how long are these productive before age wears them down? other than christmas trees what is used

You can use any type of wood,Christmas trees are just the easiest to mess with.You can get treetops from any tree and put them in a bucket of cement,it's really that simple.Obviously a bigger,thicker brushpile will hold more bait which in turn draws MORE bass but a small pile can be productive too......anything a bass can get beside,behind or in to hide themselves will be helpful.

Placement of the brushpile is more crucial than size or type of wood.You need to sink them at least 15' down so they cant be seen by every fisherman that goes by.Also,brushpiles are mainly used by bass in the summertime so if you know at what depth your average thermocline is in your lake,drop them in at least that deep or slightly deeper.I prefer 18' to 25' on the ends or deep sides of main lake points.

If your lake doesnt have a hard current flow,the hardwood piles could last 6 or more seasons,pine piles typically last 3-4.

I have had some excellent results with concrete blocks.

I have dropped a few in one spot and the bass seem to gratitate to them.

Of course, be prepared to lose a lure or two if you get hung up and double check your line for knicks and abrasions, but I have found that cinder blocks work wonders.

Try them along with your brushpiles.

I agree with the concrete-block idea, which will outlast the founder of the reef.

Using a suggestion made by Chris, I'm using 4" slotted corrugated pipe from Lowes,

which is flexible tubing. I'm wiring the ends of looped corrugated pipe to the blocks

using stainless steel wire. The size and shapes are endless.

In my area they us sage brush too.  They don't hold a whole bunch of bass but they do hold a ton of crappie.

Scott

Like Sam Ive also had good results with Concrete blocks

I have found that christmas trees have a lot of sap in them and thus will resist sinking.

They need lots of weight to hold them down. Dry hardwood branches will yield better results, once they are soaked.

Some of the things that a person need to take into account when putting a brushpile in and how long it will stay is 1. current  2.  decay  3. beavers.

I know that sound weird but they lake or Reseviors that we put our brush piles in if you do not put dead or dried wood in, the beavers will have it eaten overnight!  

The price for a sack of sacrete is bout 2.80 for 80lbs, and a cinder block is about 1.90 a piece.     You can make 6-7 good weights with cut milk jugs.

I try to use a mixture of brush, some Xmas trees for bait fish and crappie, and the mixture of hardwoods that will last longer.

If wood is cured, it takes more weight to sink, the best is when they are green.   I pull better fish on hardwoods and cedars mixed.     Any brush placed is better than no structure at all.

One thing that may need to be considered- is it legal?  If you own your own pond/impoundment, no problem.  But if it's public water you may need to get permission from Big Brother.

Just a thought...