Hi,
I own an older Dave Genz Fish Trap (1992), and back then, they didn't make any 'spreaders' so you couldn't use your trap as a wind breaker on nice days on the ice. I came up with a simple and cheap way to do this, then the Clam Corporation came up with theirs!!
Material List:
1 section of 1/2" Schedule 40 Rigid PVC Conduit (At Home Depot, Lowes, etc)
2 6" pieces of regular Velcro (wife or girlfriend has some)
2 3" pieces of Velco that has a tape backing (it is basically Velcro Tape) (a good wife or good girlfriend has some)
**Make sure the Velcro Tape is the opposite kind of the two 6" pieces or it won't 'stick' together.
Pop rivit gun and 2 rivits
Details: The PVC comes with a female end. Measure the length needed between the span of the frame to hold up your trap to act like a wind break. Cut two pieces of the PVC to the length measured, adding the extra (about 1") that is needed when the two are attached. (You are basically making a two piece pole.)
Next, pop rivit the two 6" pieces of Velcro to both the male ends of the PVC so the extend outward. These will wrap around your exsisting frame on your Trap.
Now, tape the two 3" pieces of Velcro to your sled in the middle of both frames where your PVC pole will attach.
You are done!! When you want to use it, simply connect the two pieces of PVC, wrap the Vecro around your frame to secrure the PVC pole to your Trap, and you have it!! It is basically using the same idea that the Clam Corporation sells as their 'spreaders'.
The nice thing about this is that because it is not metal, it is a little easier on the hands to set up in cold weather. Plus, because it is two pieces, it stores nicely in the shelf in the back of your Trap or in the bottom of you sled. Also, it is lighter as compared to using metal conduit.
Here are some pics to better illistrate: Let me know what you think:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf07b3127cce829c9b1e4cd40000001010http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf07b3127cce829c9e538d330000001610http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf07b3127cce829c9e1d8d7d0000001610