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Hi all, I am building a new fish trap getting ready for next season. Here are a few questions:

1. Should I put openings on all four sides or just two? And if only two, which two? The dimensions are 3 feet wide by 2 feet deep by 2 and 1/2 feet tall.

2. Is this trap too big? or is it about right? The pond is going to be about 11 surface acres. I will have plenty of places to do my sampling.

3. What lid types are the most successful?

4. Where do you guys get your bulk netting to complete the outside of the trap?

I used 3 ten foot 1/2 inch schedule 40 PVC sections which I cut four 3 foot sections and four 2 foot sections out of the first two ten footers, and the third was cut in four equal 2 and 1/2 foot sections. I used 8 lasco slip 90 ends to join the sections. Both big box hardware stores in my area have the 3 way 90 slip ends.

I am also going to add pool noodles to the top to add floatation. I will also be adding a section to allow partial floatation of the trap to allow for snake removal from our pond (I only get rid of poisonous snakes, the rest are part of the ecosystem)

Thanks for the help, I will post more pictures of the complete trap when done and my catches as I go.

I assume you are trapping trot line baitfish?

Where to get netting?

stoneycreekequip.com/

www.memphisnet.net/

aquaticeco.com


Pool noodles fall apart quickly when exposed to UV rays, the places recommended above have all types of floats.

As for lids....that is a tough one something spring loaded that can be put into a rigid section of one of the walls seems reasonable.

As for snakes......I am in central Texas and a lot of people swear they have cotton mouths, but 90% of the time they are diamondback water snakes, you can PM me and I can help with this differentiation between cotton mouths and the harmless watersnake.

I've made several pvc traps similar to yours. 2' X 3' is about right.
I used plastic mesh to cover the sides and bottom which I purchased at Lowes. Home Depot carries it too. I put the input funnels on the 2' ends and stagger them. Wire netting holds up better, but is more difficult to work with. I used 1/2 sch 40 everwhere except the top, where 1 1/4" was used for flotation purposes. These traps are effective for catching many sunfish and a few water snakes. The snakes can easily be tossed out with a pole.

Guys, thanks for the information.

Brad, I am trapping fish to check the population as we have a new pond that we stocked this year and I am trying to see if we have it balanced correctly. I release all that I trap back where I caught them. I have been taking pictures of them, weighing them, measuring them, and checking their general health before setting them free. I am finding that my BG (Generic) are at 2oz when they are around 5 inches and 3oz by the time they are 6-7 inches. I have caught a few in the 8 inch range but I did not weigh them but they have good body shape and were full of life.

About the snakes, I will be PMing you today as I will take all the help I can get. I was sure of the CM I shot last month (see PondBoss photo gallery) but I have also seen another snake that I was unsure of but it was way too close to the cabin, so it ended up dead as well.

Squeeky, thanks for the tip, I'll stop by the big box store and check out what they have for netting.

One thought is to use rigid plastic netting. Make the sides with the fish entrance removable. That way you can replace those sides with a flat piece and use it for a cage as well.

I ordered the plastic netting from stone creek (1/4 inch), it should be here next week. I am planning on putting the openings on the 2x 2 1/2 foot sides. I like the idea of having swappable sides and will try to incorporate that idea. I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Thanks for the ideas and the recommendations.

BYW, does anyone have a good way to have removable sides? I am thinking 550 cord, but I know someone out there has a really simple elegant system, and I would love to use a good simple idea then have to think of an okay idea my self!!

Cable ties or small D-rings