Ok, my friend and I have been talking about making some Crappie condos here on lake Cypress Springs, and have heard that bamboo works better than PVC. We have found a couple really good spots to put them out, and there is some bamboo out here in the community we live in. I was just wondering if bamboo really is better, and if so, then why is it better? What is the difference? I would appreciate any input I could get on this subject. We have been having trouble catching them lately and can't figure out where they are.

J.X.

Not sure why someone would think that bamboo is better than PVC. Bamboo is by nature, 'full of air'.....a lot of air. So getting it to the bottom and keeping it there would be a bit more difficult than if you used PVC. And by the way, PVC holds LOTS of crappie. Anyway, If I didn't use PVC, I'd use good ole trees. They're easier to sink than bamboo, and usually stay in place.

Thanks Guy, We have a few brush piles of trees that we put out, but for some reason they just don't seem to be holding many Crappie. We found a spot that has lots of Crappie on it and tried to jig on it, but just couldn't get them to bite for some reason. I don't understand it, but I guess thats just the way it goes sometimes!

J.X.

I don't know anything about building crappie condos but would't a 60 or 80# bag of cement for a weight hold down a lot of bamboo stalks? Do you strip the bamboo of it leaves? I read about digging a hole and pouring in concrete and then sticking in the bamboo. If you sink a condo how long does it take for the crappie to discover it and move in? How deep the water and how tall should the condo be?

Yep, that would hold down a lot of bambo but it would rot out pretty quick.

Best bet is natural wood, something hard like misquite or bois-d-arc, but any tree will work and last several years. Second choice is PVC condos. Last nearly forever.

Most new piles will hold some fish almost immediately. Placement is important. Points near dropoffs are good but I have some good piles on big flats. Try to stay away from areas that have natural cover & timber. I usually put mine at 15'.

Now everyone knows where to look for mine.

Grandpa,
I don't have near the experience Mr. Earnest has, but I put a big cedar tree out a couple of years back. I waited a couple of weeks, and went and fished it. I caught only one or two. I went back about 3 months later and that was the only spot I had to fish. It took a while. I won't put out another cedar again. I ain't scared of work, but it took me to long to get it set and was a little messy. Not to mention the dang thing is gone now. I guess it got drug off. I will only use pvc trees from now on. No mess, one man can carefully install it, It to me is the only way to go.
good luck! George

grandpa,
I would not pour the concrete in the ground, use a 5 gallon bucket. You also do not strip the leaves. Another great type of material is willows. I will give you a like to a guide that post on a different board, but at least you can see what he does.
http://www.crappie.com/condo/

Then there are these PVC type some guy is making and some say they work well also.

http://www.onohang.com/

Some guys make their own (I don't know how), but some say by linking several of these together is makes a good condo. Also some say you can fill the ball in the middle with floating foam and anchor them to float up to any level you want. Like 30' of water and suspend them to 15' deep.

I do plan on making one like the first one except using willow branches.

We have several x-mas trees that we put out after the holidays. We went to all the places and got their left overs. Also sank a big Willow tree, it seems to hold fish rather well. I know one spot out on the lake where there is an old communications tower at the bottom, and it has brush all over it, it is covered alive with crappie, but for some reason we just can't get them to bite. Don't know what te problem is, but I hope we can figure it out. If anyone has any tips let me know.

J.X.

check out the feb. '04 issue of Texas fish & game. page 28 has an article titled "do it yourself honey holes". check out the crappie condos this guy is building!!