Thread: Addition to the "Performance Testing of Natural Brush Pile, Bamboo, and PVC Condo's"

Nice Research, thanks.

Nice update and nice fish!

I'm doing just the opposite, kind of. I put brush out in several locations about a month ago. I'm about to add some pvc structures to these locations just to add some more bulk to them that won't rot out. My theory was; if I could get the fish used to the brush and using the area they would be more prone to take to the pvc if introduced at a later date. I have no idea if my thinking is correct but it sounded good in my mind.I'm also going to build some places solely out of pvc just as a comparison. If I find it don't hold fish like I want it to I will add a little brush to make it more attractive. I think no matter what you put out you need more than two or three to really hold numbers of fish. I have places I fish now where I can set and catch a limit some days and never leave that spot but they are built from several brush tops.

My PVC structures are built from 3/4" pvc stuck down into concrete at angles. Some are 5' tall, some 7', and I'm going to build some 3' next. Then I'm taking two 3' pieces of 1/2" irrigation tubing and stuffing them down into the ends of each stick of pvc to create makeshift limbs. This adds a lot more bulk to them as opposed to straight pvc. So far I've only dumped a few into deep water which won't be productive for a while but I have others built that I haven't gotten wet yet. Only time will tell I guess. You experience is interesting, thanks for sharing.

I'd be interested in hearing what the results is when you get it all in the water, and given time to attrack fish. I have seen school of crappie hang over a small tree with just the truck and one branch coming off of it. My Boo Buckets, 3 in a location actually cover a 25'-30' diameter.

Make sure you add something to your PVC Structures to show up on your sonar. After about 3 months of being in the water, my PVC disapeared. Grew alge on them and become stealth. The roundness of the PVC doesn't give a good surface for reflecting the sonar, and with the hollow tubes makes it harder. But it will show up good at first. But after the alge covers it, it basically getting a soft covering to it, and obsorbs the sonar, extactly like a Stealth Fighter does. So make sure you hang a couple of jugs off of them, or something.

It really disappointed me that the PVC did not produce any better than it does, or on my lakes anyway. I was able to get 2 - 16' Trailer loads of 3/4" & 1", 21' long for nothing. Still not finished with working with PVC, but it isn't working like I had thought. Like you I was hope for structure I would never haft to replace.

I have put out the PVC Tree's, but this is the design of my Horizontal Structures I build, and hoped would work out. I put 4 of these in each location, creating a 25' diameter structure. Also a couple of PICS of my Boo Buckets. Keep me informed of your results.











keith

Again, sir, a TREMENDOUS effort ! My own theory is with the PVC slightly deeper, within 10(?)` of the natural it becomes a convienent holding/ ambush point for bigger crappies and even larger predators...placed at or close to a 1st sharp break only makes it BETTER...

Thanks for the update Keith. It would be interesting to see this test performed in the lake with little structure. Trying Boo, Plastic and Natural cover and see if they flock (school? ) to the natural cover more so than the Boo or Plastic. I'm betting they will!

One of the 3 lakes I fish is like this. Almost no structure except for Boat Docks. It is the only lake that I have good success with Boo and PVC. I assume the same thing, it is better to have something, rather than nothing. At this lake I can catch 5-15 crappie off of a Boo or PVC Structure. It is also a awesome dock shooting lake.



keith

keep this info coming! i just put out 3 big piles yesterday. the first was my above ground pool steps that broke but had several holes around them i filled it full of bricks threaded and tied in then ran 25 sticks of boo in each side and out the other this is in 22ft water. 150ft away i tied several hackberry limbs together and sunk where the water changes from 22 to 11 ft pretty quick in about 13-14ft. then ( i was anchored) tied 2 12ft pen oaks together and sunk with cynder blocks just on the opposite side of the boat. so this is like one big pile of junk. i have never crappie fished in this area but it just looks like it has to hold fish. i will try it in a week or two. from now on i will either cut from the bank or use premade boo buckets. that was a lot of work. about a mile from ramp.