X-mas tree w/ cinderblocks question

So I usually cement my xmas trees into stable bases that sit upright. I'm thinking of being lazy this time and just cinderblocking them and let them lay down instead of trying to get them upright. Couple questions, on average, how many cinderblocks does a tree need to go the the bottom? Will one per tree do the trick? Most trees are 5-7 feet tall. I am putting these on a lake with bass/bream/crappie so while crappie is what I am typically targeting with brush, I'm cool with bass habitat as well if the laydowns hold them instead of crappie. I know crappie like more vertical structure but does anyone know how well laydown piles of xmas trees will do?

Thanks, Rex

Sir, at CJ, due to ODNR and COE restrictions until recently we were REQUIRED to rig the "C" trees as laydowns once they water logged, plus we had a "hidden" agenda to create semi horizontal spawning cover to help CJ`s struggling yellow perch population to explode (which incidentally seems to have succeeded VERY well ). Generally we would get "2cnds" blocks with mars, cracks on 1 end, chips, ect at about a 6 or 7:1 ratio of 8" for the majority and 10"ers for the extra tall 1s. An 8"er weights 32 pds, a 10"er weights 40 pds, and have sank a 8` "C" tree on top of a 10" brush block ("BB") called a "super". Admittedly awkward to handle, but with 4-6` osage orange or locust limbs that will last 15+ yrs stuffed into the block, WORTH it. The 1 critical thing: when you secure them make CERTAIN the tree trunk is cleared of lower limbs on 1 side and secure both ends of the block TIGHTLY to the trunk ! When you get done, lift the cut end of the trunk; if the block has ANY slack or is loose at ALL, RETIE it. In areas with wave action (windward shores) or current this is CRITICAL...and YES, they will work ! Try putting them in lines shallow to deep; a NICE touch is a couple of PVC attractors on the deepest ends...(evil laughter sound effect here !) TRUST us...After all, we`ve only placed 2,000+ of them...so far.

so one cinderblock should take care of a 4-7ft tree is placed in the middle?

Been going through the neighborhood stocking up on trees. Got 15 from just my neighbors, going to make another run tonight.

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Some folks tie an empty gallon milk jug to the top to make it sit upright. I have no idea which way works best. Heard to many different opinions. But either way is better than none.

I've heard that as well just not sure how well it works.

Depends on how deep they are; a milk jug will get squashed flat (implode) at <10 fow. A VHD container like a hot water flushed out antifreeze jug with the cap tightened on with vice grips might work better. To give you an idea at 30 fow a basketball implodes...as far as the trees clear 18" on 1 side of the cut end of the trunk. Stack 2 blocks atop each other. Use a 30" long piece of VHD weed eater line and put a loop in the end, and lasso the "C" tree trunk 14-18" from the cut end. Add another 30" piece of the VHD weed eater line 6" from the cut end. Put the cleared side of the trunk onto the top block and adjust it so the trunk is FLAT to the block; moving the top block 1/2 way off the other and slightly angling it may help. (WARNING ! DO NOT drop the block onto your foot...) Take the loose end of the piece at 14-18" up the trunk thru the hole of the block, back thru the original end loop and wrap the tree trunk once before final tying back to that loop again. Tie the lower piece the same way. LIFT the cut end of the tree...if there is ANY slack, slop, looseness, set it down and RETIE it TIGHTER ! Add any floats then add LOTS of water...BTW, have cut off branches in the middle off in a ring before, results were inconclusive...TRUST us ! Just do 1 line shallow to deep...you will LIKE the "results" !

Yep, 1 block will lay them down....remember that laydowns normally attract smaller fry, minnows, bottom fish... Crappie MOSTLY prefer vertical cover whether it's dense or larger spaced cover....but, they will move to laydowns to feed if they are placed close to their "home base"!

Placed one in my pond last year, stuck the tree trunk through one of the holes in the block and tied off well. tossed the tree off the dock. tree stayed vertical for prolly 6 months, then laid down.

I drill a hole through the base of each tree then run a plastic coated cable through that and attach to a 5 gal. bucket filled with concrete that I place a eye bolt in. Generally tie 3 trees together at one time. They land however they land.

So I'm pretty sure everyone at Home Depot thinks I'm a serial killer now. I go to buy cinderblocks, rope and some gloves yesterday dressed in my formal work clothes. Completely forget about the fact I went hunting last weekend, have blood all over the bed of my truck and a cooler full of ice/blood from the deer I dropped off at the processor earlier in the day.....I'm glad I didn't get pulled over on the way home. I got a few weird looks in the store and in the parking lot :)

(evil laughter sound effect here...)

I don't go to the big box stores to buy materials I need. If I buy a pallet load they will load it on my truck but want $65 for the pallet, so another trip to get my money back. A small amount, I have to load it on a cart then load it in the truck. That can be a few handlings of the material to get it where it's needed for the last time. I can call the local mom n pop materials yard, have it delivered, a forklift on the truck to place where I want it for the same price.

We have a local cement block maker who fishes and in return for locations sells us "2cnds" (blocks with imperfections) for 50 cents a piece, but who counts them like a wise bait shop `counts` a dozen minnows...his crew (who ALSO fish) will help load them...we once paid for 50 and left with 75+...

Ok, feedback time after putting in 14 xmas trees last month. First, one cinderblock is plenty of weight for any tree 5-12 feet tall. Two, its best to pre-tie rope on the cinderblocks before getting out on the water, one less thing to mess with. Three, I was lazy and didn't feel like drilling holes in the bases. This isn't required but if you are tying onto the trunk without drilling, make sure to tie it more than one branch up. Wasn't paying attention and tied one a little low and as soon as I tossed it over, it broke off the bottom branch and I lost a cinderblock. I had to re-tie another one and down she went. I secured all mine at the base, they were all still siting upright when I left them, going back next week so I'll be curious if they have laid down or are still floating upright. I put out rows on 3-4 trees, I have some good solid cover as I added this to another area on a flat that I already had trees on. Have a few more to sink but this spot was already productive with the original trees, now its going to be great.

Nice Rex....our lake should be completely open and free of ice after this upcoming weekend, we can get to work for one last MASSIVE drop! Then we all are just going to sit back and enjoy for a while, after 7 years of dropping cover, we all need a break! :)

Yep, I'm excited about this round of trees. They are in a nice good ole mud flat off of some other trees. I should be able to fish crank baits right over the top of the trees.

Just ENSURE the trees are tied TIGHTLY to the block, especially with nylon rope. If not, wave action can chaffe the rope and eventually cut it, ok ?

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Originally Posted by Lowellhturner

Just ENSURE the trees are tied TIGHTLY to the block, especially with nylon rope. If not, wave action can chaffe the rope and eventually cut it, ok ?

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Yep, I hear ya. Luckily all my drops are on our lakes at the ranch so if one comes loose, the only boat traffic they will encounter is a paddleboat. Also, due to the nature of the terrain around the lakes, it doesn't get as windy as a wide open reservoir.

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Originally Posted by Lowellhturner

We have a local cement block maker who fishes and in return for locations sells us "2cnds" (blocks with imperfections) for 50 cents a piece, but who counts them like a wise bait shop `counts` a dozen minnows...his crew (who ALSO fish) will help load them...we once paid for 50 and left with 75+...

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I perfer to find where a house is being torn down and many times I can get used blocks for free for the asking.:biggrin Local saw mill saves scrap boards for me . PLastic buckets are easy to get at some stores and resturants. I give away most of my catches and take folks fishing that offer free materials .( used blocks , ties, wood stakes, buckets and ect.)

A well considered strategy NIMROD !

Just shows how us as fisherman and regular folks can benefit one another with a little cooperation.

So my trees were a success......apparently the bass just love em.......Caught 59 last weekend including 2 crappie. One of my buddys came out for the fun. Had a cold snap but didn't mess up the fishing :fact

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Looks like a success to me...

Yep, some of these were caught off of my bamboo structure as well but only a few. The bamboo is in too deep of water now that we have finally gotten some rain down here.

Looks to me the payoff has been big...I am going to have to look at putting in some structure.

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Originally Posted by flintcreek

Looks to me the payoff has been big...I am going to have to look at putting in some structure.

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The bass have come home, just not a lot of crappie....lol This was this weekend again. 50 bass by myself.....


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So what do you think of adding cover now ? Would you say it was worth the effort ?

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Originally Posted by Lowellhturner

So what do you think of adding cover now ? Would you say it was worth the effort ?

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100% and has been from the day I put it in. I will say that its kind of a rotation of which piles are hot so its good to have tons of different spots.

Hey Rex....a couple questions???
Didn't you say that lake was just over 200 acres???
What is the forage base like in it???

It seems to have alot of Bass that are kinda thin....have you added any more forage???
You may need to have a Slot Limit, to help get some Bigger Bass, then adjust as needed!
What other cover is available in the Lake...it is unusual for Bass to use Crappie cover unless there is a serious lack of cover for them...I thought you said there were weeds etc??

Just trying to understand what's going on!:) I enjoy learning about different situations!:):):)

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Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR

Hey Rex....a couple questions???
Didn't you say that lake was just over 200 acres???
What is the forage base like in it???

It seems to have alot of Bass that are kinda thin....have you added any more forage???
You may need to have a Slot Limit, to help get some Bigger Bass, then adjust as needed!
What other cover is available in the Lake...it is unusual for Bass to use Crappie cover unless there is a serious lack of cover for them...I thought you said there were weeds etc??

Just trying to understand what's going on!:) I enjoy learning about different situations!:):):)

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Not 200, I wish :) Our lakes are about 10 surface acres each with a maximum depth of around 20-30 feet depending on the lake. As for forage we have bluegill, longear, warmouth, and a host of shad and minnows that I can't individually name. The pics above are from the lake that has been neglected and fished the least in the past 10 years. We have weeds along the shoreline, grass underwater as well. There is natural brush piles in the lake as well. Lack of cover could be part of our problem, the main issue is underfishing. The crappie we pull out are fat and healthy. The bass are stunted. We don't keep anything over 3 lbs and anything under gets filleted or thrown on the bank. The bass are getting bigger, just taking a bit of time to weed out some of the dinks. 5 years ago all our lakes were putting out fish like that, now one is properly managed. I caught these fish this weekend from it.


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Those are some cool pix there rex, we have been putting out stuff in our lake for years. Our lake unfortunately has alot of river current pull to it and at first we lost ALOT of stuff we put in. Last few years we have put it way back in coves to keep from washing away.The stuff we put in the river channel had to have alot of weight to stay. Plus if the tree's are somewhat drying out, they take more weight to sink, but the bouyancy will keep them upright when sinking. This year we started cutting out limbs on the tree's ,leaving open spots which seem to attract the crappie a little more . They look cool on the SI too.

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Originally Posted by sailfish1

Those are some cool pix there rex, we have been putting out stuff in our lake for years. Our lake unfortunately has alot of river current pull to it and at first we lost ALOT of stuff we put in. Last few years we have put it way back in coves to keep from washing away.The stuff we put in the river channel had to have alot of weight to stay. Plus if the tree's are somewhat drying out, they take more weight to sink, but the bouyancy will keep them upright when sinking. This year we started cutting out limbs on the tree's ,leaving open spots which seem to attract the crappie a little more . They look cool on the SI too.

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I was lazy on the last round of trees and didn't thin out the branches. While I can't say 100% it makes a difference, I'm sure it does. The trees we cut out branches from hold a lot of fish. Takes a little extra time but is definitely worth it in the end.

These trees I put out Just the beginning of May , can't wait to see how this will work, I have a lot of Crappies but no structure.
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Originally Posted by NZpilot1

These trees I put out Just the beginning of May , can't wait to see how this will work, I have a lot of Crappies but no structure.
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So those are sitting on the ice right now? Thats awesome, so much easier to put in place than using a boat. I'm loving it.

Yes they are on the Ice , about ten days later they went through.

Hit the jackpot on an old bamboo pile today. Hadn't caught a fish on it since I put it in, them this. All in about 20 mins






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The `fruits` (or should I say `fillets` ? ) of your labors, sir...

Yes sir, they tasted great too :)

You, sir, are getting you `just deserves`...hopefully you`ve learned your `lesson` ! Enjoy !

No crappie this weekend but plenty of gills, warmouth and some bass off the xmas trees and a few other spots.

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Even dad got to have a little fun

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Finished the evening off with a copperhead decapitation and a good lesson on watching where you walk through tall grass.

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