* * pvc question * *

We have been putting out structure for some years now, but have just started with PVC. So, I got a question.

I have put out several different types of PVC Tree's. ALL of them after a period of a couple of months have basically disappeared. A possibility is that they have been picked up and moved by someone, which I rarely doubt, or they have become Steath after growing alge on them. I put them on the water and they are basically glowing in the dark, with air bubbles coming off of them and being new in the water. After 3-4 weeks, I noticed them becoming harder to see, but just thought my Unit needed a few adjustments. Now, after 3-4 month, I can't see them, I have them MARKED on my GPS, but still can't see them. I have a HDS-10 with Side & Down Scan, and still can't see them.

Anyone have and experience with PVC in the water over a long period of time. I guess I am going to build a Grapling Hook, and go pull a few of them and see if what I think is happening, is happening. All I can think of is they are going Steath after being covered with Alge. Basicaly the same effect as goes on with the Steath Fighter and radar.

Looking for Imput or Thoughts.




keith

If they are full of water (uncapped, no air trapped inside them) you are likely correct. Hence the importance of GPSing them as they go in IMMEDIATELY...the grapple will remove all doubt.

Yes, that is what I did, no caps or anything. This is also a good thing as long as I know they are there. No one else will know they are there either. Also have a good GPS Mark, when we throwed them out, we pitched a bouy on it, before it ever got out of sight.


keith

To give you an idea just how "stealthy' they are if flooded; placed 5 a couple of yrs ago while anchored, sonar on. SAW the cement fall and hit bottom, settling into the sediment, facing aft at the 9, 11, 12, 1 and 3 o`clock positions in 12 fow. ALL we could see were the cement filled buckets...granted, they were only 1" pipes 12 to a bucket but they simply were not visible to 2D sonar.

Thanks A Bunch.... We have been putting out Boo for years, but just started with the PVC. Last Winter we put out 4 PVC Tree's and by Spring we had lost the visual of them. We thought that maybe Trollers had drug them over, and they were just gone. That was until this year we put 3 more of these Horizontal PVS Structures out in about 12' of water. Checked on them the next to weekend, to see if we could see fish. Then didn't go back for about 6 weeks, and then there was nothing. So now we are trying to figure out what is happening.

I have got several 1000' of PVC that we are hoping to sink, but was really interested in doing anymore until we came up with a solution to WHERE DID THEY GO ? ? ? ? Like I said, we will go out with a grappling Hook in a few weeks, and drag a couple up and take a look at them. If it is like I suspect, I will be pretty excited. Not that it really bothers me for people to find my Boo Piles, I would be real excited to know we can make some NICE (large) PVC Structures, and the will vanish in 4-6 week. As long as I get a MARK of where they are, we will have some places that will be undetectable within weeks. We will pull up tto some of our Boo Piles, and find someone else fishing them, which is Ok, we have sunk enough over the years, but it does upset my brother that we have done ALL the work, and someone else is fishing our spot. But such is fishing.

This will excite him if they are invisable. Next, we'll haft to see if they HOLD fish like the Cedar & Boo ? ? ? I have about 15 Horizonal PVC Pile made up, ready to go. Just waiting on the out come of this discussion, and my grappling experiment. What is your EXPERIENCE with PVC Vs Cedar/Boo/otheron HOLDING fish ? ? ?




keith

Thanks A Bunch.... We have been putting out Boo for years, but just started with the PVC. Last Winter we put out 4 PVC Tree's and by Spring we had lost the visual of them. We thought that maybe Trollers had drug them over, and they were just gone. That was until this year we put 3 more of these Horizontal PVS Structures out in about 12' of water. Checked on them the next to weekend, to see if we could see fish. Then didn't go back for about 6 weeks, and then there was nothing. So now we are trying to figure out what is happening.

I have got several 1000' of PVC that we are hoping to sink, but was really interested in doing anymore until we came up with a solution to WHERE DID THEY GO ? ? ? ? Like I said, we will go out with a grappling Hook in a few weeks, and drag a couple up and take a look at them. If it is like I suspect, I will be pretty excited. Not that it really bothers me for people to find my Boo Piles, I would be real excited to know we can make some NICE (large) PVC Structures, and the will vanish in 4-6 week. As long as I get a MARK of where they are, we will have some places that will be undetectable within weeks. We will pull up tto some of our Boo Piles, and find someone else fishing them, which is Ok, we have sunk enough over the years, but it does upset my brother that we have done ALL the work, and someone else is fishing our spot. But such is fishing.

This will excite him if they are invisable. Next, we'll haft to see if they HOLD fish like the Cedar & Boo ? ? ? I have about 15 Horizonal PVC Pile made up, ready to go. Just waiting on the out come of this discussion, and my grappling experiment. What is your EXPERIENCE with PVC Vs Cedar/Boo/otheron HOLDING fish ? ? ? Again, Thanks for input ! ! ! !

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...Structure1.png


keith

I have and will continue to say and believe that natural cover AND PVC just slightly deeper together is HANDS DOWN the very best of both...the results have proven this repeatedly.

I have experienced the "stealth" mode of pvc structures and have been wondering if putting straightened wire coat hangers in the pipes would help them show up better on the graph. Any thoughts?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmack

I have experienced the "stealth" mode of pvc structures and have been wondering if putting straightened wire coat hangers in the pipes would help them show up better on the graph. Any thoughts?

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Would Aluminum foil inside pipe reflect sonar better and never rust out?

I am having the same problem as others, I thought this would be the cats meow, I would know where they were and could find them with my 1197 and 798 without a problem. I have yet to 100% locate the pvc beds I have put out, some were vertical tree styles and others were more of a bush style. I use my 16' flat bottom lake jon that is wide open to sink brush and have the good depthfinders on my nitro. The first ones I have sunk last summer at dark, I marked the piles using depth and picking out something on the bank thinking I would remember the location, since I have purchased a cheap hand held gps unit to take with me next time I sink some so I can go back with the good units and save the waypoints. I have 23 more to get in the water when done sanding. What amazed me was I didnt just sink one here one there, I threw out a bouy marking the spot I wanted to sink them and put 4 to 6 in a circle around the bouy. I have caught fish in the general locations and ocassionally feel some structure and dont get hung up, so I think I have out smarted myself as usual.:)

Spray foam in some of the pipes to make it show up. If you no where you put them you should be able to see the fish even if you cant see the structure. Atleast no one else can find them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmack

I have experienced the "stealth" mode of pvc structures and have been wondering if putting straightened wire coat hangers in the pipes would help them show up better on the graph. Any thoughts?

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Ya man!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lowellhturner

I have and will continue to say and believe that natural cover AND PVC just slightly deeper together is HANDS DOWN the very best of both...the results have proven this repeatedly.

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Listen to this guy, he's sunk more than all of us combined!!

The main reason for my post was to see if other were having the same problems I am. with that being said, it looks like the answer if YES. I like the fact that PVC is hard to find, and others can't find them, I like it. The thing is being able to locate them. I believe I am going to tie a couple of 2-liter bottles onto the next couple I sink. I believe the bottles will show up, but with them floating off the bottom, will give the appearance of a small pod of bait fish. Think I give this a try and see if that helps with my problem.


keith

I am planning on building some PVC bushes using some discarded 3/4" pipe in flower pots filled with concrete and wanted to do something to be able to see them on depthfinder. I have some aluminum flashing metal leftover and was thinking about somehow attached some of that. Would that help them show up?

I have been using plastic trees since 1987 and I can see every one I have ever put out. I use a Matrix 27 now but I have always been able to see them. As far as plastic compared to natural brush, on some days one works better and other days, the other. I have found that when the water is clearer, the plastic works better. I have also found that the plastic produces bigger fish. I will also give everyone another pointer when putting out plastic trees. Use old water hoses and cut them in about 4 to 6 foot lengths. Drill holes through your buckets and pvc and run them through. They act like limbs on the tree. Also, put them close to the bottom. I notice in most of the designs I see on here that most of the limbs branch 4 feet off the bottom and up. I like mine to have most of the branches from the bottom up to 3 feet. At my lake most of the crappie are caught within 3 feet of the bottom. This information comes from over 25 years of guiding for crappie.

I've got some beds I will post a photo of tomorrow and I would like some of everyones judgements on them if they will work or not. I plan to release some natural next to them as well.

Pee Paw, thank you for the compliment, may I say that MANY persons "leant a hand or two'; it was and IS a group effort. That said, am more than willing to learn from anyone with a better/ easier and more productive suggestion and apply ANYTHING that will help both produce young and juvenille fish as well as "keepers" upto and including "barndoor" sized specimens. And lastly, must honestly admit personally ain`t doing it out of "the kindness of my heart"; I LOVE the reward of LARGE golden brown lightly crispped deep fried and piping HOT fish filets...(deleted), I`m drooling again...