The bottom of my Forage pond is crawling with grass shrimp. What is a good way to harvest them out. Seems they would go right through a minnow trap.

TJ may know, he for a time was working with Carol F to be sure the supply of grass shrimp continued for PB members, he may have learned along the way how they harvest them.

I have caught a few in a minnow trap but completely by accident. I don't know, but I would try a fish dip net with fairly fine mesh. From what I have seen on u-tube they run the dip net along underwater plants as the shrimp feed on the plants.

What I would try is go out at night and run the dip net along the bottom, as the shrimp are actively feeding at night. I have a longer pvc handle taped on a hand dip net just for such purposes. One thing I need to do to it is split a piece of plastic hose and zip tie around the aluminum frame at the end over the netting. Dragging a dip net along a bottom (mine has rock lining) is hard on the netting where it attaches to the frame. A hose would protect it as it is dragged across the bottoms. Good dip nets are not cheap.

I actually need to try that again. Don't know if my PK shrimp population ever took off or not in my forage pond. Caught just a few that way last year but have not checked this year.

they are carpeting the bottom not congrigated, Maybe I can bait them up and try a seine or lay it on the bottom and lift as tehy might feed. I will have to sort out al the tilapia and minnows I suppose.

a cast net? I suppose it may glide over the shrimp???

they will go right throught the net. unless I can get a glass minnow net with very small holes I suppose.

When you get it figured out Bobby, be sure and let us know. Might need that info some day.

I would try an insect net with a long handle, sweep it shallow along the pond edges at dusk or after dark.

well if any one needs shrimp let me know, how ever these might not handle northern temps. coastal TX and Coastal S. eastern states prob will be fine. However they are readily available at petsmart.

I will mes around with harvesting some out..

1/8 inch mesh. In big dip net, little dip net, seine, and I am unfamiliar with the net but the small versions of pull behind your boat? Trameal? In 1/8 or 3/16, I would guess 1/4 inch would work with less success but better than a 3/8. Do you have a 1/4 " cast net.

I have never seen a successful trap for grass shrimp. Maybe a lift net if you can find a food they like.

Can you post a close up picture of them? If they have colored claws they will only survive down south. See if they live a week in fresh water. Curious again how brackish your water is. Love reading your posts.

Tj should have more input when he reads your post.

it is pure fresh water, they are the type of shrimp they sell as feeder shrimp at petsmart.
Eastern GhostShrimp

I am not sure how cold tolerant they are.

What I remember is the two shrimp that can handle fresh water, the one with the pretty claws can only live in the far south. I think there were 5 main species and three of them had to stay in brackish watet.

Long handled net - I use 10' and bag mesh anything up to 1/8" or 1/4". Larger the size mesh, quicker you can run - but you may lose some shrimp. I use several different bags, anything from 1/16 - 1/4" through the vegetation. Should work fine for you.

Also, umbrella or cast nets can work, too. Mesh size very important for both these.