Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 31, 1994 TAG: 9401310271
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sunken trees, provided either by nature or man, are attractants for fish, which makes sunken trees attractants for fishermen and fisherwomen as well.
Tree-sinking is a favorite practice of many anglers this time of the year, especially for those who know how important cover-fishermen call it structure-is to fish.
``You're providing a place for fish to congregate, and predators will prowl around the outside,'' said Mike Duval, a Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist at Forest. ``You can increase your catch rate significantly.''
Since trees are favorite hiding and feeding places for species such as crappie, bluegill and bass, fishermen can create their own hot spots by providing structure when none exists in their favorite lake or farm pond.
Knowing the movement patterns of fish can help anglers place structure in the correct spots. Fish migrate vertically, Duval said. When the water becomes warmer in the summer, fish will travel down to cooler water. Then, they will rise in the cooler months.
Building structure around this migration pattern is a good way to increase your catch rate, according to an Ohio State University study.
When sinking trees, though, there are more things to consider than just throwing a Christmas tree from the bank into the water:
Never create an artificial reef or attractor in a public or private lake without checking with the Department of Inland Fisheries first. While there is no regulation that requires a permit for sinking trees, ``if you're working with a privately-owned lake, it's best to coordinate everything with these groups,'' said state fisheries biologist John Jessee of Marion. ``At one of our lakes, a good many Christmas trees became buoyant and floated all over the lake. It can become an unsightly situation, and on a larger reservoir, it can become a boating hazard.''
On lakes impounded by Appalachian Power Co., such as Smith Mountain Lake and Claytor Lake, sinking trees is discouraged.
``The big thing that bothers us is, with the fluctuation of the reservoirs, you can create navigation hazards,'' said Mike Thacker, Apco's reservoir superintendent. ``We would request people not do it at all.''
On public lakes, the person to check is the state fisheries biologist in your area, Jessee said. ``Ask for his advice,'' he said.
When sinking a tree, be sure it is properly secured. Trees intended to attract fish can instead attract the ire of game wardens or other water users if they don't stay in place.
``Christmas trees are notorious for breaking loose,'' said Ron Southwick, a state fisheries biologist headquartered in Blacksburg. ``They break away, and the trees end up floating. It's OK in a pond. But the chances of them being where you put them in a lake are slim. The river tends to pull them out.''
A recommended way to sink trees is to wrap them with nylon cords and secure them to the bottom with cinder blocks or another heavy object. Keeping the tree in place is important, because it won't do anglers or fish much good if it moves.
The type of tree you sink should depend on the type of fish you want to attract. According to a 1990 study by Larry Cofer of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, small bass and sunfish prefer cedar trees, and bigger bass and large crappie prefer oak trees. But cedar trees do attract bigger fish because they hold an abundance of smaller food fish, the study found.
``I've always preferred deciduous [leaf-bearing] trees because they are more plentiful around here,'' Jessee said. ``Some fishermen feel [conifers] don't attract fish as well. But if you get good structure, it makes fishing a bit easier.''
by CNB