Spider Blocks Make a Splash at Ohio’s Antrim Lake
OutdoorHub 07.17.12
Thanks to a 2011 graduate of Upper Arlington High School (UAHS) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, fish at Antrim Lake will have new habitat below the surface. On Thursday, July 19th at 10 a.m., ODNR’s Division of Wildlife in cooperation with Columbus Parks and Recreation Department will be placing “spider blocks” into Antrim Lake.
Ben Foster completed the fish habitat structures last year as part of his Capstone (senior) project, an independent project conducted in an area of interest chosen by the student. He constructed 100 of the fish habitats referred to as spider blocks. The structures get their name because the plastic piping used to provide cover resembles the legs of a spider.
These artificial structures provide habitat that will attract a variety of sport fish, with the goal of increasing angler catch rates in these areas. Additionally, these structures provide cover for juvenile fish in the lake. The spider blocks are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes embedded in concrete poured into the cinder block holes. The block anchors the structure to the bottom of the lake, where the plastic, non-polluting pipe will last many more years than traditional brush or tree limbs. The PVC is angler friendly, and less prone to snag lures and hooks like traditional structures.
For more information on fishing opportunities in Ohio, visit www.wildohio.com.
