Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Fish Trap

Has anyone used fish traps to assist in selective harvest of small bass or bluegill for management? Cooper Seeds has one that floats and is 36W x 36H x 48L. I was considering this for removal of large bluegill also.

Frank

LMB are difficult to catch in traps from my trapping experiences; SMB are easier to trap. Some traps styles will catch a few small (1"-3") LM bass. Bgills and most sunfish will readily enter most any style of fish trap.

Frank, I use a fish trap all the time. I made one from 1 inch PVC pipe (so it floats) and semi-rigid plastic netting you can buy from pond suppliers. It is about the same size as you describe. It has 4 entry points, 2 on each of opposite sides. They are simple round holes with a cone in the inside. I catch BG very easily. Can catch as big a BG as can get through the hole. Never caught a bass. I can put this out over night and some times have 30 to 50 fish by next day. Sometimes I get all small ones sometimes I get all big ones. Depends on where I put it and if the fish are moving around.

bz - Do you have a picture of your fish trap that you can email to those intereseted?

bz,

I am very interested in building a floating fish trap also, a photo would be great or a little more detail. Living in Thailand makes ordering anything from a normal supplier difficult and expensive however all forms of netting/PVC is available. Your fish trap - do you only set it at night? Do you bait it?

Sorry guys I haven't checked this thread for a while, haven't figured out the best ways to navigate this site and find my way back to things I've posted. I can get a picture and will email it to anyone interested. I set the trap out any time. Yesterday I set it out before dinner and went back after dinner and found it had about 100 fish in it. Set it out again this afternoon, same results. Set it out again before dark and will check it in the morning. Seems like any time works. I've gotten to the point where I don't leave it for more than 10 or 12 hours or it gets so full that I'm afraid I will hurt some of the fish trying to sort through them. I use my trap to sort out unwanted fish and get rid of them. Give me your email and I'll send a pic.

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Thanks for your photos.

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send it to me and I'll post it on forum for all to see.

I'll try to take some pictures tonight and send them.

Me too bz,

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Thanks

bz :

Thanks for the offer. My address is :

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Hey Lusk - It seems there is enough interest in this topic that a short article about this fish trap is in order for the magazine.

bz

What are you baiting the trap with?

Frank

To all, I emailed some pics and description to Bruce who offered to post it. The trap is I think similar to many traps of the type that have been used for years to trap fish and lobster. I don't use any bait I just put the trap where fish travel. I put it along shore, at the side of one of my docks where fish go in and out from under, or in a narrow channel between two parts of my pond. Some times I trap a certain area out and have to move the trap or wait a week or so for fish to move into the area. They seem to be territorial. I use the trap only for pan fish, can't claim to have ever caught a bass. You have all helped me immensely with your knowledge so I hope this works for some of you. Thanks.

I would like a copy also
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thanks