in a few months.

[CrappieKillerJigs]

looks good but that rope will rot pretty fast and all the trees will fall to the bottom....i would use big zip ties and bailing wire

[uofa314]

I used 36" zip ties in the last picture. I had ran out of zip ties when I put the first one out. I used nylon twine on it, but nylon doesn't rot. Should last a while.