On a structure like this, standing vertical, I believe you will have the Smaller fish hide within the structure and the predators will hang close. JMO

OK Mr. Fishbonz. Would you improve your fish size all over if you alternate the depth of the structure?

Where�s Ernest the crappie king? He needs to drop by and comment.

Whenever I used Xmas trees, or any tree for that matter, I thin the branches. The thicker the foliage and branches, the more I trim. I like to cut several sizeable "holes" in the cover to create areas where fish can get under the cover. It creates an ambush point for fish to swim out and attack, then slip quickly back to cover. The thicker cover will hold the baitfish, while the thinner, open areas will hold predators.

I like the truss idea, but I think it can be improved exponentially by adding additional cover horizontally to the vertical shell. Add branches, then skip a few rungs, and add more branches.

Also the more shade the better.

Eric

PM sent

This has turned into a good discussion on placing cover and the options that are available...I just thought I would share this, I saw them heading north on 75 just above Melissa....maybe going to Texoma or somewhere else north...anyone on here????

But man what a great job on the artificial cover...looks to be plastic conduit pipe and good'ol orange buckets with quickcreate.

If you use plastic pipe like above, and after they are built.....lay them down and bundle the pipe tight at the other end and let it set outside in the hot sunshine for a few days. Keep it bundled until you drop it over the side of the boat and use a slip rope so just as it goes under, it releases the pipe. The pipe will stay more vertical. Over time, it will relax some.

It takes some time, but they are much easier to handle, transport and deploy.

I will help you drop those,lol!

Well the above Trusses have been dropped. I amvery excited about how they will work.

We hung a bunch of green willow in a slip at Ray Hubbard one time and had crappie on it 5 hrs later.
That was the record for us on quick to come to it. Had to quit using willow because the beavers chewed it up and hauled it off about as fast as we could put it down!

Just Watch and see how fast your Jiggin skills improves now

Have tried them all . Nothing beats bamboo . We set ours in a five gallon buck set the in concrete . Put the about 6 ft . from the top of bamboo to top of the water . They have working in our slip for two years now . With both minnows and jigs . Pull the line out 6ft . and hang on !

If it is placed in the right spot, it will hold fish an hour or 2 after being placed.

I'm here. I still prefer plastic chairs over all else. Not much to hang up on and the fish will relate to them immediately. The algae will grow on anything but the fish really don't care. The towers will work but will be a constant hangup. I have 9 old chairs at my dock waiting to go swimming right now.