Minnow/Smelt trap

[pegasus]

Who has a fool proof design on a minnow trap other than the cone shape design? Can you make a trap for smelt? I saw a design on here a couple weeks ago which looked like it would work well. It looked like an old herring wier.

[rob-s]

any one ever catch smelt in a trap?  more than one?

[Osmeridae King]

Yes, BUT

When the state changed the smelting laws they removed traps as a legal method for Smelt wholesalers.  So what few you do get are technically illegal to be caught and sold.  Way to go and exclude methods other than mainstream drop netting and hook and line.  Not fair.  It wasn't just spring dipping, you gotta keep on top of it.

[Mainehazmt]

hmm well then I wonder if you can use those oh 3' umbrella style nets to catch them for bait then?

[Osmeridae King]

hmm well then I wonder if you can use those oh 3' umbrella style nets to catch them for bait then????

Yeah, both lift nets and drop nets are still listed, they got rid of bag-nets though with the traps.  The 3' umbrella would be fine but your not going to get many with one pull.  Of course you need the Smelt wholesalers license to use any net other than a dip net.

[Hoodoo]

Who has a fool proof design on a minnow trap other than the cone shape design? Can you make a trap for smelt? I saw a design on here a couple weeks ago which looked like it would work well. It looked like an old herring wier.

  Like this one here http://www.absoluteponds.com/traps.htm scroll down to "B"

[Osmeridae King]

Never used a B trap, but the clovers with three cylinders and three openings, just like the B work great.  I use a lot of CLoverleafs, and make my own cheapie version for my use quite a few guys have made them off my pattern. Not a secret anymore

[WhiteGameHunter]

These are what I make, they work pretty darn good, pretty much the same thing as a "B" trap.

[pegasus]

How do you get the minnows out? Are those doors at the top or bait containers? That looks just like and old weir without the leaders. Thanks

[Osmeridae King]

Just don't use cheap cable ties, some of the cheapies come un done and after a few big loads of fish I've had to refasten the trap.  I've had best luck with I quality white and black.

[WhiteGameHunter]

How do you get the minnows out? Are those doors at the top or bait containers? That looks just like and old weir without the leaders. Thanks

That is a door that you see, flip it open and dump out the minnows.

[Osmeridae King]

I do my doors the same on the edge

[Hoodoo]

O....King do you think the clovers may work better then the cones ?   Here is a link to some clovershttp://www.texastastes.com/p138.htm  Lot of other good stuff on that site too.

[Osmeridae King]

My clovers are definitely better than my cones under most circumstances, especially good size bait.  My clovers aren't tall and their not the square type, they are round like an actual clover leaf, like the B but three round shapes and three slit openings.  I've had every clover trap set filled with nice shiners before, and I make smaller traps easier to handle.  They do good, of course its fishing they aren't freighted every time in every place.

[Osmeridae King]

I've heard good things about those ones like at texastastes.com and I know guys who like them.  I just like to make my own.

[Coach]

Yeah, both lift nets and drop nets are still listed, they got rid of bag-nets though with the traps.  The 3' umbrella would be fine but your not going to get many with one pull.  Of course you need the Smelt wholesalers license to use any net other than a dip net.

Do you need a license for personal use, I don't sell my Bait

[Osmeridae King]

Need a recreational fishing license to dip and hook and line smelts or trap and hook and line baitfish for own use.