During fishery assessment, it is not uncommon to come across spots in lakes where there is a larger-than-usual quantity of fish. Such areas are often littered with fallen trees or sunken tree stumps and manmade creations such as brush piles, Christmas trees, rock piles etc. These all make up the category of fish structure. Other structures can include both submersed aquatic plants like pondweeds and emergent plants such as water willow (Justicia americana). All in all, anything that makes fish congregate around or offers them shelter or spawning sites can be considered as fish structure. The presence of these attract invertebrates which leads to small fish being attracted, eventually followed by larger ones – ultimately making the spot desirable for anglers.
Fallen trees are often the result of wind conditions or bank erosion or they can be selectively cut to drop in the lake and anchored. As they decompose, however, broken sections can drift to the spillway creating blockages. Aquatic plants make great natural structure but can be difficult to manage as the growth can easily take over a lake or establish in undesirable areas. For a structure that is not the result of fallen trees or aquatic plants, there are a multitude of commercially manufactured products as well as commercially created products that utilize reclaimed PVC and keep it out of landfills. Commercial products are easy to assemble and install though come with the highest price tag.
For the DIYer, one of the lowest cost options utilizes live Christmas trees and makes for a good New Years project. Tie off two cement blocks to sink an average size Christmas tree. Trees should be dropped in pairs at a minimum though large groupings are beneficial as well. While free Christmas trees require the lowest investment, they will eventually decompose which requires dropping more trees every few years. On a dry lake bed rock piles can be established or wooden or plastic pallets can be staked down. Gravel beds are also good to encourage bream to spawn in specific areas.
Large public reservoirs usually have buoys that mark areas where state agencies install fish structure to assist anglers in finding fish. For the private lake owner, installed structure can be marked by tying a small bobber to float at the surface or even a duck decoy. Or for a clean look on the lake surface structure can be pinpointed with a GPS at the time of installation. For ideas and plans for the DIYer a simple internet search will reveal plenty of options. For those looking to invest in a more hands-free option, drop us a line and let us handle the process for you.
