If you were going to put in a brush pile in a lake (most likely an Oak tree limb or limbs), would it be better to have the limb laying on it's side on the bottom or having the limb standing vertical off the bottom or does it really matter? If vertical, it'd be in deep enough water that even if the lake got extremely low, it'd still be deep enough to not interfere with motor props or trolling motors.

I dropped a few before the summer and stood them straight up off of the bottom. They haven't produced very well. They are all cedars. I wish I would've tried one laying on its side. Also, it seems like the piles I find that aren't mine that appear to be laying on their side produce well.

vertical...more surface area available.

Gman

I dropped our old pre-lit tree in a few weeks ago, it was a beech to get it all together and dropped in. Went back last weekend, perfect outline on the graph. I think those trees that you see that have fell over due to weak bank sand along the banks are perfect, plan to cut a couple, drag them to depression area and put a cinder block in. Too many branches is not good cover from what everyone says.

Oak makes awesome piles I use it exclusively since most of my oaks have oak wilt. I have done both laying on its side and set up straight in a bucket. In my experience laying on its side holds more fish and I don't get hung up as much so it's a win/win. Oak lasts a LONG time. I'm still fishing piles 6 years old.

If you stand them up make them short and fat. It's always better to have more horizontal surface area than vertical. It's easier to find the pile and stay on it in windy conditions. Fish hide under the vertical ones vs on top of one's on their side also vertical takes ALOT more time to mix up concrete, keep them upright to set then they catch wind on the trip to the lake and on the lake. Tying a cinder block in the middle of a oak top takes all of 2 minutes.


Hope it helps.

Oh forgot to mention that you can lay ones on their side in shallower water