Habitat Assessment and Enhancement

Having proper fish habitat is critical for maintaining a healthy and balanced fishery and ensuring the long-term success and high recruitment of your baitfish. A lack of proper fish habitat will result in out-of-large and underperforming fisheries as much, if not more, than the lack of fish harvesting. 

Fish habitat placed in proper locations will provide protection for forage fish, as well as areas for fish orientation/ambush points which allows less loss of energy and improved weight gain. These benefits together lead to healthier fish populations, as forage fish are better able to spawn and survive into adulthood, enhancing the forage base available for predator fish. Likewise, predators will be less pressured to expend significant amounts of energy hunting, as they are better able to ambush forage fish near habitat structures.

 Fish habitat can also increase catch rates among fishermen by concentrating the fish in and around the habitats. These “fishing hotspots” can be designed and marked once implemented with a topwater fish attractant such as a marker, buoy, or Texas Angler ™ Lilypad.

AES utilizes an array of artificial habitats for existing as well as newly constructed lakes and ponds. Habitat additions will benefit any lake, improving forage fish recruitment and creating fishing hotspots, and are especially effective when placed and anchored in a newly constructed pond alongside natural structure prior to the lake filling.

Honey Hole™ habitat primarily imitates reeds and grasses that grow near shorelines and in shallower areas of the pond. These habitats provide incredibly dense habitat that attracts the fish that either need this type of environment to spawn such as shad, or the predator fish that feed on them. Adding Honey Hole™ habitat can provide higher recruitment rates for forage fish and can enhance fishing in the area by attracting predators.

Mossback™ habitat provides a wide range of artificial fish habitats, from larger structures to mimic tree laydowns, to small and dense fish habitat to mimic root balls. These habitats provide fantastic cover for a range of fish size classes, from fingerling forage fish to large bass waiting to ambush. Mossback habitats™ are extensively tested to be:

• Decay Proof
• Microplastic Free
• Snag Resistant
• Highly Durable

Texas Angler™ supplies a wide range of options for fish habitat, from spawning beds for bluegill, to large structures that provide shade and staging areas for bass. These habitats feature a range of design choices that were chosen on the recommendations of some of the nation’s leading aquatic management professionals.

• Decay Resistance: Texas Angler habitats are highly resistant to decay, and will not break down.
• Eco-Friendly: Heavily tested materials are chosen for their low ecological impact.
• Snag Resistant: Habitats are designed to be resistant to snags, enhancing the fishing experience when fishing these structures.
• Attractive for All Kinds of Fish: These habitats provide a variety of unique features, being attractive for all size classes of bream, as well as being an attractant for bass and other sportfish.

Ugly Tree™ habitat mimics the dense foliage of an evergreen tree, providing the advantage of being much longer lasting while still providing an economical option for fish habitat. These structures are often utilized by smaller forage fish but still provide fantastic ambush opportunities for bass. The tight bundles of bristles provide a perfect environment for beneficial periphyton (algae and bacteria that function as an important food source for young forage fish). These habitats are excellent options near fish feeders and docks, attracting both forage fish and the predators that prey on them.