Legal Matters of placing Structure
Reading the posts about structure, I thought I'd check into it before I go to far. I called several departments to find out the legality of adding my own structure to the lakes that I fish. In every case except one, I was told under no circumstances was it O.K. to put home made structure into the lakes. In fact, if they see you they can ticket you for littering the waterway. In the other circumstance, I was told that all structure for the lake (smithville lake) is documented and must be approved. There is supposed to be some bass group that has permission to do it.
So overall there seems to be a lot of red tape involved, or it's a midnight run type of thing. This at least goes for Missouri, and the corps of engineers lakes.
So as a group, what does everyone do? I for one, will probably not start dropping my own structure in. Mainly because I don't want to pay the fine.
Placing Structure in Lakes
FYI, This is what I got for the Corps of Engineers when asked about placing structure at West Point LAke on the border of Gerogia and Alabama.
News Release: Use of Discarded Christmas Trees for Fish Reefs Permitted at West Point Lake
Often at this time of year anglers begin calling the West Point Project Management Office for advice on using old Christmas trees to attract fish. For years fishermen (and women) have anchored these discarded trees in the lake in strategic locations to provide cover for fish. Then, when the weather improves next spring they return to try their luck fishing around last year’s Christmas tree(s).
The Corps of Engineers at West Point Project would like to inform all prospective fish reef builders that no special permit is necessary to place a few Christmas trees in the lake, but there are some important guidelines to follow:
• Use a suitable anchoring system to prevent the trees from floating away or moving around. We don’t want to have the tree in the wrong place. A cement block will work well as an anchor for one or two trees, but it must be securely fastened to the tree using nylon twine or a similar material.
• Don’t place the trees where they could become safety hazards to boaters or swimmers. For example, trees should not be placed near boat launching ramps, in shallow boat traffic channels, or at swimming beaches.
• Trees will attract more fish if they are placed in deeper water, say 15 - 20 feet deep, and in an area where the water depth changes significantly, such as near an underwater ridge or hump. Fish tend to use this type of area throughout the year.
Although a permit is not necessary to place a few Christmas trees in the lake, anglers who wish to install large numbers of trees or other types of structure for fishing reefs should contact the West Point Project Management Office at 706/645-2937. More information on West Point Project is also available on the Internet at: http://westpt.sam.usace.army.mil.
