Crappie Beds

[lonkm]

Any one know where I can get pvc pipe scraps free? I want to make a bunch of beds with them. I used to work for Conco so I can get the concrete free. Just need the pipe, any size and any length from 1 foot up. Thanks Lonnie

[stone9-7=2]

I can help you out.....

PM on it's way.

[Sam]

I've always wanted to make some of those PVC crappie trees - good luck with it.

On Bull Shoals, I'd be puzzled about where to put 'em out. Would you figure the lake will return to normal level and sink them in 45' now, which is 'way too deep for crappie? Or would you put them in 16'-20', which is good for now but you may be looking at them up on the bank later on? Or maybe just put 'em on the bank now, thinking the lake may come up another 15 feet as it has in the past? That's hard to figure.

I guess I'd put them where they'd be 16'-20' deep when the water's at about 658. That would put them on the bare lake bottom where crappie cover is needed. When the water is over 20' high, like now, the fish are up in the land bushes and wouldn't have any reason to bunch up around artificial cover.

[porter57]

best ones ive seen were placed just outside of the first channel break provided it isnt too deep most of the time.

when the waters as high as its been for the last couple years,it kinda screws up where the good places are.

[binman]

just curious what is too deep i crappie fish the heck out of stockton and most of the time i am in no less than 30 ft of water fish 45 to 60 all the time crappie will suspened and school above brush but they are two very different lakes

[Sam]

Here's what Jerry Blake, a guide on Lake Greeson in Arkansas, is doing with "Bamboo Crappie Condos".

Bamboo Crappie Condos

I don't know that we've got enough bamboo growing around here for that, but it seems like some variation of his method would be a cheap and easy way to make some crappie cover.

[Zack Hoyt]

With the time of year.....I would look at getting christmas trees people are throwing out. The COE used to pick up dead christmas trees and sink them, but hasnt for a couple years.

[Sam]

With the time of year.....I would look at getting christmas trees people are throwing out. The COE used to pick up dead christmas trees and sink them, but hasnt for a couple years.

Yeah, I've thought about using christmas trees but decided not to. I've fished around the christmas tree brushpiles COE used to put out on Bull Shoals, and I can't fish within 10 feet of one without getting hung up, bad. They seem to grab hooks even worse than the natural brush that's in the lake, though they are kind of springy and sometimes you can get loose. I expect to get stuck a lot when crappie fishing, but I hate getting hung up on EVERY cast.

PVC bushes would be great about that - you could fish right through them without getting hung. I think bamboo might be kind of the same way, with at least the main canes being so hard that a hook would bounce off rather than getting stuck. I've been trying to think of some other material that would work the same way.

[Zack Hoyt]

Sam, we have made them out of scrap lumber a few times as well. Be careful how the wood is "treated", but as long as you have a good solid main arm, you can add 1x1's or so as often as you feel.

[troutgnat]

Guys,

I have alot of experience here. I used to live in a lake development and had put out numerous homemade crappie beds with great success. I have pictures somewhere that I am going to try and find and post on here for you. I know several very inexpensive formulas for crappie beds....................D