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Still working on habitat for Lake Hamilton. Here's a picture of what I'm calling a Crappie Cage. They are designed for 8-12' of water. We can sink them as is or stick several bushy tops through to add some density. They are anchored with three heavy-weight blocks filled with concrete (~150+ pounds). I hope that's enough weight to sink all that bamboo.
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WOW!! Man, that looks good! I vote for putting some boo or some hardwood limbs or something on the frame you have, although I think it would be great just as is! Looks expensive though. Can you give us some details on how its built and what it cost? Almost forgot, I'll need the coordinates when you drop it!:D:D
WOW... Nice boo brush. How you plan on getting it to the water? It looks like its about 10' wide.
Looks good.
This is still a learn as we go project, of course. Our concern is making it sturdy enough that it doesn't fall apart. Our goal is to make it short (no more than 4-6' tall) for shallower water but cover enough water (10' or more across) to be effective. We are using both deck screws and zip ties at each joint. That's costly. Might change to drilling holes and using wire. It is big and we might have to make it smaller. If we take it whole, only one at a time on the barge will be possible. Or, we can build the sides and put the modules together on the barge then sink it. Cost -- deck screws, zip ties, concrete blocks, Quikrete, your time.
I like it.
Love to watch the video of you guys getting that thing in the lake. It looks good, but I cant imagine sinking it.
Good luck Darryl
sure wish i was there
Looks good but I believe it will be big enough for a Hog trap.
Noslab
I agree,that thing will be a great piece of cover but it will be a man killer gettin it in the water.Quote:
Originally Posted by gabowman
i second that gonna be quite the site hope the water is warm that day cause someone is going swimming!
Look Great! Nice Boo.
BillyE
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugman
that may be a case of "here, hold my beer and watch this."
And that never turns out good.Quote:
Originally Posted by olduckhunter
someone needs to be there to video the operation from loading it on the boat to turning the boat over to put it in position.
Looks like it will work but sinking the thing may be an accident waiting to happen!:eek::eek:
helicopter
Oh ye of little faith.
Daryl,
If you need any help I live on Hamilton..Just let me know.
Joe
More like ye that survived our youth...:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Morris
Looks awesome. Have you considered doing the same with pvc?
be sure to wear your life vest when deploying that "thang." and we/i'm pulling for you. it's all in fun.
Guys they have made this structure in a "V" shape for a reason! Man i gotta give it to them guys! Them boyz mean buisness and paper is what they will get off that rig! Nice job and good luck!
Looks good to me!
That thing looks good. If it were mine i would set out some trees or condos or somthing around that sucker to hold some bait fish. U could sit on top of that sucker and sink the boat with all the fish you catch.
I dun know Darrel. I think the crappie could swim right through them poles. Good luck keeping them in your cage.
DP
Good one DP. I am hoping they will just voluntarily swim in and I take them out. We checked the cage today. The concrete is not setting up in the cold weather as quickly, so a few more days will be better. I was pleased with it's stability. I did the numbers on paper first then we conducted a test of bamboo stalk bottoms like used in the cage to determine if it would sink correctly. You just gotta love the honesty and lack of hypocrisy in mathamatics. Bamboo is 1/3 the density of water. So, adding 2/3 more weight will sink it irrespective of its diameter (of course a larger diameter stalk of bamboo weighs more needing more weight to sink it). The test was successful. When the concrete is completely set, the weather is tolerable and the barge is available, we'll sink her.
She might get sunk but she might be the only one in the lake. Later I started to calculate more precisely the cost, time and manpower of such a structure (so many volunteer but not many report). Too much for my taste. So, since I do nothing but eat, drink, think and dream about all aspects of crappie fishing, I came up with another design that is more economical and manageable. One double post in the center with a two blocks, one filled with concrete (60lbs.). The attach four layers of horizontal "X's" Easily managed by two men, able to stack on the habitat barge in greater numbers. They are no more than 5' tall but cover an area 20-40' in diameter. Superbly build for shallower water. Plain stalks can be used but using a 20' stalk of bamboo (10' bushy head with a 10' butt stalk) would add so much more density for fry and young bait fish. I will post pictures later. We built the post bases today. Six were formed in less than 30 minutes. ---- to be continued.
Dang Darryl,
I didn't know building boo is so hard. Blocks, boo and sink it. I need to come over and help you do some boo drops. And then go fish them with you.
We need to run down to De Gray and do the same.
Anytime Doug. We dropped 60 condos in December in Hamilton. We are now working on ways to use all the bamboo (not just the tops) in ways that can effectively cover shallower water (not more than 5' tall but 20' in diameter. That cage is awesome but too expensive to build, so that will be an orphan in the lake. I am now developing one that is in the shape of an "X" that is more economical and more easily handled and not just laying on the bottom like the flat mat design. I was also able to get over to DeGray once. We didn't even fish but rather did some gps scouting since the lake is currently so low. We got 58 good waypoints just on the lower thrid of the lake. I still need to go back and do the upper two-thirds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slipcork
Anything that works requires a little effort. You guys really work at it from the posts I read. Just wish everyone that fishes would get in on atleast one build on each lake they fish.;)
Just think how much additional structure that would me and how much it would improve the fishing on each one of those lakes! :eek:
How much additional structure that would "mean"........
I'm thinkin' you gonna need one o them "wide load" vehicles for and aft to get it there. :D
This adds a whole new meaning to Hawg Pen. She's on the barge, then brushed up, then on her way to the bottom.
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Wow! Wasn't sure you would ever successfully launch it without someone getting wet! Great job, Darrell! Can't wait to hear the reports on how it worked attracting fish. I hope you will report back to us. Good job!
I placed some bamboo in and wondered how to tie it together. Screws are ok, but may work loose. I did what you are thinking about doing. I drilled some holes and used barb wire to tie them together. Will take a long time to corrode that wire.
My condo's---I got the idea from the videos that you posted. The willow is great and I use the sand bags with rocks in them. I got a 100 bags for about 35 bucks. The jug in the top also helps hold the tree upright.
That thing should hold a lot of hawgs. Go pigs!