Thread: life of bamboo

About how long will a bamboo bed last in the lake before it rots away?

Depends on current and boat traffic. We have some in current free water that I've fished for the past ten years... Lasts much longer than wood in my experience.

Not saying it won't break down some but it's still there and holds fish.

For me it lasts about 3 years, then the limbs will start to break off. But the main stalks will last much longer.

I think it is important to get it in the water 4 or 5 days after it is cut. It seems to hold up better.

My experince , it lasts 2 or 3 seasons and must be replaced. Some seem to last , but the small limbs leave quickly. I have brush piles last over 10 years if it's hardwood. These days we use scrap hardwood boards from a pallet mill to make stakebeds. That solid hardwood will likely out last us. The stumps in this lake are still solid after almost 70 years. Hardwood stakebeds drove in over 10 years ago on last drawdown are in good shape.
Here lately with the drawdown some of our last bamboo is showing and we have idiots tie'n off to it in the wind. Not sturdy enough for that. These stakes we use are short and will never show short of a drawdown.

They draw Lake Nimrod down every year don't they? I wonder if that's why it breaks down faster there. Everybody I talk to says bamboo will last 5-10 years and is comparable to hardwoods. Which would make sense, cause it has a lot of hardwood properties.

Originally Posted by AgriHawg

They draw Lake Nimrod down every year don't they? I wonder if that's why it breaks down faster there. Everybody I talk to says bamboo will last 5-10 years and is comparable to hardwoods. Which would make sense, cause it has a lot of hardwood properties.

If air is getting to it at points during the year, it will rot faster.CF

Originally Posted by Spiderman

For me it lasts about 3 years, then the limbs will start to break off. But the main stalks will last much longer.

I think it is important to get it in the water 4 or 5 days after it is cut. It seems to hold up better.

... and that's why I just use the main stalks in my boo structures.

Originally Posted by AgriHawg

They draw Lake Nimrod down every year don't they? I wonder if that's why it breaks down faster there. Everybody I talk to says bamboo will last 5-10 years and is comparable to hardwoods. Which would make sense, cause it has a lot of hardwood properties.

No the last drawdown was over 10 years ago. The hardwood lasts much longer except for the small limbs. I have bamboo completely submerged that after 5 years is almost gone.

I was talking to NIMROD at the ramp today about the bamboo. I too was very disappointed that ours haven't fared well. Works awesome the first year but thats about it.
I'll still put out a few fresh cut boos a year but my main type is stakebeds and big brush.

hey GCD i was thinking about sinking some bamboo this winter i was going to use 5 gallon buckets, the boxes you use don't look that big. do they seem to stay put alright?? do you think flat square works better than tall cylinder??
would you give measurements or is that top secret.yours look good real good.