Printable View
Looking for a few pointers from some folks who have built them. Does it matter if your boo is already dried out when you build it? And will half a bag of quickcrete per bucket be enough? That gives me about 7 1/4 inches of concrete in the bucket? Thanks for any helpful tips you might have.
I like the green boo better than the dried.I think a half of bag will be enough. You can save on quickcrete by using sand or gravel, then put two or three inches of crete on top of that.
I use green boo never waited long enough to let the boo dry out. But I use sand or dirt then put a third of a bag and the sink fast and stay standing
Think half full is plenty. Full bucket might take two people to pick up!
Harold good tip on sand cause concrete expensive. I use bucket and zip tie to side put rock in bucket and let her sink
Jigaholic Prostaff
B an M PST
Hi-Tek rod holders
Xpress Crappie Edition
Lowrance HDS 8 an 10
Attachment 112377Attachment 112378My first attempt I put PVC in the buckets (had some scrap) and let it set up in the concrete and then stuck the boo in the PVC and put deck screw threw both to hold in place. I had read where you had to be careful not to let them tip over from wind while the crete was setting up, so i figured this way eliminated that. I was actually thinking about assembling them on the water to make transport easy, but I didn't.
This is how I build mine, they really do good.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/12/eby6u4a9.jpg
Mid South, Ozark Rods and Hi Tek Pro Staff.
HUh?? So you just use the trunks. I thought the leaves and little branches was what attracted the fry and hence the larger fish. I am new at this so don't know a lot about it.
Both ways work equal I think but that's just me. We've got both in our private lake but they both hold fish just depends on the day if its a big fish or a small one
That's why I've been told as well, but im new to building formal structures for crappie.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
I don't use Boo but I've got about 9 made up now from brush (privite hedge to be exact). I'm going to make a few more early in the week and drop them all come Thrusday. As for the crete it is expensive and I had 5 sacks at $21 to make those 9 buckets. Those buckets can get expensive as well so I used boxes, some were too big though I found out and it takes too much crete to even out. I like like using those popcorn tins they work well, used a couple this last time. I did it all myself and I can tell ya it's tough to keep the structure stood up in your container while your filling. I have them leaned up against anything and everything so they don't fall over til it sets. I don't know how many to put per area but was thinking of trying 3 per spot?? Maybe somebody could tell you more about that who's sunk a bunch of them.
I can make a suggestion on the buckets. I was eating at a local deli and I saw 2 5 gallon buckets sitting outside the side door. I asked about them and they said they were empty pickle buckets and I could have them. Since then I have gotten about 5 a week from them. Can't beat the price, so check some of your local restaurants for some.
Thanks SeaRay I never thought about that. I know they are only like 4 or 5 bucks at Walmart but that can get pricey if you make 10 or more of them. I'll use about anything long as it will work at a mold and allow crete to set up.
Thanks for all the great tips! I've been getting free buckets from burger king. Found a pile of dried up boo that had been cut at my kids school, so i started with that. Just got a hot tip on some fresh cut boo that i'm gonna go pick up this afternoon. Concrete seems to be the biggest expense, so i was looking for ways to save on that.
Try zip tie to bucket and rocks. Lot cheaper. I put 5-8 branches a bucket. I dont want mine real thick cause big fish dont jam way into it nut smaller onea will.
Jigaholic Prostaff
B an M PST
Hi-Tek rod holders
Xpress Crappie Edition
Lowrance HDS 8 an 10
Have all the cut boo you want at lake Norrell boat ramp waiting to be sank or pickup
I went to Wendy's last night after work and started reading posts in the drive through. Low and behold I left there with food and 3 pickle buckets. I completely forgot that pickles come in those big buckets. I also remembered that cake icing comes in those big buckets as well. Kroger and Walmart bakery should have some as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
Where is Lake Norrell?
Between Benton and lake maumelle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cmj
I'm checking today on resturant buckets before I mess with anymore cardboard boxes which seem to work but I'd rather have the buckets. On these next ones I may try drilling some holes and angling some kickouts off the bucket so I know it can't turn over once dropped to the bottom. Might not need to but I'd really like em to stand up. I've been saving bottles to tie in the top which I think will work well also. Unless you dawn scuba gear and go down to see just how they lay or you have a fancy finder to see them standing up I don't know how you would know for sure they've stayed upright? I think some of the guys on here have posted pictures off their finders showing them standing up already though.
Yea, just go to the deli in those big stores where they sell cakes and such. May have to leave your name and number but a call will get you a bunch in a week. May get lids too. If they have icing in them, let the set under the drip of a roof for a couple of weeks with water in them. Then a little soap and a scrubbie, they will clean right up.
Check you home improvement centers for busted bags of crete. May get it for half price or less. Those clean buckets with lids come in handy then.
Well as for the crete it doesnt take much to give enough weight to sink. I've been looking for the bushiest stuff I can find to cover more area. Not all cedars are alike if you plan on sinking them like I have been. As for the icing left in the bucket, it shouldn't matter since your sinking in lake and shouldn't prevent crete from setting up. I've often though about coating the buckets with oil hoping I could pull the crete out and reuse the bucket even?
Dang, it don't get much easier than that! Thanks for the heads up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slipcork
Yeah wish I lived near that lake for pickup. I know where I can get some though if I really wanted them and I'm talking big stalks. These are bigger than a coke can. I may have to get a few next time I go to my G.Ma's house.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deezer
Conway, those look like they'd be easy to transport, but how deep will you sink em? I'm looking at a spot thats about 18 to 20 ft deep, and building my buckets about 10 ft tall. But i like the looks of those for transport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Conway
Well I think it was canebreaker that mentioned going to restaurants and asking about used buckets.....thanks for the tip, I got close to 20 buckets now from about 3 different businesses. Course I checked with 5 different places. and only scored on 3 of them so not all places had them. Burger King has pickle buckets and since there's tons of Burger Kings I thought I'd mention them for those wanting to get some. I may do some more than I'd planned on doing now that I've got more buckets. It's really the crete that costs so much at close to $5 a sack but that ain't too bad.
* I use fresh green 'boo as opposed to dried. I've not tried dry 'boo so I don't have first hand experience that it doesn't last as long. Darryl Morris told me fresh lasted much longer than dry and he's sunk a ton and has a lot of experience with it.....so fresh is what I use. That and I've got an acre or more of 'boo in my backyard, so easy access. Any dent I've made in my 'boo forest has grown back in a year.
* Half a bag of quickcrete is a bit light in my opinion. I always use 2 bags for 3 buckets. That works out to 2/3 a bag per bucket....a little over 53 pounds. I've had a few bigger ones FLOAT! It's almost comical to throw one overboard and have 3-4 feet sticking out of the water, bobbing along. I generally only use the top 9-12 feet of 'boo and put 12 to 15 stalks per bucket. But occasionally the students get a little carried away. I would think that half a bag might cause problems if you drop them in an area with much current. Jerry Blake uses 3 bags per 4 buckets.....60 pounds. He's probably built and sunk more 'boo buckets than anyone on C.C
* Adding sand and gravel in the bottom's not a bad idea. Is it harder to get your 'boo in the buckets though? Also, do you have to be more careful with them since you only have a "cap" of concrete holding it together? We can be a bit rough on them during storage and transport.
* The big stuff definitely holds fish. However, this is just my opinion......I think the tops of 'boo with the little limbs provide better habitat, thus improving the fishery...big boo just makes it easier to catch existing fish. Just my opinion, and I've got no evidence to back it up. Just makes sense to me.
* Tying bottles in the tops of 'boo buckets is a waste of time.
* Icing can prevent concrete from setting up. At least I think it would. I mix sugar in with mortar for my students. They get the experience of laying bricks, but then the next day the mortar is brittle and easily breaks up to it's original form. I would expect it to do the same thing with concrete. Btw, it doesn't take much sugar! lol
* I like the idea of pouring buckets with pvc, then screwing 'boo into it. You could sure transport a lot more to the lake that way. They seem to be smaller though. Although, my back might appreciate that!
* Adding sand and gravel in the bottom's not a bad idea. Is it harder to get your 'boo in the buckets though? Also, do you have to be more careful with them since you only have a "cap" of concrete holding it together? We can be a bit rough on them during storage and transport.
Put your boo in the bucket then add sand or gravel, pour the concrere, then put two or three screws or nail thru the bucket into concrete and let it set up.
Deezer I put the short ones in shallow water like the picture, if I make them for deep water I make them about ten foot tall and fewer pieces of boo per bucket.
Mid South, Ozark Rods and Hi Tek Pro Staff.
I use wood slats and pvc in buckets-and they look like the above pics-i screw the pieces into the side of the buckets-try using just dirt they sink just fine for me havent had any issues. Whatever you can round up to make it free or cheap!
Well I'm going to add some rocks....after I've added the structure. I don't think you need all that much weight to sink em either when they are green. Once they get water logged after being under a while they'll stay down anyways. Now if your putting them near a channel or wherever that's current you better add a house on the bottom of them! I quit sinking structure near the channels due to that, lotta current down there when water gets up. This higher water will make it a little tougher to sink structure but I can't complain we needed the water bad. I'm just thankful for the brush setting we've done already while waters been down. I used to be strictly a basser man. I guess I'm getting older since I've loved the crappie's these last few years, lol. I'd rather buy crappie jigs and less than $100 in a pole and reel vs $250 poles, and $5 baits for fish I'm usually toss back to begin with.
I had to do some shopping last night so I went to Kroger. I walked up to the deli counter where the lady was icing a cake. I asked if she had any buckets. She had one near by and walked to the kitchen area and came back with a total of 6 2 gallon buckets and 1 4 gallon square bucket with lids. She said be careful, the top one still has icing in it. The 2 gallon buckets will be good for anchor tie downs. Fill about half way with crete and a steel ring in it. Oil wipe the buckets down and reuse them.
This is a way I've posted before to sink boo in shallow water without mess'n with wet concrete. Most everyone getting buckets were throwing the lids away any how. Quicker to build not waiting on concrete to dry and easier to transport IMO.
This a good way to sink especially in shallow water (3 to 12'). It takes 2 weights (concrete blocks) , wire or rope , the bucket lid with holes is optional to make the bundle spread out .
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...obucketdia.jpg
After seeing the lid trick, I like it. I have a bunch, was going to send them to the recycle bin. But not now.
There's lots of ways to make structure. I think the worst part about making it is with new depth finders out now anyone can see it and it won't last forever. I wish I'd used some cane but at the time all's I had was brush. I did put in a couple of cedars. I've tried the PVC pipe before with little success so while it may last longer not sure how well it works? If you have plastic containers big enough just fill them with lake water once tied on to the pile and use their own weight to sink, takes bigger ones. When sinking buckets usually there's room between however much weight you put in and the top of the bucket where water will settle inside making it virtually impossible for it to be pulled back up once down. I may not have poured enough crete in some of mine but with room left in the buckets a few rocks tossed in will take her on down.....done spent nearly $50 on 11 sacks crete to make 24 buckets/boxes/planters/pop corn tins, ect. to sink.
Anyone who's spending the time/money to help the local fishery's out is a friend of mine though! Glad to hear all the idea's yall have made on here.
Everything is free to make the bucket lid boo. I get the zip ties from a buddy that saves them from shipments, Lids most toss, and boo is also free to cut. My blocks come from old burned or torn down houses that are going to be dozed and buried . They do work good for several years.Quote:
Originally Posted by canebreaker
I pefer using pallet stakebeds and it can be all free too but a little more work. At most I've had to buy nails or screws sometimes. Stakes , pallets , and rocks are free if you look around.
I went to Wal-mart in Conway look for some buckets, and apparently the one on 365 is charging a dollar a piece. Walmart would charge your for the use toilet paper if the could find a way to sell it. I got some from a Walmart in Little Rock that were free this weekend though, so all Walmart stores don't appear to be charging for then yet.
All the ones I've seen at Walmart are for sale and you have to buy the bucket and lid separately! Like someone said I suggest the restaurants.Quote:
Originally Posted by Conwayslabber