One thing that i have noticed is that corn based foods seem to work well. If i use bread ill catch some, but corn chips, Cheetos, cornbread, all seem to do a little better. In terms of spots, anywhere you have seen minnows when fishing open water. If it is an obvious spot, that someone might steal my trap (those people are out there of course) i will drop it after dark and pick it up in the am. i can't wait to check my traps, and it is another way to enjoy fishing and anticipation.