Anyone ever sunk hay bays off their dock to attract fish?

This is a new one on me. Not sure what specifically it would attract besides maybe creating some algae as it rots that shad could feed on, maybe crawfish? Anywhere in particular you heard about this and what they believed it accomplished?

I have heard it will attract small bait fish as it slowly decays and yes,,,algee blooms if not to deep.

Interesting, I’ve heard of feeding hay to crawfish in ponds but not fish. Shad are filter feeders so it would need to be sending off something they could pick up but baby bream could pick at it I’d imagine.

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Interesting, I’ve heard of feeding hay to crawfish in ponds but not fish.

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With respect to crawfish ponds or even small fish ponds all this does is suck down your oxygen

I don't know of people doing it to attract fish but it is very common for people to put bales of barley straw in to control the algae (clear the water). It has to be done before blooms start (usually Feb). I don't recall the ratio of number of bales per acre but there is plenty of information online about it. Occasionally you run across someone managing wastewater lagoons using them as well.