Thread: Fruit Tree Trimmings As Brushpiles

Just a word of advice to anyone, if this hasn't been discussed already, sorry I posted it, just surfed into this site today and I haven't checked out everything yet.

Anyway, I read in a magazine several years ago that apple, pear, peach, well, just about any type of fruit tree makes the best brushpiles. It explained that they become effective as soon as they hit the water because fruit trees contain a sap that draws minnows like a magnet. We tried that once or twice, and IT'S TRUE!! We trimmed my mother's apple trees, took them and dumped them on the lakebank and used a jonboat to get them to the destination. We also built a stakebed and dropped it nearby using rough lumber from a sawmill. We staggered the stakes from 1' high to 3' high, it was tough getting it to sink, but we managed.

Someone caught something nice every time we went there, I'd usually get around 15 crappie, black, white, and blacknose, a bass or two up to 3 lbs. to 4 lbs., smallmouth and largemouth, catfish, well, just about anything.

The magazine explained that cedar trees will repel fish until something in there breaks down and decomposes. It also said cedar trees aren't as effective as fruit trees; you have to put multiple ones in there spaced out a few feet apart.

Has anyone else tried fruit trees? I don't know about wild cherry trees, I know my neighbor says if his goats eat a wild cherry, they will get really sick to their stomach.

I've heard persimmon works really well...

Yes, persimmons would be good, but the raccoons and possums will be angry.

Now I remember where I read about fruit trees-the magazine Tennessee Sportsman. They had an article several years ago about building structures.

perssimon works wonderful. caught several hundred off of one persimmon last yr

crab apple trees work really.good don't like xmas trees unless you burn them first. All fruit trees seem to be a better choice.. must be the sap????

I have a question for you fruit tree brushpile builders, if you had a fruit tree and just plain wanted to get rid of the whole thing, would it be best to wait for the leaves to bud out completely, get thick, then cut the thing up, and dump it into your fishing hole, or cut it at bud break while the sap first comes up, or cut it up and dump it while it's dormant? You'd think it would be best at least while the sap is up. IMHO, I'd let them get plenty of leaves on them, then dump them.

Mabey hit,s best to headd on downrivver width yore chane saw and cut all them thare pursimmmons amd crabbaples u kin find whin noboddy,s a lookin' amd git yoreself a fishimg hole..........,,,,,,,,,,Mattheww?

Persimmon is my favorite tree for brushpiles.

My experience is that crappie rarely move into trees until the leaves are off of them. I have had some old timers (I'm getting there myself) tell me that the leaves sour the water, and the fish won't move in there until they are gone. Now neither them nor I have ever been using fruit trees, so maybe there is a difference on them. I know Nimrod likes persimmon trees, and he might be able to tell you if the leaves being on makes a difference one way or the other, and I guess you would call a persimmon tree a fruit tree.

i would let the leaves get as big as possible then sink them because it causes more shade for the fish.

I keep my persimmon trees for deer and use other species for crappie brush piles...if you have plenty of them, use 'em.