Manipulating river structure.. what do you think?

[cb-fishes]

I got out last night to do some fly fishing on the creek, caught a bunch of little bluegills, greenies, and 1 little lmb. Awesome time!



I noticed it looks like somebody built a little wing dam - about 5' across - from rocks on the shoreline. I'm guessing this was not put there by the county or FP people, but some random person. Turns out it has created a great spot for fish- I got about 20 hits from downstream of this obstruction in a spot I'd never caught fish before.

What do y'all think about random people manipulating stuff in a publicly shared space like that?

I mean, it seems like there is now way more habitat for the local fish, and it created a sweet fishing spot... But is it wrong for someone to manipulate a river if they aren't a state biologist or something? I don't know what kind of effect a little wing dam like that will have on the river, but what if it causes issues like flooding or something?

I really like the new little structure in the river, and it makes me want to move a few rocks to create more hiding places for fish in an otherwise barren stretch.

What do you think?

[WaterGuy]

There are a bunch of those on the Fox and they usually make great spots...especially for smallies. I don't see what it hurts, but i think technically you're not allowed to alter the streambed.

[Hoffman]

If I lived on a river or lake I would "manipulate" the shit out of it. I call it a habitat improvements.

[cb-fishes]

If I lived on a river or lake I would "manipulate" the shit out of it. I call it a habitat improvements.

Oh yeah, totally! I would too.
I guess the thing I'm asking is land or river or lake that is not yours to manipulate...

[JB]

In the past there were a couple times where we put together wing dams on the DPR and they are still there. I think these helped alot in stretches that have little structure for fish to hold. Stretches that fish wouldn't normally hold because of channelization. Example: Sante Fe Prairie on the DPR is a channelized portion of the river and there are a number of wing dams that were constructed, in part, by the DNR.

[catchafew]

Trout Unlimited and I'm sure many other organzations some going back to the New Deal with the CCC, etc... have been doing that for years.

[Bad Water Bill]

How about all of the xmas trees that are weighted and sent to the bottom on many lakes to create structure on an otherwise barren bottom?

[Boogaloo]

I've put in some time in the past constructing wing dams. Don and I worked on a couple below the SE dam about 3 years ago. It was back breaking work, but well worth it, until the crayfish hunters came out and practically destroyed it a few months later

[Steve]

I think its all cool as long as you are not altering the ultimate flow in regards to dams and such. That probably goes without saying.
That being said I agree with Hoffman- If I lived on a lake or River I would be working it daily. I know a guy that sinks his Christmas trees every year in his local pond for structure.

[Steve]

p.s.
1- How did you get to the other side of that creek? ( wading?)
2- The one BAD thing about that manipulation of structure is the rocks are put along that run to keep the banks from eroding. Ive noticed a lot of the rocks are being pushed into the water, in a random way, which is eroding the bank there. When you walk it you can see all the empty spots where there used to be a nice rock walkway along the shore.

[riverine rodent]

navibigle rivers no altertions to flow without a permit from the COE

Other flows, I would think the DNR would be the agency to contact.

tempting to do but most likely illegal without permit. altering the flow without knowledge of hydrology and limnology could lead to unintended consequences not to thelong term benefit of the flow.

[Rob Busse]

I put secret rock piles in Busse lake. Illegal, but the walleyes like it.

[catchafew]

I hate it when people can't follow the law...

[Handler]

Man, I would hate to find a hole full of those...

[JB]

Hey Catchafew wouldn't those work better in the lake? Just joking. Those things look wicked.

[riverine rodent]

In that case, would you pray to the porcelain or fish god?

how much did you drink the night before ?

[riverine rodent]

There is an area of Kentucky Lake that I know locals have dropped hundreds of toilets. Sounds crazy, I know but I'm telling you, they work. The fish stack up on them.
Locals say besides the panfish attractiveness the fish love hearing the sound of lures bouncing off the porcelain. Drives them into a frenzy. I've witnessed their effectiveness.

You mean they are getting rid of that new fangled indoor plumbing and goig back to a two holer ?

[Bad Water Bill]

They are thinking GREEN.

Look at all of the water they save from pollution.

[catchafew]

Aren't those the Bill Dance models, Mike?

I'm guessing they're from the same manufacture but mine don't have Bills D's name on the package. These were dropped at a private lake. These were just under $20 a crib (with PVC pipe) and not being able to snag on the smooth PVC pipes with my gf, kids and other non serious anglers is worth it IMO. Last thing I want to deal with are snags, breakoffs and retying of rigs for others.

I've seen dozens of the cheap 'Christmas tree' cribs on different lakes where all that is left is just the cinder block. Those Christmas tree cribs only last a few years before they rot away.

[Rich]

Aren't those the Bill Dance models, Mike?

I'm guessing they're from the same manufacture but mine don't have Bills D's name on the package. These were dropped at a private lake. These were just under $20 a crib (with PVC pipe) and not being able to snag on the smooth PVC pipes with my gf, kids and other non serious anglers is worth it IMO. Last thing I want to deal with are snags, breakoffs and retying of rigs for others.

I've seen dozens of the cheap 'Christmas tree' cribs on different lakes where all that is left is just the cinder block. Those Christmas tree cribs only last a few years before they rot away.

I assume you were thinking of capping the ends, but then thought better of it on most of them?

[catchafew]

I assume you were thinking of capping the ends, but then thought better of it on most of them?

I had no intentions of capping the ends of the pipes. The tolerences of the holes on this batch of spheres were tight to begin with but when I used the blue primer it made it almost impossible to fully seat the pipes even with a wet layer PVC glue. I had to switch gears and the end of pipes to seat for that matter and instead I prepped the non primed ends/holes with a high strength isopropyl alcohol and this worked out much better.

[Rich]

I see. Just wondered about all the primer.