Bait fish trap

[Captian_Zero]

Hi

I bought an old fishing book at the book exchange recently and it had in it instructions for a home made bait fish trap using a rectangle cordial or juice bottle.

You make the trap by cutting of the top one third of the bottle and inverting it in to the other two thirds and securing it with wire. You then attach a rope and put some bait (bread was suggested) and a weight in it and lower it to the bottom.

I am thinking about giving it a go, as I think even my limited handyman skills will be sufficient and if it doesn't work it won't have cost me much.

Has anyone seen or used anything similar?


Thanks

Chris

[Hollywood]

yep 2lt coke bottle ....handy when theres nothing else about ....

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Chris,
Just re read an article in a magazine about poddy mullets traps. It mentioned that the clear plastic tube shaped traps with a funnel at either end (like you will be making a home copy of) work best if they are placed on a shallow sand bank with the tidal flow running through the trap. So you might want to think about cutting the bottom of the cordial bottles out and joining two togther so you have a funnel at either end.
The article mentioned an even better trap can be made out of a large clear plastic salad bowl with a lid glued over it and the mullet swim in from the top. So presumably its just a hole cut in the lid. Again it is placed in shallow water so that approx 6 inches of water flows over the top. Apparently the author believes the mullet swim in better when the entrance is at the top.
It said not to burley around the trap, just let little bit of bread wash out of the trap itself.
Since cast nets are a no no in NSW, I'm planning to have a go with something like these traps when I get back. Want to try the bread stuffed in a ladies hair curler with lots of little lines and hooks tied to it that was described in a post on here somewhere a few months back. Will let you know if I have any success.
Good Luck,
Cheers
Jeff

[ba229]

Last year i tried many different types of traps and only one worked for me.

i bought an Alvey cylinder and it DIDN't work. it just kept rolling around regardless of how much weight i put in it.

i tried coke bottles and the fish just weren't interested.

then an old guy showed me his home made trap. i made my own and have never looked back.

see attached photos and if you have questions feel free to ask.

the lid is held on with two screws. this is perhaps the only downside to this trap (and it really isn't that big a problem)

[ba229]

there are holes drilled around the top and bottom to let the smell of bread out to attract the little fellas

[ba229]

i silastic'ed 4 large snapper leads into the bottom to make sure it doesn't move around. i wouldn't use any less than this. it is surprising how little flow you need for these things to move around.

[ba229]

the tricky bit was finding a nice BIG lettuce crisper. don't go for the small ones. there lids snap on nicely but in this trap i can catch upwards of 40 fish in half an hour on 2 slices of bread.

[ba229]

hey Gorilla just remeber you can only have 6 hooks on a single line in nsw.

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Thanks Alex,
Was thinking any more than 3 or 4 hooks would get tangled up anyway.
Thanks for those pics of the trap, there weren't any with the article but looks like you have done exactly what the guy was getting at. Will give it a go soon.
Cheers
Jeff

[Captian_Zero]

Thanks for the replies.

I have made the trap with the juice bottle and will give it a go over the weekend and let you know how I go.

If it doesn't work I will just have to get a lettuce crisper or steal the one that is in the fridge!!!

Cheers

Chris