Your Opinions

[BGCrappieCatcher]

This is my first time making crappie beds. I am really not sure of what type of wood I used. I got bored this weekend and went out behind the house and cut some small trees down (I made sure the trees were still green) and put them in some 5 gallon buckets with 80lb. bag on concrete. I made 12 and I was planning on putting 3 buckets at 4 different locations. Given the worse scenario that I didn't use the best wood, how long do you think these might last? Also any comments or suggestion will be appreciated. The lake I fish is dropped 27 feet for winter pool and there is not alot of winter structure to fish. Thanks

[Lowellhturner]

If may suggest, perhaps might wish to make them a little thicker, ie, more limbs, also, try to get a overhang or "umbrella" effect; fish especially crappie will literally hover just below their edges. As for longevity, here`s what understand about how long various types of wood last underwater in a "typical" (moderately "fertile") body of water; Christmas ("C") trees- 4- 6 yrs, most maples 3-6 yrs, mulberry 6-8? yrs, ash 6-8 yrs, hickory 8-10+ yrs, most oaks 6+- 10+ yrs, locust 10-15+ yrs, cedar 8+- 15 yrs, osage orange (hedge apple) 10+- 15+ yrs. In gravel pits ("semi to infertile" waters- little to any sediments) all the #s go up significantly. As to the draw down, try to get them into atleast 8- 15 fow at winter pool; however this obviously means they will be far deeper during summer pool...lastly, try making "BB"`s (brush blocks); stuff 1 side of a cement block with limbs all thick limb ends on the same side, then stuff opposite side going opposite direction. Tie the ends off using VHD weed eater line in a "X" pattern. Will sit 18- 24" off the bottom GPS them as they go in as they tend to "blend" into the bottom and can be hard to see on sonar (sidescan CAN see them). Can be topped with smaller shrubs or "C" trees to make "supers". Best placed on harder bottoms... good luck, sir!

[slipfloater]

I agree with Lowellhturner that they need to be a little thicker,but other than that they look fine to me. Thats more than I have done this winter.

[BGCrappieCatcher]

Thanks guys for the helpful advice. I will keep that in mind next time. I thought I was doing good by not getting too thick. I appreciate all the info. Think I will choose osage orange next time.

[Lowellhturner]

If may make a suggestion, osage orange is 1 of the hardest woods to cut; get a very heavy duty set of fiberglass handled "loppers", it`s also handy for softer woods too. And be prepared to have your kids and maybe grandkids fish on them; osage orange WILL last THAT long underwater. Put into a gravel pit, would honestly expect your great grand kids to also be able to catch fish on them...keep us posted, and as you place them, remember to GPS them and post the #s...good luck, sir!

[BGCrappieCatcher]

After looking again today I agree, I think they are too thin. I am going to cut more brush and zip tie to them. Thanks

[Lowellhturner]

Would suggest trying this; drill several (5- 6) pairs of holes beneath the lower ring on the tops of the buckets and lay some thicker cover on top of the mouth of the bucket; secure it with very heavy duty weed eater line and tie them TIGHT on both ends. Also tie to the limbs set into the cement. Try cedar limbs or some durable wood, use limbs `bout 5- 6` long; they will be unwieldy to move, BUT they will have that much desired overhang or "umbrella" shape; then just add LOTS of water... DON`T forget to GPS them as they go in, unless you know for sure where they go. Let us know how they work; and please be SAFE!!

[BGCrappieCatcher]

Thanks Lowell Hunter. I will definately do that. I was planning on throwing out a buoy marker and GPS it. Then I was going to leave the marker out and put three crappie beds out in a triangle around it about 7-8' apart.

[NIMROD]

Maybe heavier wood (bigger dia.) , not really thick (bushy). That way it should last longer.

[wannabecrappieking]

another thing you could do with them beeing so thin is to put a couple os small peices of aluminum foil on them with a zip tie to hold it so your finder pics them up easier