Alright, just last weekend I figured out ya'll crappie fishermen set out brushpiles yourselves... I think that's brilliant! When I went out last weekend with Waco Kid he told me to take 5gallon buckets, fill them with cement or quickcrete, and dunk some brush piles in them and you're done! Is there a simpler, cheaper way to do this? I'd like to do this at the creek I fish; it has tons of bluegill and the creek has little structure. Would bluegill and bass find the structure and make it its "home" like crappie do? I threw out a couple of bushes but they all float.

Would this also allow the fish to grow bigger and allow the creek to hold more of them? What I was thinking is this would allow all the young one's to seek shelter from bass or the one and only catfish there.

cinder blocks is about the only other alternative that I know of.

I have a few bricks in the garage, just tying the brush to them would work? Nylon rope for example?

yes, just make sure to use enough bricks so it doesnt float and damage someones boat or your boat. nylon rope should work fine. I used cotton rope about a year ago and those piles are still there.

It's to shallow to have any boats there, so no worries..

but it could float out into the main lake, just a thought.

True, I don't want them to float anyway.. Would be pointless of me putting them out there..

Thanks.

Also, by putting it in a creek it would take more weight than one out in the main lake. Usually creeks flood when a rain event occurs so the brush could get swept away.

how deep is the creek? I've seen pictures where people use cinder blocks with the holes turned horizontal and poke brush through them and drop them. I'll try to find a picture for you.

The creek ranges from a few 6"-7' ..


What I was planning to do is find a old tree and lay it from one side of the creek to the other side and making a man made natural dam.. Not trying to flood the creek, but make about half the width just sticks and stones.

The main issue is rain. When the creek water level is bank high, it will wash your man-made dam out to the main lake. Any thing you put in creeks or rivers is temporary at best. I think a lot of people sink their brush around boat and fishing docks on the main lake to begin with.

best I have seen.

Cool, I'm going to make one of those, I have some chicken wire in the garage and I'll just use a bunch of bricks. Thanks

I've put out brush several times the last two seasons and finally figured out how to do it the easy way.

Here's my Rule #1 for brushpile making: Use materials already available at your lake.

When you're out fishing make a note of places where there is downed timber near the water edge or even partially submerged. Also note locations with chunks of concrete or large rocks (dams, rip-rap etc). The only materials I took with me to the lake is my boat, some nylon rope and some baling wire and wire cutters. I got a roll of concrete rebar wire at Home Depot for $4 per roll of 300 feet. Thats all you need to spend money on.


Pick out several rocks or concrete chunks, about 50 pounds each, from the rip-rap and put them on the deck of your boat. Then drive your boat over to timber that's already down at the water's edge and drag it out into the water. You'll have to get in the water but thats easier than chopping and sawing and hauling. Timber that's already down and partially in the water is easiest. Make a good pile of it bound together with wire or nylon rope. Then tie a rope to it and tow it out to where you want to sink it.

Wrap your wire securely around your big rocks or concrete chunks, then tie it to the timber and watch it sink. If you want a bigger pile then drop a marker buoy and go get more timber.

For me that method is a hell of a lot easier than chopping then hauling, limited by how much you can haul in one trip to the lake. But if you use materials available at the lake you can set numerous large piles all on one trip, so long as downed timber is readily available at your lake. I've never seen a Texas lake that didn't have downed timber along the banks. Total cost: about $5 for a season's worth of wire plus a little effort. Don;t be afraid to get wet but watch out for snakes.