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As we roll by way of Christmas this December, YETI has discovered a brand new option to upcycle your Christmas tree, so it doesn’t find yourself in a landfill or just doesn’t discover additional worth after the decorations are put away. By working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD) and the Inland Fisheries Division of TPWD, they’ll take individuals’s Christmas bushes and strategically sink them in our bodies of water for extra construction and habitat for native fish populations. This mission – YETI Fish Firs – is one thing that is occurring proper now.

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When the vacation season involves an finish, it’s the proper time to consider giving again. Earlier than sending the centerpiece of your decor to the curb the place it’s destined for the landfill, think about donating your Christmas tree to your native parks and wildlife division, like we did for this mission with our buddies on the Inland Fisheries Division of TPWD. So long as your Christmas tree isn’t plastic it will possibly grow to be a habitat for fish, and a future honey gap for anglers.

Nationwide, reservoirs are in want of habitat enhancements. Sediment is washed into our river techniques and accumulates in reservoirs. Over time, the bushes and crops that fish depend on are coated up by settling grime, leading to a poor habitat impacting the well being of the fish populations as nicely and degrading fishing high quality.

“Revegetation tasks are underway, however a fir tree within the water offers a right away habitat for the fish,” says John Findeisen. John leads a staff inside Aquatic Vegetation Administration at TPWD, is the keeper of the Habitat Barge, and has been a fish biologist for 20 years.

Sunken brush — like fir, pine, or spruce Christmas bushes — presents cowl and foraging areas for fish. Bait fish like crappie will use the smaller areas within the branches for defense from predators and foraging. Bigger brush piles permit for the creation of holes that could be utilized by larger predatory fish like largemouth bass and catfishes. And it actually doesn’t take a lot earlier than seeing the advantages. John says, “even inside 10-Quarter-hour of sinking the tree, we see fish using it as habitat.”

Effectively-placed habitat buildings enhance the focus of fish in an space and enhance the fishing for anglers. After the TPWD drops the bushes, the coordinates are offered to anglers to fish these new honey holes. “Two of the most important tasks we did had been at Lake Brownwood and Lake Proctor in central Texas in 2016,” explains Mike Homer Jr., a fisheries biologist with the TPWD. “The brushpile tasks at these reservoirs used about 600 bushes. Whereas the suggestions we obtain on the fishing is anecdotal, we all know the bass golf equipment had loads of success fishing these places,” says Mike.

One other large mission was at Lake Corpus Christie State Park, an inland reservoir close to the Gulf Coast the place the TPWD dropped about 200 bushes. If each neighborhood bought collectively to recycle their bushes as a substitute of burn, mulch, or throw them out, bigger waterbodies may have a number of reefs, extra fish habitats may benefit, and it doesn’t harm that anglers’ catch charges would additionally enhance.

I consider the YETI Fish Firs mission is an superior thought as a result of the extra we will recycle or upcycle, the higher our lives can be. Furthermore, if we will help out fish, wildlife, and habitat on the identical time, that could be a full Win-Win! Attain out to YETI if you wish to take part within the YETI Fish Firs mission, and as at all times, tell us your entire private ideas in regards to the YETI Fish Firs mission within the Feedback under! We at all times admire your suggestions.