Where do i put out brush and or condos? How deep? How many?
Here's the run down of what Im looking at....

The lake Im wanting to do this at is about 12-15' low at the moment. Would i be doing any good by putting brush out on points near the creek channel or would i want to put them out in the flats? Im sure its probably gonna be a learn as i go process as far as what areas are gonna produce better. Im just looking for a little direction. Thanks in advance.

Sounds like you already have the idea. Putting out Structure at Points, Creeks, and where water gets deep close to the bank, are usually the best spot. So this is where we start. We also put a few on Flats, but don't spend alot of time or structure on flats, until the fish show they are going to be there. Once we start catching a few fish on a Flat, we will come back and sink a few more. We like putting Structures in creeks where 2 creeks feed into one. On Points we like to work the deeper side of the point.

We put most of our structure at 10'-15' of water because that is where the crappie will spend the greatest part of the time. We also will put a few in 5'-7' of water, for spawning fish. We like to put these on a sandy bank, or a bank with brush and structure growning in 1'-3' of water. This will create a STAGING PATH for the crappie. Starting at 10'-15' moving up to 5'-7', then to spawning water, and back.

Also the Water Level of the lakes needs to be figured in. With most lakes being 7+ feet low. You need to know how low your lake is, and figure it into your depths. If your lake is 7' low, and you sink your Brush at 12'-15', when the lake comes back to mormal, your brush will be 19'-22'. So make sure you are considering the lake at Normal Pool. The lake being 1'-3' low is in the normal range, but 7+ range needs to be given some consideration.

As far as how many.... The more the merrier. Can;t ever have to many. We started with 20-25 last year, and wil add that many this year. Our best producers form last year, will get added to this year. Then we will be looking for new spots.


keith

It depends on the depths of the current water depth in my opinion, if these creeks are in 30' of water right now, then no...but if it's 10-15'...then yes. Look for creek channels or where 2 meet, steep ledges, etc... Keep in mind the time of year you will fish these most and which direction the wind will be coming from. Also time of year you fish is important for your depth...12' is good for spring and fall, then anywhere from 20-30' for winter. This depends on the lake as well. That should be pretty standard for Bridgeport or Amon G. Carter (assuming that's the lake your talking about) all of this is just my opinion and things I've learned on the forum....I'm Rowdy, and I approve this message.

I am working on doing some brush piles that are exposed at this time seeing the lakes are so low. I found an idea that some guys are doing with concrete blocks and bamboo. They stack the concrete blocks alternating the directions of the slots. Then jam the bamboo in the slots creating a rather large brush pile. most of the guys are doing this about three-four blocks high. I would think that if you secured the bamboo to the blocks then it would last much longer. My only problem with this is that everyone will know whats up before the lake rises. They may even try to steel them and put them in their own desired location as well. I guess its a chance you would just have to take.

Great advice. I haven't seen anyone mention the type of lake bottom. In my fishing ventures I have caught a lot more fish around rocky type bottoms. And when I say rocky I mean gravel size. Crappie (at least where I fish) do not like muddy bottoms. Of course this is just my opinion.

BayouBob,

They may be using so many bricks to be able to pull the Bamboo down, or keep it down when watter comes up. Bamboo is VERY buoyant, each little section to the end of stick is a water tight chamber full of air. This is what we were building when we started. The problem was, a 5 gallon bucket, with 80 LBS of cement wouldn't pull the down.



And that wasn't the biggest problem. Looks like a good pile, but was to thick to fish inside the structure. Was a pain to work a jig in, and impossible to get the jig out. Now we cut our buckets in half, stick 5 pieces of Baboo about 4'-5' long in them and fill the 1/2 bucket with cement. We are still getting about a 6'-8' diameter from the Bamboo. Now we can fish inside the pile, and if we need it bigger, we sink 2 or 3.

You might think about using 1 brick, stood on it side (Holes Up) and putting 3 pieces of Bamboo in each hole (Total of 6 pieces, nothing bigger than your thumb, with as many limbs as you can get on them, cut about 4' or 5' tall) and fill holes with cement. As long as you don't use the big Bamboo it should sink.

That would give you 3 or 4 to 1 on your structures. Just put 2 out at a time if you think you need to. Sink the in 6' of water and they are invisable. Just an opinion after a few Trails and Errors. We have got it working our way now. we figured out it don't take much brush to hold crappie.

Just a thought.


keith

Some good info, but I will add this; if you put out your brush in hopes that the lake will be full this spring you will be doin yourself no good. Sink brush for what the lake is doing right now and when the lake comes up put more brush out. You will never have enough brush, I have over 300 marked on Palestine and I still put brush out and look for more every time I go out. Some piles will always produce fish while others will only be good sometimes. I like putting brush in creek/river channels but ledges and drop offs are good as well. Another thing I will add is when I sink brush I would rather have one big pile rather than 10 small piles. When we sink brush we actually sink a whole tree cut from the bank. I believe you will have more fish hold on your piles if they are bigger and you will enjoy more success this way than having 100 small PVC or bamboo condos. This is just my opinion and what works best for me, I have sank boo and PVC in good spots and never had much luck, then sink a tree next to them in the same spot and in no time start catching good numbers of fish. Good luck