My CC are near harvest size (1.5-2lb) and I am contemplating ways to harvest them without R&R. I'd like to trap them so they are waiting when I get home.
Has anyone ever used a big cloverleaf? I have a normal sized cloverleaf perch trap that works great on perch. Never catch anything else in it. I was thinking about just upsizing the trap dimensions.
Thoughts?
ETA, secondary question... Has anyone ever caught a small catfish in A cloverleaf? Maybe it needs to soak overnight?
Hey Clay...I cant even catch baby BH in my cloverleaf traps consistently.
Most times, for catfish traps to work well requires at least a little current, whether it be a hoop net or slat trap. Catfish tend to feed more by smell than sight. Current flowing thru the trap with bait placed in the back of it, and the entrance pointed down stream draws them in.
Not saying an oversized cloverleaf wont work, just dont know how consistent it will be.
I started trapping BH a week ago. It seems location and/or depth is key. One cloverleaf was made for larger BH and although has caught several I've caught several on R&R indicating they escaped. They had large fresh injuries that appeared to be from the trap. I stocked 100CC but have yet to see one. My new standard size cloverleaf w smaller entrances caught 12 YOY BH in 2.5hrs from a shallow corner yesterday. My point, experiment, move the trap around and adjust the entrance size. Or try a hoop trap.
Can someone give simple instructions on how to build a cloverleaf trap? I want to downsize it to maybe 12" tall, maybe 16"-18" square? I'm thinking to keep its shape I have to use galvanized hardware cloth with small mesh, maybe 3/8"? Do you wrap it around a coffee can or something to give it the round shape? How do you create the sharp bends? Then you just cut out hardware cloth for top and bottom and zip tie it all together. What about access to the top, do you make some type of hinged door, or is it easier to get fish out the side or the bottom?
I'd prefer to use plastic, easier to shape and work with, but then it probably won't hold its cloverleaf shape without having a framework to attach it to?
I've built 8 cloverleafs - four with 1/2" mesh, and four with 1/4" mesh.
The 1/4" mesh with its lighter gauge is a lot more delicate, but its what I needed to trap FHM and YOY BH, BG, & GSF.
If I had known I was going to end up making eight I would have sprung for hog ring gun in the video above. I did however make a pattern on a sheet of cardboard as shown on a youtube video which was very helpful.
I used cage clips to assemble the B trap I put together awhile back.
I had the j-clips and clip pliers laying around from when daughter raised bunny rabbits as one of her 4-H projects. Using those is a lot faster and easier than using zip ties.
The hog ring gun would be even better, and would work on 1/4" mesh too.
build tall....cover more water column vs more bottom area Add wings on to the sides like a fyke net to cover more area
Catfish in ponds are opportunistic but mostly hunters/predators - if they are pellet trained simply put the cage near your feeding area and bait it with pellets. If not pellet trained, experiment with location until you have success