Confessions of a rookie structure builder

About a month ago I sank my first structure for crappie. Being as smart as what I am I decided to put it out in one of the few snow storms we have here because I knew no one would be on the lake. It was snowing so hard you could not even see the houses on the shore. My first drop was in an underwater creek channel that I marked with a marker buoy, then dropped my structure around it. The second spot was in some deep water in the middle of the lake that seemed to have fish on the depth finder already, so I dropped the marker buoy which started unrolling then sank before I could get to it. I went ahead and dropped the structure without the maker buoy to help me stay in position. About 2 weeks ago I fished the same lake and noticed about where I dropped the structure 2 boats had pulled up and was fishing that area. It was then I realized what happened. When I marked the first dump point and rolled up the buoy, the wet string froze. When I dropped the marker at the second spot, the string did not unroll because it was frozen and the weight caused it to sink. I make the second dump and leave. When the string thaws out it unrolls and the buoy comes to the top marking my "secret" fishing hole. It's like they say, some people just can't keep a secret:rolleyes:

I think I've done some better since.

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Originally Posted by RCC

About a month ago I sank my first structure for crappie. Being as smart as what I am I decided to put it out in one of the few snow storms we have here because I knew no one would be on the lake. It was snowing so hard you could not even see the houses on the shore. My first drop was in an underwater creek channel that I marked with a marker buoy, then dropped my structure around it. The second spot was in some deep water in the middle of the lake that seemed to fish on the depth finder already, so I dropped the marker buoy which started unrolling then sank before I could get to it. I went ahead and dropped the structure without the maker buoy to help me stay in position. About 2 weeks ago I fished the same lake and noticed about where I dropped the structure 2 boats had pulled up and was fishing that area. It was then I realized what happened. When I marked the first dump point and rolled up the buoy, the wet string froze. When I dropped the marker at the second spot, the string did not unroll because it was frozen and the weight caused it to sink. I make the second dump and leave. When the string thaws out it unrolls and the buoy comes to the top marking my "secret" fishing hole. It's like they say, some people just can't keep a secret:rolleyes:

I think I've done some better since.

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Man that hurts doesn't it:mad: But glad you rebounded:D

did you catch anything on that spot or should i ask some one else we try to learn from things like that mabey no one seen it

I haven't caught any there, but have only fished it one time in hurricane force winds. You may should check with the other guys that fished there;). I didn't see them catch any but I was to busy to watch while catching over someone elses condo I stumbled across:D

thats the way to do it glad to hear you getting some and good luck

ive been there back in the fall i put out a bouy and threw out 4 or 5 trees, went back to ramp picked up a few more came back to bouy, i thought i was further down but heck the bouy was right there , so i dumped the rest of the trees went to get the bouy and it hasnt even unraveled, needless to say i was throwing trees at a moving target lol, took me abit to locate first group of trees, and something else i learned i liked to put abunch of boo in the side of blocks so they lay flat for shallow water, guess what beavers love bamboo, yep beavers about cleaned me out on several of those i put out lol, alot of hard work for nothing but i learned something...

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Originally Posted by jhef

ive been there back in the fall i put out a bouy and threw out 4 or 5 trees, went back to ramp picked up a few more came back to bouy, i thought i was further down but heck the bouy was right there , so i dumped the rest of the trees went to get the bouy and it hasnt even unraveled, needless to say i was throwing trees at a moving target lol, took me abit to locate first group of trees, and something else i learned i liked to put abunch of boo in the side of blocks so they lay flat for shallow water, guess what beavers love bamboo, yep beavers about cleaned me out on several of those i put out lol, alot of hard work for nothing but i learned something...

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The condo placing is not as easy as I imagined, but I have had some fun doing it. The last time I went it was 4am and foggy. I found out that the spotlight, the fog, and a big load of condos don't mix well. When I lit up the light all I could see was the condos in the boat. Looks like I may get to go tomorrow and see if there is any fish on them.

Thanks for sharing your "humorus" experience.

At least you're gettin' out there and placin' that structure. Yup, some will find it, but so what? Crappie are prolific breeders and where I fish, it is a public lake. Stuff dropped in the pond becomes public property.

Just go have some public fun, knowing you're the one that originated that 'spot.' :D

aj

Once I accidentally left a marker buoy on one of my best spots. I couldn't believe it a week later when I came back to fish.:( There's no telling how many people got a GPS on that spot.

I have a question... I made a condo simmilar to what yall are saying ..out of PVC ... the buthead at the gate told me i coulndt put it in the water..made me leave it at the gate.... I asked why and they said it wasnt good for the fish! WTH?

I have put out tons of christmas tree in my time but NEVER when the temp. was below freezing.....
Late, late fall or early winter when crappie chasers are at home is my best time....

I noticed a nice cedar tree some one had left by the ramp today. I know I'm not the only one sinking crappie cover in our local lake. I still haven't caught but 1 fish on the stuff I've dropped but we'll keep checking it.