Fish trapping

[czechsonofagun]

In my pond I have blue gills and cat fish. I got this idea to trap the fish to be able to thin the BG population and to see how the cats are doing.

Sooo I got loop net trap, used chicken liver for bait and - cought one small BG.

After that I reset the trap with more chicken liver and let it sit for two days - and cought another very small BG.

Decided it was not working and used dry dog food for a bait, left it for three days and caught snapping turtle

Good sized and fairly mad when I pulled it out by the tail - in gloves of course - and in a bucket showed to kids. It was sitting with jaws open ready to attack - I dumped it in a bigger pond in the neighbourhood.

Anybody has experience with fish trapping? Any secret special baits your are willing to share?

 

[Soundguy]

Try bainting with pelleted dog food.. feed them for a week or two.. then feed and do the net trap once they are accustomed to feeding at certain times / day.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[sr160009]

Put a can of dog food inside the trap, and just punch a couple of holes in it with a screwdriver. We used to bait holes like that at the lake and it drew in all kinds of fish.

 

[MossRoad]

For a small pond, you could use a simple minnow seine on some poles to heard lots of fish into an area where you could dip net them out and sort them. Throw the good ones back and grind the little ones into fish patties... yum!

Minnow seines are generally 4' deep and as long as you want to buy them. 20-30-50 foot lengths are common. Two people in waders can get a large area pretty quick.

You could also build a fish trap out of some minnow seines by staking a wing shape angled out into deeper water and creating a funnel at the narrow end. Then you go out and drive the fish into the wing, they run down the wing, through the funnel and into a small enclosure that can be shut. Then you dip net them out. Throw the keepers back in the lake.

 

[BillyP]

I don't know what a loop net trap is but for perch you need one like this.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76328&d=1178646780

 

[Slacker]

Do a google search for "electric fishing". It will yield results.

 

[texasjohn]

Well, I had a pond with too many small perch/sunfish. Installed small bass, couple of years later, harvested 4 lb bass. Small fish population was greatly reduced. Catfish continued to grow.

 

[1bush2hog]

Why Trap? You will be missing all the fun

Get a fly rod or an ultra light rig and some crickets and go have some fun!

 

[MarkV]

I’d suggest you spend some time at WWW.Pondboss.com and go to the forum section called “Ask the Boss”. Good group of people that are very knowledgeable about ponds.

Blue Gill are the primary forage fish in most ponds and many of us encourage them. Add some Large Mouth Bass and you will take care of the Blue Gill as well as have some good eating.

MarkV

 

[czechsonofagun]

Thanks for all the ideas. Yes, I think it is time to add some bass to the mix, the BG are getting out fo hand.

I feel I am too busy to sit and fish, I would like to have the pond somehting like fish market - I get fresh fish when I want one.

Oh well, I will keep you posted - I have a picture of the snapper somewhere