[LakeLackey]

Here is the way we were taught to suspend the end of the line with the foot valve in the water off Bear Island so it does not sit on silt on the bottom, and it always works well.

Recipe:

A JPEG file is attached to this post, showing the pail and setup. This is very simple to do, so do not let the step by step scare you, must do in this order so bucket with rocks goes to the bottom):

a. need 5 gallon bucket with a lid and handle (about $4 at hardware store or paint store), duct tape (about $1) , foot valve.
b. 1/2 way up on two opposite sides, make a hole 1/4" wider than your water line (the hole can be round or square, so long as the water line fits without much extra room).
c. fill the bottom of bucket, below the holes, with medium sized rocks (these are for ballast to make the bucket go to the bottom, and to stand up straight).
d. put the hose (without the foot valve on yet) through the bucket by inserting in one hole and out the other hole; leave about 6" extra out to attach the foot valve.
e. wrap duct tape around the hose on both sides of the bucket, thick enough so the hose will be held in place and will not slide backwards through the holes; also wrap duct take around water hose on each side where it goes through the bucket (to avoid friction from the bucket).
f. attach the foot valve to the end of the hose, and use 2 hose clamps tightened on it.
g. place bucket in the water and fill it to the top with water, firmly attach lid with handle, then submerge underwater.
h. then, drag the bucket and water line to where you want it to go, so that the bucket bottom sits on bottom of lake and then the foot valve will automatically be suspended above the bottom.

When this goes to the bottom ,the bucket will stay straight up and your foot valve will be suspended upwards away from the bottom of lake and silt. Good luck!