St. Louis area residents can put their used
natural Christmas trees to good use after the holidays.
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—What better Christmas present could there be
than a new home? Of course, some anglers might say an
improved chance to catch some fish would be at the top of their list.
Christmas
trees can check both boxes off the list by creating a place for fish to live and
giving an advantage to anglers.
The
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is accepting used natural Christmas
trees to create fish habitat in Lake 33 on the August A. Busch Conservation
Area in St. Charles, and in north St. Louis County at Spanish Lake Park.
So how
does recycling a used Christmas tree give fish something to celebrate? Turns
out, a bunch of them can create the aquatic equivalent of an underwater condominium.
“A lot
of lakes we work with are manmade and there’s not much fish cover in them, so
we have to figure out how to put fish habitat in those lakes,” said Kevin
Meneau, MDC Fisheries Management Biologist.
“Christmas trees are one of the best ways to do that in winter.”
According
to Meneau, the trees provide woody cover that makes excellent habitat for
invertebrates. These are an ideal food source for smaller fish, which draws
them in like a magnet. This in turn brings in bigger fish and creates a
situation that gives a boost to the lake’s entire food chain.
“They
also help young fish,” Meneau added, “because when the adults spawn their young
can hide in those trees.”
The
trees benefit some of the most popular fish that anglers like to pursue,
including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie.
Since
these fish typically spawn in shallow water, the trees are tied to cement
blocks and submerged at depths of four-to-seven feet to give emerging fish easy
access to their cover.
The
underwater brush piles concentrate fish, so the submerged trees can be a boon
for anglers as well. By noting the
location of the trees, astute anglers can focus their efforts in these areas to
improve their odds. Meneau said the tree
tops are usually visible for five-to-six weeks after being put into the lake
before they become water logged and sink completely. This gives anglers until about mid-March to
locate these potential fishing jackpots.
Resourceful anglers often mark the sites for future reference on maps
they make themselves or by using a GPS.
Meneau
said it’s best to drop off the entire tree, without cutting it up or removing any
branches. Tree donors should remove all
decorations, including lights, garland, and ornaments before drop off.
The
August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles is located on Route D, two
miles west of Highway 94. Signs on the
area will guide visitors to the drop off point.
Spanish Lake Park is located at 12500 Spanish Pond Road in Spanish Lake.
Christmas
trees can be donated at these lakes between now and Jan.10, 2018.
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