Fish attractors added to piedmont reservoirs
Project to increase and enhance fish habitat

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) began deploying 300 fish attractors to create aquatic structures or ‘reefs’ in Lake Norman and Mountain Island lake to increase and enhance fish habitat.

The project is in conjunction with state fish biologists and volunteers from the Federation’s local wildlife chapters – Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists and Mountain Island Lake Wildlife Stewards – and involves assembling and deploying the attractors in pre-determined sites.

As their name implies, the fish attractors look like giant porcupine quills. PVC pipes are connected to a ball-like sphere, forming a circular structure, which measures about five feet in diameter. Multiple attractors are placed together so that the pipes overlap to increase habitat complexity and provide cover and refuge for a variety of fishes. In time, algae and plankton growth on attractors will concentrate even more fish in one area.

Sites are fully vetted with focus on safety and meeting the intended fish habitat and angling objectives. NCWF and chapter member participants were fully trained by state biologists in assemblage of the attractors and proper deployment methods. Safe deployment depths were meticulously calculated with attractors clumped 10-20 per site at 20-30 foot water depths. The depths ensure safety as well as achieving benefits to species such as crappie, spotted bass, and largemouth bass.

According to state executive director Tim Gestwicki the project is a win-win situation for members of the public that have a vested interest in improving lake habitat and fishing opportunities.  “This is a wonderful cooperative project that will benefit local anglers and help get people out doors and connected to nature,” states Gestwicki.

Fish attractors were purchased through a grant by the Habitat Enhancement Program , a cooperative initiative by Duke Energy, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to enhance, create and protect fish and wildlife habitat along the Catawba-Wateree River basin in North and South Carolina.

Mark Lancaster, President of the Lake Norman wildlife chapter and whose company barge was used as staging for the materials assemblage was pleased with the whole effort saying that the project “gave me and the others who helped out a real sense of involvement, a good feeling about helping the resources we all care so much about.”

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to all NC wildlife and its habitat. www.ncwf.org.