All we did to secure them was staple them lol or put some small holes and secure them with like twist ties so we could open and close it. We always used them in the creek by our house and usually withing about ten minutes it was so full that they couldnt squeeze into it anymore

Thanks Adam 4 the thread,
question for Chicken Willie:



Could I drop it along the shoreline of a lake, and do you weigh it down somehow?

Thanks

Ours usually sank to the bottom after it filled up with water. If you just slowly submerge it and make sure it doesnt have any air bubbles it should settle at the bottom. We just would tie some fishing line to it so we could pull it up. I dunno why it wouldnt work along the bank of the lake aslong as there are plenty of minnows around

I have not tried yet, but I am going to this weekend. Does everyone pretty much agree that when going for minnows the trap is going to need to be near the shore in shallow water? Ideally, what would be great is if I could get it to work at our boat slip, which I think is around 12 foot deep. There are overhead lights on every night up and down the dock, which should attract some bait activity. I am going to try putting a little bread in it and placing it at various depths. I'll let yall know if I have any luck.

Thanks for all the posts.

Well, so far no luck. I bought one of the round wire minnow traps from Academy. It was less than $10. I put it out at our slip about 5 ft down with bread in it for bait. When we came back, all the bread was gone and there were no minnows. We assume it disintegrated. Next time I am going to try to put it closer to the surface, and maybe leave it out over night under the lights. We shall see.

I always place mine so that the water level is just over the openings; otherwise the food floats out or the minnows will pick at the top of the cage. I also use range cubes. If you don't know any one with range cubes, and can't justify buying a 50 lb bag, you might be able to find some sore of similar substitute at the pet store. Try tying the bait inside the cage on the bottom.

Thanks Destroyer, that makes perfect sense. I am going to try tying it up right at the surface and see what happens. I had not thought about the bread floating around and them picking it from the top before. I'll let ya know if I catch anything.

I've never had much luck with one either.
Has anyone on here ever tried leaving a submersible crappie light hanging in one over night under a dock? I was thinking about trying that.

Here's a web site with tips. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/383668/six_tips_for_using_a_minnow_trap.html?cat=7

I have been thinking about that too. It should work. Those underwater lights usually attract quite a few minnows.

I have not seen the mesh traps work but the glass traps certainly work. If you can find a large glass jar and use the plastic funnel and invert it in the opening you can catch all of the minnows that you want. Put some cornmeal in the jar and submerge it in 12 to 18 inches of water along the shore. Tie you a cord and a float on the neck of the jar so you can keep it located. leave it for 30 minutes or so and you should have all of the minnows that you need. I have sone this many times and you can normally get all you need. If for some reason you don't get many just relocate and repeat the process.

Thanks numbersguy. That may be what we'll need to do. Either that or just stop off at the gas station on the way! I was really hoping to find some way for it to work at a boat slip. That would be the most convenient, but maybe unrealistic. I have only tried once so far, and have not been back out. I am still gonna try to place the trap shallower in the slip, you never know.

Also, in response to the underwater lights talked about above, I wonder if even one of those plasstic glow sticks would work?

Well, when we returned to the slip after being gone about a week, the trap was gone! Either, I did not tie it up well, or someone took it. So, at least for now, my minnow trapping days are over. But, we did fish under some of those submersible green lights Friday and Saturday nights. They definitely brought in some minnows and the fish followed. So, I still think the minnow trap in combination with a light may be a good idea.

Texcajun, in regards to your post and of this link: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores...ping_googlebase



For years I've tried a similar net as the one sold by Bass Pro. I took a 12' minnow seine, added dowel rods to each end, and used it in coves with a brother or cousin to net us baitfish. At night we'd lower it off a dock and place a floating fish light over it and wait for the minnows to come in.

As far as the round minnow traps themselves? Baited with bread, I've only been able to catch sunfish, having used it on Amon G. Carter lake many times. But I wouldn't let that discourage you, as othes have had luck with their choice of bait and location.

As far as the glow sticks, I've added them to my trap in the past, and it seemed to attract shrimp if used in saltwater. I wonder if it'd help draw in crawfish in freshwater? Hmmmm.

We do the same thing with 2 liter soda bottles, just heat up a wire coat hanger and poke a few holes randomly so it will sink/fill and toss a handful of gravel in the bottom. To secure the inverted top you can superglue, hot glue, or poke holes and tie at close intervals if you wish.

PS: 3 liter bottles with the wider mouths rigged this way work well for perch/sunfish. Just use cottonseed meal for bait if you can find it.

I am going to try the glow stick in our perch trap next time we are in Galveston. We usually net shrimp with a dip net and a flashlight. You can see there eyes on the bulkhead in the boat slip. That would be awesome if it would draw them in to the trap.

Still have not tried it for minnows. I may make a couple of these home made soda bottle traps and try them before buying another wire one.