I have a couple ponds on a place that I want to put structure in. I have sunk multiple cedars in the past by tying concrete blocks to them. This has worked well but I want to sink a few standing upright. What is the easiest/best way to sink them upright? Each pond is full of water.

Being full makes it a much harder proposition...but upright structure is worth the effort, IMO.

Best way I've found is to get wet, i.e. take the cedar that has a clean trunk previously placed in an old plant container or something similar hardened with concrete....try to find a relatively level spot in three to four feet of water next to deeper water.....and set it in. You don't have to have big cedars for this and in fact several small ones placed together makes some great structure and provides support to each other. I like for them to only reach the water line so really small cedars work best for this application.

Use 2 liter coke bottles full of air attached to the top of the tree and a trash bag full of concrete on the bottom.

Remove the trash bag after the concrete hardens.

Cheap and easy.

Thanks ML we have plenty of real small cedars so that shouldn't be a problem. Sounds stupid but I never even thought of placing smaller trees near the bank, which actually seems to make the most sense bc of easy access. The trees I have sunk weigh about as much as I do and are a huge PITA.

Fish fear me,

Is that method effective for larger trees bc I am still interested in sinking a couple bigger trees. We have a ledge at about 15 ft, then it drops to a little over 30.

Thanks, I appreciate the help

I did it every year on a private lake I use to own back in Mo.

The trees don't last very long, every two years you will have to do it again.

PVC pipe will last forever ...

Here is a good place to start reading about it.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/crappie-cover-lake-structure/

Two years...I've got cedars that are 10 years in the water and still providing cover...maybe our cedars are different? Anything exposed to air will rot quickly but the parts under water last a good while...maybe its just East Texas?

To each his own, but natural wood is many times more effective than PVC, IMO and experience. PVC is probably easier, less work, but for attracting fish, its hard to beat real wood.

p.s. great idea on the concrete in plastic bag...will have to try that

Thanks a bunch for the help, those bamboo crappie condos look pretty fantastic!

http://www.actionfishingtrips.com/habitat.htm

They were just xmas trees in Mo.

After one season they would just settle down on the bottom.

The only way I got stuff to stand up was to get 3-4 inch saplings from the nearest spot and put them in concrete, put coke bottles on the top side and sink them.

One year I did that and they floated off somewhere.

Beavers grab them.

Haha.

I would build a form outa plywood, line it with the trash bag and pour.

Use screws so you can take the form apart.

FTR - you can't beat real wood.

I agree.

Prior to pouring cement, make 4 holes in the bottom sides of a 5 gallon bucket. Put 6 or 8 ft rebar through the holes. Put in tree and add concrete. Lower the tree in the water. The rebar will keep it from tipping over.

Two structures that I have built for tanks are:

1. Use three pallets. Lay one flat and angle the other two together like making a roof over the first one. Wire them together and place a cinder block or two on the pallet on the bottom.

2. Take a cinder block and stuff the holes with willows. Stuff them in from opposite directions on each opening in the cinder block.

Bass seem to like the larger size structure and baitfish seem to like the willows.