Printable View
Just a question for all on here. I recently acquired some 5 gallon buckets that I am wanting to turn into some crappie structures to sink under docks I like to fish. The question is what do you suggest I use as far as wood type for the structure? Thanks for any info on this as it will be my first attempt in fish structure building.
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Hardwoods will last longer. PVC will last longer than the buckets (and won't snag your hooks). :twocents
Lots of good threads on this topic. Here is a link to one of them. I’d probably do a mix of wood and pvc. :twocents
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/crap...oo-pvc-condos/
5 gallon bucket I use PVC. Everything else I just cut a branch and tie to a rip rap rock.
PVC for me also.
Hardwood stakes or boards. Tobacco sticks work great. We used to have a mill near us that made shovel handles. Their culls were bundled and sold to the public. I used to get my 16’ trailer loaded for a little over $100. Some of those have been submerged for decades and still look good on electronics.
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
wood that isn't bent , natural stuff with bends and twigs eats jigs .
pvc is nice ,but fish tend to not get on it terribly fast .
if you want to ketch fish off them like tomorrow or the same day you drop them ...
BAMBOO for sure , the heavy stalk ,leafy ones will last about 2 to 4 years ....
the thin stalk more leaf stuff is the fastest , but tends to be gone in 2 or less years
it is more about do you want to hammer RIGHT now or later ....just saying :highfive
Thanks for all the replies. I’m beginning to get some really good ideas. Im wanting to make something with long term benefit I’m willing to be patient for that. PVC from the sound of it will bring that desired result. I really like the tobacco stick idea as well just scratching my head as to the means of getting my hands on some.
Thanks again this has been very helpful! Tight lines be blessed
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Do a mix of wood and pvc... best of both.
Good thinking. I believe that is the route I will go. Just curious does depth matter? To clarify I have two spots in mind one is well over 10ft deep and the other is 5 to 8ft.Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave336
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
If either of those spots would expose your "condos", due to water level drops ... I'd opt for a deeper spot (or possibly shorter "limbs" in the buckets).Quote:
Originally Posted by TBass89
You also want to make sure that there's no chance of swimmers or boaters being in danger on account of those bucket condos.
Buddy of mine used to take 5gal buckets to a lake here in KY, and simply fill them with rocks & sink them ... making them basically "stumps". He caught Crappie from around them, too.
Also, if using PVC, you'll want to rough up the surface of the pipes, so that algae will attach to them.
Before you purchase any PVC, you might want to check with your local hardware stores that carry PVC or any construction or abatement companies to see if they have any they've thrown away .... (or check their dumpsters). :twocents
Wow thanks for the feedback a lot of solid advice that’s helps greatly and as far as placement I should be good with avoiding swimmers/boaters due to desired placement being directly under the docks.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
go with bamboo and ketch now , freshen it next spring and do it all summer , drop a bit of fresh in the late summer and fall hammer , thank me later ....:Rofl
Attachment 475964
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Looks awesome! Thanks for sharing helps with ideas. I will post pictures of my finished product as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by NCkenner
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Here is a pic of 5 gallon buckets with PVC we did 6 years ago.Attachment 475967
Sent from my moto g(7) power using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Attachment 476117
Rough draft of what I’m making nothing in concrete yet.
Using crape Myrtle branch’s they are a very hard wood mixed with bamboo. Plan is to have it trimmed 3foot high.
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Attachment 476146
Progress so far
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
cut the bucket in half , trim off all the lil twigs , put boo in the middle for the buoyancy factor
just saying ....
dem is NICE bro ....:cheers2Quote:
Originally Posted by NCkenner
Thanks Ketchn I will be trimming it down for sure. Putting them out this week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ketchn
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Attachment 476291
2nd build complete you can’t tell by the picture but it’s only 3 feet in height. Gonna trim the 1st down after the advice given on here and set them out this week.
Thanks guys for all the feedback it helped me greatly for my first builds. Be blessed and tight lines!
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
In one of my home lakes there is little structure except lift poles and docks. I have stuck just random branches that fell from trees under lift metal and immediately started ketchn nice crappie off of them. I go around and check to see if there is any random branches and will ketchm there. Planning on putting stake beds as I have found some pallets in my slot and around me on the docks this winter. havn't been too aggressive here doing so as I have been ketchn quite a few with strictly dropping jigs next to existing lifts.
Local anglers club drops xmas trees every spring but going back to those sites has NOT proven very productive at all. One of reasons I joined is to go and see where they are doing so. Plus kid's fishing day and other lake projects as they are all bass guys.
dang ski club runs the lake unfortunately and if they see any tree leaning in water or structure they are nuts about pulling it out even tho it is in areas where they can't run their boats and ski. very frustrating to the local fisherfolk but those folks are in the power structure and ignore what we want.
On other home lake locals put out a lot of brush under docks and along rip rap to great effect. everyone knows they are there and one would be amazed at how many guys will ketch a nice mess or limits off of the few docks that are there or off the brushpiles within easy casting off rocks.
Attachment 476386
Ready to go
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Depends on the lake. Usually deeper is better 10-20 ft. Especially if near docks and if the water fluctuates you don’t want to have an exposed pile.Quote:
Originally Posted by TBass89
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com