Is sinking structure in any lake in TX legal or illegal? Condos, X-mas tress, ect� I have heard conflicting reports. I haven�t searched the TPWD yet. I like talking to ya�ll instead.

I've always heard it is illegal but so is speeding down the interstate and everyone does that on a daily basis.

About as legal as dumping your house trash in a state park to attract racoons.

It's fine, as long the the structure is not an ex-wife or boss

Truth is the legalities are up to the authority that manages the lake. For Corps of Engineer lakes, you have to ask the Corp.

Moral and legal are two different things.

Got stopped by the game warden sat and we got to bsn and I asked if it was ok to put condos in Limestone he said no problem just make sure I had plenty of weight on them.Darrell

I talked with a TP&WD agent about this today and ...

TPWD does not have any regulatory authority over the placement of trees, etc., in public waters for use as fish attracting structure. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers http://www.usace.army.mil/ has regulatory authority over the placement of materials in navigable waters. Also, the local controlling authority for the lake (if it is other than the US Army Corps) may have concerns over placing materials in the water.
The Corps of Engineers has issued a regional general permit that covers most instances of fish attractors that individuals would place in the water. If it's just a few Christmas trees or cinder blocks, the Ft. Worth District of USACE isn't really worried about it. If you start dumping hard stuff, such as cement pipe, regulations would come into play. A LOAD of cinder blocks would be a concern, or a huge brush pile that was cabled down. HOWEVER, certain lakes may have more restrictive on-site regulations. For example, I recently heard of somebody getting a ticket for putting a fish attractor at Lake O' the Pines. So, if it's a Corps of Engineers lake, it's probably a good idea to check with the office at that lake before you do anything.

So i asked about contact info for the various authorities and she said;

If you look up that lake on the TPWD website www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/
The controlling authority will be listed for each lake, and there's usually a phone number.

There's the official rule and then there's the DeFacto rule.

The defacto rule goes something like: Go ahead and put some out if you can get it right. Screw it up and we'll have PVC and/or branches floatin around the lake. Do it right and your work is appreciated.

Just my 2 cents.

only rule I recall,is doing it when someone is watching.
Then folks get word and after "everybody" else has fished it your efforts are for not.

I make it a point to hold several aces,its fishing not welfare:)

Id say enjoy it for a few more yrs and everybody will have side scan and nothing will be a hidden.Darrell

Ya can't fish it all and they don't bite on every pile!!

In a few years the topics will be.. " how to hide your brushpiles from sonar".. hehe

Not sure if its legal but morally I believe its much better than sinking bodies.LOL
I think use ur best judgemnet and just make sure what u sink sinks. Never think Too much wieght always think less brush bigger brick.

leanin post That a fact the biggest give away is actually getting to fish where you have sunk it. Think of hiding while fishing because I have lost more spots to Bononculur Fisherpeople.
There tatic is Watch until something caught and then do 90 straight at you until they can smell you to mark your spot..
Free World Free Fish No worries.
I tune everyone out when on the lake but You probably could prefish a lake better by following boats and watching.

Thought I would re-visit this topic after receiving a note from Monty D. Shank, General Manager, Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority.
"Please be advised we have no specifically written rules governing placement of natural and artificial fish attractor structures in Lake Palestine. Policy dictates that any fish attractor structures be of conventional design (natural vegetation(cedar trees, willow trees, etc.), PVC pipe, or similar inert nontoxic material), and that they be placed so as not to create any navigational hazard. They must be constructed so as to not trap any air and they must be securely anchored. The anchors should be constructed of something also inert and nontoxic (preferably concrete or natural stone). It is also recommended that they be secured (both together, as applicable, and to the anchor) by steel (or other noncorrosive metal) cable or wire (NOT nylon rope).

For depth of placement, it must be remembered that the lake level is not static, and the level will normally drop during the summer months. In order to insure clearance, we recommend the top of the structure be at least 10 ft. below pool elevation (the current lake level)."

He went on to say thatof course this pertains mainly to Lake Palestine and other water bodies on the Neches River but in most cases, the particular water body governing authority has complete control over this matter. Just FYI

Yes, just hast to be a certain depth. Check lake website.