Fish Trap

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InStere0

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 24, 2005
13
0
0
42
Guatemala
I want to catch some fish (not in my tank but in a river/lake), so I was wondering if anyone here knows how to build a fish trap. I don't want to use a fishing pole cause I don't want to hurt the fish. Or are there any better methods for catching wild fish?
 
It depends on the fish you are after, there are several low priced minnow traps available and they are usaually as cheap to buy as to make, for larger fish you will need net traps and those should be designed for the specific conditions, you might also consider cast nets, they are not hard to learn to use and fairly cheap. Check your local laws.
By the way Instereo, welcome to MFK.
 
For ideas on building traps for different size fish, check out aquaticeco.com. They're traps are also reasonably priced so you may decide to buy rather than build. Check the category "Nets & Traps".
 
depends on what you want to trap. Traps probably do more harm than just fishing them out IMO. Plus you might trap things that you weren't expecting like turtles, that's just my opinion. Fishing is way more fun too than just laying a trap, if you need advice on what to use for what fish, I'm sure there are plenty of fishermen in MFK!!!
 
the best trap ive ever made was for smallmouth and my catch rate was 2 fish per every 3 days i checked (average) over a 1 month period


i caught sunfish prior to placing/rebaiting the net via castnet and place them in there- along with at least a dozen crayfish (netting was 1/2in) i used copper pipe as frame and sodered it lakeside- im sure this wasnt good for the lake but it was only 1 trap in a lake that is approximately 80+acres

the netting was white and very thin

i caught largemouth-pickerel-bullhead-and a single rockbass in this setup- i swam the trap down almost 20 feet deep if not more to assure it landed right side down

i set this net up in the same location every time (inside of a 1/2acre area) the bait stould in the trap somehow... ecspecially the sunfish

i had one entrance hole with the same cone concept as any bait trap but held in places by fishing line from all sides

the net lasted over two months but then the copper began to rust as well as the netting breaking and i didnt wanna risk harming this great fishery


in the entire time i caught 12 smallmouth bass- 11 females 1 male (no wonder why theres not alot of young) 2 largemouht 1 female 1 male 1 rock bass (female) 5 catfish (2 black bullhead and 3 yellow bullhead sex unknown....)

i lost one fish to choking on a sunny (smallmouth) and a bullhead from being tangled in the net entrance

other then that i noticed younger fish used it as shelter but would not enter the netting under any circumstance

my advice is find some clear water and make your own trap
 
the net was 4foot by 4 foot by 3foot i mite build another this summer and take photos of use and catch- find a clearwater lake and youll catch fish from 5in and up (my biggest was a 23in smallmouth at 6pounds+)
 
what size fish r u planing on catching? for small fish u can buy a minnow trap. for larger 1's u can build ur own.
 
Well I live in Guatemala city, and I've looked around and never see a minow trap. I'm trying to catch small wild cichlids (convicts, FM's, maybe even young Salvinis because they seem to be widely availble around here).
 
thanks for the links guppy!
 
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