Thread: Christmas Tress .....( attractor)

I agree with most, Christmas Trees make only fair fish habitat for the effort. They are short lived, with only the trunk left after 2 years. In their first few months they are so dense that only small fish can use them. Although, where there are small fish, bigger fish may use this area as a feeding ground. Also, small fingerling size fish leaving the nest after spawned could use the dense cover for protection. Just because the trees have dense branches, I do not recommend burning them out though, it only makes a mess. However, shortly after Christmas there is a free surplus of the trees. So we use them, because on an open mud flat, they are better than nothing. Oak and Hickory last a lot longer, is less dense and seems to hold more fish. The down side is availability.

There was some information that came out of another state which did some research on different types of trees and arrangement of trees. They said the Christmas Trees stood up vertical were better then laid on the bottom horizontal. I don't know that I agree, but we tried it. I've attached a few photos of work we did the other day. They are in Shaw Branch on Lake Barkley. We plan to go back this spring and assess this fish habitat.

We have also drilled holes in the bottom of the trunk and tied blocks to the trees to be sunk. I believe several sunk in the same area will work fine.

A few have asked about legality of putting out fish structure. To be "legal" there is a permit process with TVA and the USCOE that you must have. Kentucky Lake: TVA requires a 26A permit for placing fish attractors in KY Lake. For further information call TVA's Paris, TN office at 731-641-2000.
Lake Barkley: US Army Corps of Engineers requires a Fish Attractor permit for placing fish attractors in Lake Barkley. Call Charlotte Stenger at 270-362-4236 for more information.

Have you guys thought about using the leftover tops and limbs from the ice storm damage as structure? Should be some of that available right near the shoreline.

Gentlemen, must agree with you that they aren`t much good the first year; the 2cnd to 4th yrs they CAN be excellent! Try setting them in lines shallow to deeper in groups of 8- 12; during the spring crappie "fling' they can "influence 5X their actual volume. A better choice is cedar, then osage orange, locust, then hickory ash and finally mulberry. Try stuffing these limbs through the block holes with the tree on top; call them "supers". Check out "Ohio" "Lake Erie South II"; in the last 2 yrs the "Friends of CJ BRown Reservoir" have sunk and GPSed over 700, the positions are listed in the post; it is a LONG list...good luck! By the way, we`re going for 1,000+ total...and the Corps of Engineers loves it...

Have you guys thought about using the leftover tops and limbs from the ice storm damage as structure? Should be some of that available right near the shoreline.

Thats a good idea Quackr. I am not sure about this but I think it is illeagal to use any trees from the shoreline. Since TVA has rights up to a certain elevation on KY and the Corp on Barkley any thing up to that point is considered theirs.

I know that it is illegal to cut trees but I don't think it is illegal to use already downed brush/trees. I could be wrong on that. From looking at some of the stumps on the shoreline there are enough people that don't subscribe to that rule anyway.

Regardless, it could be a viable longer lasting option for the KDFWR instead of Christmas trees.

I agree that it would be a better option for KDFWR. Like you I know that cutting trees is illeagal but I am not sure about stuff that is already down. Might have to look into that.