I saw some small fingerlings today. Just about an inch long. I'd like a nice net to take the grandkids out catching bugs and junk and would like to catch minnows here and there.

I'm thinking the Frabill #1268 rectangular minnow trap, and considering the Frabill #3529 bait dealer net. The web looks a big shallow, but the 3/16" mesh should be proper size and it looks like it has a good tough reinforced edge.

http://frabill.com/1268.html

http://frabill.com/3529.html


Went through many a round hoop butterfly net as a kid. Would like something better.

The fry that i saw appeared to have bar markings on them. I stocked 200YP in fall. I wonder if these are YP fry already? I don't think bluegill any fry from last season would be that small would they?

Water temp is 66°f and the LMB haven't gone yet. They are carrying, but far from ready.

Here is the minnow traps I use for about 1/3 that price.

http://catalog.catfishconnection.com/itemdetail.php?itemnumber=DMT

I like that net, but I would get one with a 6' handle or longer.

I'd recommend spending some $ on a real net - one designed for rough commercial work and will withstand many seasons of use. Duraframe dipnets is where I buy mine - worth every penny for all the Frabils I've gone through. I also recommend at least a 6' handle - all mine are 8' used for collecting shrimp, minnows, YP/SMB/BG fry, etc.

When it comes to nets, I can testify you'll get exactly what you pay for. Lisa at Duraframe in WI is good people - if you call her tell her TJ from Nebraska sent you!

I agree with MSC - round minnow traps work great and are cheap online [$9-$10].

Thanks

Fleet Farm has the round minnow traps at a reasonable price. They may also have the Frabill net. Hard to say because they have such a stupid web store. I appreciate the suggestion on a commercial duty net and may look at that another time, but the Frabill bait dealer net is 10x what we used as kids. If we wear this one out prematurely we'll surely upgrade.


We got a lot of miles out of cheap wire frame butterfly nets as kids 30+ yrs ago. Ma used to sew the rims up with dental floss when we'd wear them out. I tried to get her to apply for a retirement job sewing the Metrodome back up, but she declined.

Any net you use, buy some cheap clear plastic tubing from a hardware store. Slit it lengthwise and slip it over the frame of the net. Saves a lot of wear and tear. Tubing size will vary according to net frame size.

I'm in a tidal water area and around here every fishing/bait store and even Walmarts carry shrimp nets with a fine mesh for grass shrimp.

The Frabill has a lightweight aluminum handle and a poly rim guard. A wooden handle would probably be better, but for a starter it doesn't look too bad.

Wood handles will eventually give you splinters.

Not sure what type of fry would be 1" long already. I think that's a bit long for perch from this spring wouldn't it?

Maybe bluegill?

They looked like they had tiger bars on them like perch, but I did not handle them as they were too quick for my minnow dipper.

Maybe last seasons LMB fry?


Several years back I caught some perch on a lake up north that had fry in them that looked possibly similar. I'll try to catch and get pics of the ones I am talking about, but here's the ones from the perch stomach. They almost look like bass?

Not bass. Maybe bluegills?

late spawn of BG from last year probably or some other sort of sunfish

+1 on the late BG spawn. LMB fry have a single horizontal stripe.

Bobby and Scott are correct IMO - late spawn BG...and definitely appear to have come from a stomach!

Scott's recommendation on the tubing is a great one to follow. Also, strongly recommend storing the net in your home or another mouse free environment during the Winter. My commercial bags were used to help create beds for my field mice and I had a lot of stitching to do this Spring with superbraid. At least I didn't have to buy new bags!

TJ, get out the tweezers and collect moth balls this summer. When it's time to store the nets, put some in each bag. That should keep the mice away.

I just wanted to report back that the Frabill net is not a bad piece for the money. The handle is a bit short, but the frame is a clever design that has the netting inside a slotted tube so that it does not abrade on the edges. Much different from the picture.

I also got one of the $6 cheap Frabill minnow traps. In a matter of days it rusted. Cheap piece of china crap. I guess it's just cosmetic.

How about dryer sheets? I place them in my equipment every fall. Hunting gear, decoy bags, 4 wheeler, lawn tractor and such. I must say, my decoys have never smelled better

The unit rusted while deployed in the water.

At least you figured out how to use it. I can't even figure out how to hook the latch.

Scott, I tried the moth balls in an old camper I had. The mice chewed through the box.

"Wood handles will eventually give you splinters"
Just ask Pinocio

That’s funny!... Perhaps, Geppetto should have given him a hand rubbed oil finish.