Thread: Placing crappie structure.

The Game Warden here told me as long as it was biodegradable and at least 4 feet under the surface it was legal.

The Corps is pretty flexible here folks. Often they will work in concert with you if you want to organize an effort to place fish habitat.

We have an ongoing program with the Game and Fish Commission on many of our lakes. Specifically, on Ouachita and now most recent, with the help of the Ag class from Centerpoint High School, at DeGray and Greeson.

I worked for the Corps for many years and never ever heard of ANYONE being dragged into court for providing habitat. We just had bigger fish to fry (pardon the pun).

But it never hurts to introduce only biodegradable stuff into the water. If you are uncomfortable, go to the lake manager and make a proposal. You might just be surprised...and get a cup of coffee and some good conversation as well.

aj
USACE (retired)

Originally Posted by blairarnold

It is not illegal in Arkansas other than maybe in the Corps lakes, and I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for putting out brushpiles or other structure even in the Corps lakes here, and I know a bunch of people who have done it.

There is no regulation I know of that prohibits the introduction of bio-degradeable habitat into Corps waters.

aj

USACE (retired)

I understand where yall are coming from. I personally only put stuff out that is wood (ie, biodegradable). Seems like plastic is a little trashy, but you better believe I'd fish over someone else's plastic brush pile in a second if I thought it had fish on it. Sounds kinda hypocritical, I know. Seems like this is a good discussion that might benefit from there being some state regulations on it that are public, known, regulations.

1 other thought...

A lot of the cover placed in the lakes is done so by people who live on the lakes. It's real easy to just build stuff in your yard, put it in the boat and head out at night and put it wherever you want. It's kind of a don't ask don't tell thing. If I had a house on the lake, I'd be taking stuff out a whole lot more than I do.

If I understand some folks correctly from Ohio they can't even put buckeyes in the water.

Ain't that the truth fishordie! But that doesn't stop a few Buckeyes from dropping a few buckeyes in the water for the crappie.

On Oologah lake in Northeast Oklahoma the Corp of Engineers organizes a brush pile day the second saturday of September. They even feed us and have drawings for door prizes. Ya'll come on over and help us out! And yes we can "do it ourselves" with the Corp's permission as long as it is not a hazard to other boaters. Oh yeah, DO NOT CUT DOWN A TREE OR BUSH on the bank unless it is during brush pile day when the corp provides us with chain saws.:D
Lowrance brings a bunch of IFinders to mark GPS way points and then a couple of weeks later the whole bunch get posted on the Corps web site. The Wildlife department brings a boat donated by Bass Pro with a deck that will tilt and drop brush and the Corp sets up about 4 or 5 other large deck boats made from large john boats. The Corp even provides us with 4x4 crates to put rocks in and tie brush to.

Yes, it would be nice to get an official word that everyone could have as a defense just in case. Just too unclear for me. Some officials saying it's illegal and just today one told me it was no problem but could not point me to a rule or law saying so.