Thread: What kind of brush works for you?

I am new at the brushing. During march we put out 3 big cedars in 25 ft of water on the bank of the river which is 35 ft. IT is always good for two or three fish, thats it. Last weekend we put a sweetgum with them and we are picking up a few more. We have one big cypress top sunk near a huge stump in 20 ft of water and its good for six or eight fish per trip. Our other brush piles are made up of willows and sweetgum, but are only good for two or three fish. I guess my brush just hasnt been out long enough. How long does it take and what kind of brush works for you? I am in the Shirley Creek area of Sam Rayburn. Thanks for any info.

Willow is the best IMHO. I usually try to get it put in on the bank of a creek bend, but if no bend where I want it I still try to hit the bank of the creek and not the middle of the creek. I don't know what size your brush piles are either.

Never use Black Walnut or you will not have any fish at all. The bigger the better or the more fish that can live around it.

I have a guide friend over here on Toledo Bend and I think he said that he usually gets about 30 off of one brush pile so he then can move on to another to try and get a limit. He said he leaves them still biting.

I think he made about 10 new brush piles this year and added brush to any old ones he was still catching fish on.

Thanks Skip for the info. We have two to three trees per spot. These trees are normaly 12 to 15 ft tall.

I would think that is big enough so don't know what is wrong, but they should produce way more fish.

Originally Posted by rooter

I am new at the brushing. During march we put out 3 big cedars in 25 ft of water on the bank of the river which is 35 ft. IT is always good for two or three fish, thats it. Last weekend we put a sweetgum with them and we are picking up a few more. We have one big cypress top sunk near a huge stump in 20 ft of water and its good for six or eight fish per trip. Our other brush piles are made up of willows and sweetgum, but are only good for two or three fish. I guess my brush just hasnt been out long enough. How long does it take and what kind of brush works for you? I am in the Shirley Creek area of Sam Rayburn. Thanks for any info.

I like Oak 1st and Willow 2nd. Long main oak limbs set up verticle last about 7 years, a willow will last a long time as well. Both have worked for me forever. A little tip on setting out brush... Some people set out big piles and the following year wonder what happend to their piles. If you put out brush with the leaves on them, they become magnets for silt, alage, etc... and get weighted down and pull to the bottom. By The second year... their gone. If you can select some brush, that is dormant, or dead.. it stays where you put it for many years to come and produce twice the fish, because of the upright structure it provides. Top it off with some alfalfa range cubes and your on your way. Your all over it man. The harder you work the luckier you get. Good luck fishing.

Originally Posted by SlabCO

Top it off with some alfalfa range cubes and your on your way.

Range Cubes? That's awesome. How do you go about getting them down there with it?

Toe sack, burlap bags, with a weight in the bag, 20 -30 lbs of cubes and down it goes. The alfalfa cubes seem to produce better crappie and bait fish that corn, sweet feed, milo, or other grains. They tend to attract catfish.

My general rule is anything except hackberry, elm, and christmas trees. Some of the best I have used are Arizona Ash, Willow, Cedar, Redbud, and Oak.

I know it's not brush but PVC works the best, it lasts for ever and you don't get hung up as much. I like willow and try to find willow in the area I'm going to put the piles so I don't have to transport the materials to the lake.
GoodLuck

IMHO, I think it has to do more with location than content. A good spot
will hold crappie with very little cover. A bad location will not produce much
no matter what you put down there. I like cedar because it lasts for more than a few seasons.

MO