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Minnow
Wood vs PVC?
Ok, I've done a lot of searches here and I see that both wood and PVC are liked for structures. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
I have both materials and can make whatever I want. I'm inexperienced though and not sure if one has problems I'm not aware of; I assume wood will snag more than PVC, I also assume wood will attract sooner than PVC, and I assume wood will decay sooner than PVC. Are these correct, what am I missing?
Crappie.com 3K Star General
You are accurate on most accounts. Wood provides denser cover which allows small baitfish and juvenile pan and game fish to easily penetrate it and being organic it becomes a slow release food object, thus supporting a much greater bio diversity than PVC is able to. By using BOTH types together you get the best of both...
Minnow
Dense construction, both materials, and in a line from shallow to deep.
Easy enough.
Thanks!
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Pvc you need to rough up to get algae to grow on it sooner little more expensive than wood but lasts forever. Wood doesn't last as long and some types don't allow the growth either
Minnow
Know anything about Hedge (Osage Orange)? I was thinking of using it since I have a bunch growing on the place and it's a very long lasting wood. Will it allow algae growth?
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Hedge is good about any hardwood I was mainly thinking like treated types...
fish getter LIKED above post
Minnow
Thanks.
I wouldn't mess with treated. If I made with wood it would be natural: hedge, cedar, oak, mulberry, elm, ash... stuff that I have around the place.
Crappie.com 1K Star General
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Actually, have used pvc conduit just by sticking in mud when lake is down. It is limber enough that your hook will slide over it. Never tried no areas except, bedding areas, which it works very well. It is dark gray, and cannot be seen unless you look real close. Use 1/2 inch and leave it about 2 ft high from bottom contour. Put some in 10 yrs ago, and still produces when fish go into shallow water.
John 3:16
Crappie.com 2K Star General
Treated wood contains arsenic and other poisons...always use untreated lumber!
Osage Orange/Hedge Apple is one of the best and longest lasting woods to use....It CAN last a couple lifetimes, de[ending on size.
Lowell and I have used it all and in many combinations.
The Basic differences are that PVC will last forever and wood is Natural and decays. Christmas Trees, Cedar, brush piles, 'boo, untreated wood pallets, are all great for smaller fish, fry, and minnows...they decay the fastest...I normally put them shallow 5 to 15ft.
I like big wood and limbs in deeper water for larger fish. Same with big PVC and Plastic...small fanned out PVC really offers no cover, shade, or protection. If you use smaller PVC, it has to be dense...think about how many 12 inch slabs can hide or relax in it! Some will hover above but if Predators come along they will get in it during various times of their patterns.
Josh Andrews from the LA board, patterned and covered his lake this way, and it has turned into a Monster Crappie Fishery...you have to provide cover etc., for the whole system and food pyramid, that way you have a self sustaining area, instead of one that gets fished out!
Keitech USA Pro Staff
Thanks: 
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