Alabama Power creates new habitat

B.A.S.S. and Alabama Power have been partners for many years. Recently, Alabama Power hosted an event that allowed B.A.S.S. Nation High School clubs to assist in building artificial fish attractors as a part of the company's Habitat Enhancement Program.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

1 / 60

To build over 200 FAD's (fish attracting devices), you must have the proper material. Two crucial components are quick concrete as well as pipe.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

2 / 60

The foundation of the FAD is a two gallon bucket.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

3 / 60

After a quick safety briefing, the work begins.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

4 / 60

Members of Gardendale High School, Huk One Bass Club, and Alabama Power employees braved a cold morning to build over 200 FAD's.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

5 / 60

Two gallon buckets were lined up across a large field in Calera, Alabama.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

6 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

7 / 60

Family members of the High School anglers provided a helping hand.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

8 / 60

Alabama Power set up a table with face covers to protect the High School anglers as well as towels the anglers could take home.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

9 / 60

Bags of quick concrete were spread out amongst the buckets.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

10 / 60

Anglers worked hard all morning to build FADs.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

11 / 60

Alabama Power's Mike Clelland observes the progress.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

12 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

13 / 60

After the buckets and bags of quick concrete were in place, piping material was spread out as well.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

14 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

15 / 60

Quick concrete was poured into the buckets.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

16 / 60

After the quick concrete was poured into the bucket, the pipe was placed into the bucket. The goal is to get the pipe buried down into the concreted before the water is poured into the bucket.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

17 / 60

The pipe would come too long to start with, so anglers would break it in half or fold it to make it fit in the buckets.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

18 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

19 / 60

An example of what a FAD would look like before the water was poured into the bucket to finalize the process.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

20 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

21 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

22 / 60

A father/son combo gets to work on a FAD.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

23 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

24 / 60

Building artificial fish attractors has multiple advantages over sinking a traditional brush pile. Traditional brush piles will degrade over time as where this style of FAD will last for much longer.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

25 / 60

The anglers may not have considered it yet, but they are building a resource that could help them catch fish for years to come.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

26 / 60

After the FAD's are built, Alabama Power will place them in lakes on the Coosa River chain including Logan Martin and Lay Lake.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

27 / 60

Once the FAD's are placed in the lake, Alabama Power posts the GPS cordinates to their website for all anglers to enjoy.

Once the FAD's are placed in the lake, Alabama Power posts the GPS coordinates to their website for all anglers to enjoy.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

28 / 60

Artificial fish attractors are great for the environment because they last much longer than traditional brush piles and provide a clean peice of cover for fish to congregate to.

Artificial fish attractors are great for the environment because they last much longer than traditional brush piles and provide a clean piece of cover for fish to congregate to.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

29 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

30 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

31 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

32 / 60

Bass among other species tend to congregate around cover. It makes them feel protected and also serves as a great area to ambush bait.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

33 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

34 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

35 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

36 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

37 / 60

After the pipe was buried into the quick concrete, another layer of concrete was added on top of the existing concrete.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

38 / 60

All parties involved practiced proper social distancing and wore face coverings.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

39 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

40 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

41 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

42 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

43 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

44 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

45 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

46 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

47 / 60

Despite the cold conditions, the High School anglers had a great time building these FAD's.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

48 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

49 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

50 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

51 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

52 / 60

Anglers loved their new Alabama Power swag.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

53 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

54 / 60

The final step of the process is to fill the buckets with with water and let the quick concrete settle.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

55 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

56 / 60

Anglers took turns pumping water into the FAD's.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

57 / 60

Photo: Kyle Jessie

58 / 60

Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School director Darrel High provided all anglers who volunteered with a goody bag full of baits.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

59 / 60

A job well done by Alabama Power and B.A.S.S Nation High School clubs building over 200 artificial FAD's.

Photo: Kyle Jessie

60 / 60

Alabama Power creates new habitat

Join B.A.S.S.