Comparison of this year's beds....

I put out the following to see which would work the best in the same areas:
A) Brush cut-off bank and sunk w/ concrete blocks (mostly hardwoods)
B) 5 gallon buckets w/ 7 to 9 wooden stakes measuring 4' to 5'
C) 5 gallon buckets w/ small bushy treeptops in them (mostly hardwoods)
D) 5 gallon buckets w/ 5 to 7... 4' to 5' tall tree trunks 3" to 5" in dia. w/ NO branches
E) 5 gallon buckets all by themselves w/ nothing but gravel in them.

I'm only comparing the ones that were dropped in the same 3 bays in close proximity to each other.

#1 producers have been "A" & "C".........BY FAR....caught lots of fish off them!!!! Seems like the crappie have preffered the thick stuff.

Next would be "B" as these beds don't produce as many, but consistantly give up a few fish each time I stop...just not in any numbers.

Last would be "D" & "E" as they have produced VERY LITTLE so far.

The only thing I've found that catches the numbers as well as the thick brush where I'm fishing is where guys have driven wooden stakes in the lake bottom. I don't have a clue why the crappie prefer the driven stakes over the ones in my 5 gallon buckets, but it isn't even close? Hope this helps someone out.

Could it be the distance between the stakes that make the difference?
You said that you place between 7 and 9 stakes in a 5 gallon bucket. Could they be to close at the bottom where the fish could not get to??

Well...that interesting. Don't know what that says about my new PVC condos I just built but I'm gonna drop em' anyway.

Good experiment there Casey.

CH...

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Originally Posted by CrappieHound

Well...that interesting. Don't know what that says about my new PVC condos I just built but I'm gonna drop em' anyway.

Good experiment there Casey.

CH...

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People obviously have success w/ PVC.....they may work well for you.

could be the location of the buckets .and the way you fish . buckets should be on the flats and brush on the drop offs .

How do you get the brush out to where you want it? Do you put it in the boat or what? Trying to figure out how to keep from tearing up the boat with all this structure. I know, I know...I just don't want to tear it up if I don't have to.

May have to find me a flatbottom to do some of this "work" in.

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Originally Posted by CrappieHound

How do you get the brush out to where you want it? Do you put it in the boat or what? Trying to figure out how to keep from tearing up the boat with all this structure. I know, I know...I just don't want to tear it up if I don't have to.

May have to find me a flatbottom to do some of this "work" in.

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Put a big tarp in your boat and lay tops and blocks or whatever you plan on carrying out on the tarp. If you have cover close by and it legal you can saw some limbs or bushes and let them fall into the water and then tie your bow line to it and pull it out to your spot. Then tie a couple of blocks on and throw them over the side. That will help keep from getting your boat messy. CF

I had thought about the tarp idea but tying to the bow line, AHHHH...good idea. Thanks, Crappiefarmer.

The CH...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappieHound

How do you get the brush out to where you want it? Do you put it in the boat or what? Trying to figure out how to keep from tearing up the boat with all this structure. I know, I know...I just don't want to tear it up if I don't have to.

May have to find me a flatbottom to do some of this "work" in.

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We use my buddy's flatbottom johnboat.....I would tear-up my bassboat w/ the first bruspile. We put all we can on the front of the boat, tie our concrete blocks on, and shove her over the edge.

If you have a good sized motor you can actually pull and tow laydowns and brush from the bank (as long as its not attached). Remember guys that the longer a log or brush sits in the water and absorbs mositure the less weight it takes to sink it. Used to sink a ton of brush for bass... Willows can sometimes even be sunk with no weight. Willow and Sycamore branches sink the easiest of stuff around here (less weight)

I used to tow the branch out out to the spot and carry my 5 gal bucket of concrete in the boat pre- rigged with wire. Once at the spot simply untie the tow rope, attach the wire to the branch and ease the bucket into the water and away she goes. Then hit the gps or trianglate the landmarks