Thread: What kind of structure to put in pond?

Both PVC AND Osage Orange (Hedge Apple) have 1 thing in common: your kids and your grandkids will be fishing on them and possibly your great grandkids...think of them as `forever` cover because they are real close to that...

I would use driven wood stake beds for a shallow pond . How are you going to separate the sexes on your Crappie ? If you keep several big Bass and/or Flathead Catfish they won't over populate as quick . Fish them heavy removing small ones can help. But most do not recommend Crappie for small ponds

Originally Posted by NIMROD

I would use driven wood stake beds for a shallow pond . How are you going to separate the sexes on your Crappie ? If you keep several big Bass and/or Flathead Catfish they won't over populate as quick . Fish them heavy removing small ones can help. But most do not recommend Crappie for small ponds

This is why I tell everyone to contact a Pond Management Specialist or someone who has experience with them in their area! If you have no experience with Ponds or their ecosystems, you can throw it out of wack quickly, and waste a lot of time and money.
Stake beds would be ideal in a shallow pond that is shady, but a Shallow pond that gets a lot of sun needs large cover that casts a shadow, that fish can retreat to.
One of the biggest problems with ponds are fish that are stressed by heat and then cannot get out of the sunlight....Shade can offer several degrees less than other water.
Deep ponds offer different options also, same with clear ponds, fertile ponds, well filled, creek filled, or rain filled...or ponds with aerators or flow. If the pond has vegetation, then another factor comes into play, and that leads you to other options....Each type of pond, JUST LIKE A LAKE, RIVER, ETC, has a optimum type of cover. That's why you need understanding of the specific pond...also, Crappie cover differs from Cat or Bass cover....and PVC is ALOT easier to fish than any type of wood....but if your smart and surround long lasting wood with PVC, you get the best of both.
IMHO, I prefer to put in cover that you will not have to go back and recover in a lifetime....I prefer Big or Long lasting wood, over thin wood or stakes that degrade quickly...I prefer Cedar or other longer lasting brush/branches over Christmas trees....but, if that is all you have, it is better than nothing...just remember that it needs to be replaced to have optimum fishing and ecosystem health.

Most fishermen that add cover, really don't care what the cause/effect of cover is, or how it works...The main thing that people need to understand is that cover increases the fish holding capability of an ecosystem, and increases the health of the ecosystem by improving the basic food chain and benefits the entire life cycles of the fish (Shade, protection, food stations, gives off oxygen, etc, etc)....it can also be a secondary benefit to fishermen by attracting fish to certain areas so they can be easily caught...but in a pressured lake, this can be a nightmare!

Correct. (unless you use the B-52 squadron "carpet bombing" strategy- evil laughter sound effect here...)

Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR

This is why I tell everyone to contact a Pond Management Specialist or someone who has experience with them in their area! If you have no experience with Ponds or their ecosystems, you can throw it out of wack quickly, and waste a lot of time and money.
Stake beds would be ideal in a shallow pond that is shady, but a Shallow pond that gets a lot of sun needs large cover that casts a shadow, that fish can retreat to.
One of the biggest problems with ponds are fish that are stressed by heat and then cannot get out of the sunlight....Shade can offer several degrees less than other water.
Deep ponds offer different options also, same with clear ponds, fertile ponds, well filled, creek filled, or rain filled...or ponds with aerators or flow. If the pond has vegetation, then another factor comes into play, and that leads you to other options....Each type of pond, JUST LIKE A LAKE, RIVER, ETC, has a optimum type of cover. That's why you need understanding of the specific pond...also, Crappie cover differs from Cat or Bass cover....and PVC is ALOT easier to fish than any type of wood....but if your smart and surround long lasting wood with PVC, you get the best of both.
IMHO, I prefer to put in cover that you will not have to go back and recover in a lifetime....I prefer Big or Long lasting wood, over thin wood or stakes that degrade quickly...I prefer Cedar or other longer lasting brush/branches over Christmas trees....but, if that is all you have, it is better than nothing...just remember that it needs to be replaced to have optimum fishing and ecosystem health.

Most fishermen that add cover, really don't care what the cause/effect of cover is, or how it works...The main thing that people need to understand is that cover increases the fish holding capability of an ecosystem, and increases the health of the ecosystem by improving the basic food chain and benefits the entire life cycles of the fish (Shade, protection, food stations, gives off oxygen, etc, etc)....it can also be a secondary benefit to fishermen by attracting fish to certain areas so they can be easily caught...but in a pressured lake, this can be a nightmare!

We use hardwood stakes about 2''x 4'' size driven in , completely submerged will out last any brush . Hardwood lasts for many years if it is heavy enough not thin strips .

Originally Posted by NIMROD

We use hardwood stakes about 2''x 4'' size driven in , completely submerged will out last any brush . Hardwood lasts for many years if it is heavy enough not thin strips .

If you don't mind me asking, how do you pound 2x4's in a pond that's filled, and how do you get them underwater? Seems like alot of work compared to dropping buckets in??
Wouldn't it defeat the purpose to place them in the shallows if the pond water heats up?
That's why we fill shallows with longer lasting brush blocks (osage, cedar) and easy to get Christmas trees for minnows and baitfish that can survive the shallow water heat.
Heck, maybe you're on to something??

Our biggest problem with putting stakes into the bottom was that the ODNR person who gave her blessing and support was adamant that everything had to be able to be pushed over by boats that might hit them as opposed to being fixed solidly. (We have to put up with sail boats with keelsoms down to 6` and the jet skiers... )

A member in Southaven gave away some pvc fence panels years ago. The panels slide in a chain link fence to make it private. They are hollow and a rough measurement is 1/4" thick X 2 1/2" wide and 8' long. I got 2 bundles of 50 or 100, can't remember. You're welcome to all you want if you pick them up. If you want more I could check with him.