Thread: Pvc tree question

More to worry about from relentless compounding water pressure. At 30` most plastic bottles, jugs, ect "implode" ie get squashed flat from the constant relentless and the deeper you go the STRONGER hydraulic water pressure it faces. Was the easy to "see" PVC was sealed and/ or capped off before it was sunk ? The air pockets are easily seen by sonars...

None of them were capped off. I imagine its just trapped air, not sure.

I would lean more towards capped pipe cause like stated bottles can get crushed and also whatever you tie them on with may snag hooks .

Originally Posted by mcgivor13

Im fixing to build some more pvc trees. Been wondering if anyone has tried capping/plugging the ends of some of the limbs? Ive got 20+ trees out all built similar and some show up really well on downscan/sidescan. Then some dont hardly show up, if I hadn't marked with gps would probably miss them. Have thought about putting a few liter pop bottles even, just dont really want to do that afraid they would come loose in time.

If you GPS them for yourself, why do you want to make them visible for others???
The whole reason we use plastic and PVC is to make them "Stealth" and invisible to radar, sonar, etc.

If you build vertical PVC trees, and sand the plastic with 60 grit, it will build a solid base of algae colonies that grip solid, and won't just wipe off...A thick base of algae absorbs beams that could bounce back to electronics.
PVC becomes invisible BECAUSE it is the same or almost the same density of water....fish show up on electronics because of the air bladder (less dense than water)....trees, rocks, structure, etc., shows up on electronics because it is alot less or alot more DENSE than water.
If built right and dropped in the right places, the Stealth and being able to last many lifetimes, is the beauty of PCV cover!

Initmidator that's awesome. I put some out several years ago and I could not find them for nothing. LOL I actually thought they washed away. I fish a private oxbow lake in MS off the river and it's very shallow. Shallow meaning drops off at bank 3 feet then tappers to 10' to 12' center and same as other side. It's about 300' wide. Has great cover up next to bank in 6' of water but after that nothing. I have never spider rigged before but I am setting my boat up now for it and going to give it a try. I am making 7 PVC trees now. I took 8" PVC pipe and cut it 5' high. I'm going to take a 55 gallon drum and cut it in half and add a bag of quick create and stand the PVC up in with a metal rod trough the bottom of the tree to hold it. Haven't figured out what to add for limbs, yet. Thinking 1/2" PVC pipe about three feet long and just run through the pipe and maybe glue it if needed. Any suggestions? Also I know fish like metal guess it grows algae faster but how long will it take for PVC? And you brought up a good point about roughing it up for the algae to stick too.

Thanks,

Tucker

Originally Posted by Tucker Reeves

Initmidator that's awesome. I put some out several years ago and I could not find them for nothing. LOL I actually thought they washed away. I fish a private oxbow lake in MS off the river and it's very shallow. Shallow meaning drops off at bank 3 feet then tappers to 10' to 12' center and same as other side. It's about 300' wide. Has great cover up next to bank in 6' of water but after that nothing. I have never spider rigged before but I am setting my boat up now for it and going to give it a try. I am making 7 PVC trees now. I took 8" PVC pipe and cut it 5' high. I'm going to take a 55 gallon drum and cut it in half and add a bag of quick create and stand the PVC up in with a metal rod trough the bottom of the tree to hold it. Haven't figured out what to add for limbs, yet. Thinking 1/2" PVC pipe about three feet long and just run through the pipe and maybe glue it if needed. Any suggestions? Also I know fish like metal guess it grows algae faster but how long will it take for PVC? And you brought up a good point about roughing it up for the algae to stick too.

Thanks,

Tucker

Correct!...Just sand it and groove it good with 60 grit and the PVC will start forming Algae quickly...if the PVC is unsanded, you can wipe most of the algae off, the PVC will be stained but not really have a strong attachment....when you really cut the PVC deep with 60 grit or higher, it leaves deep scars that the Algae can really get into and develop a strong base.

I really wouldn't worry about making horizontal Branches on the 8 inch pipe...think of the 8 inch as "Stumps"....I would add more smaller PVC standing all around the 8 inch...vertical PVC is great, think of it as a BIG stake bed for BIG fish!
If you put screws in the ends of the PVC that you put into the concrete, they will not come out....I would also make the smaller PVC taller (maybe 8 feet) then they have a open area above the 5 foot tall 8 inch Stumps...or cut it down some more if that's too tall....you also want it DENSE, think of a 16 inch SLAB CRAPPIE swimming in and out of the PVC and laying up against the 8 inch.
I believe that if you're gonna build cover, just take the extra time and do it right...it will repay you for many generations!

Good Fishing
Brent

Yeah, I read and seen some of your beds that you made and it makes sense and looks good. I have caught plenty of fish in just wooden stake beds. I also see the bamboo trees being used and was wondering how long it will last under water? Couple of years or so. Thanks for the input.

Tucker

Originally Posted by Tucker Reeves

Yeah, I read and seen some of your beds that you made and it makes sense and looks good. I have caught plenty of fish in just wooden stake beds. I also see the bamboo trees being used and was wondering how long it will last under water? Couple of years or so. Thanks for the input.

Tucker

Not sure how long the bamboo last, i got a endless supply of it and its not that much trouble to put out and im not looking for long term. I try to keep mine refreshed pretty often. I normally try to put some type of cover in the lake once a week, or when i get spare time.