1st post to the forum,I have tried everything I can read to try and get minnows to swim into my trap including several baits that I have read work like a charm,I have even tried these snap and glow lights kids wear on there wrist.I can throw my trap into a hole of minnows for days and maybe get a couple.What works for other folks to trap minnows in a conventional funnel style trap.I have no trouble netting minnows but that normally takes two people for best results.
Put a piece of bread, torn in half in your trap.
ridgerunner13,
I'm agreeing with uncut6 here... use bread as food in your minnow trap. It's like God's gift to minnows. :)
As for myself, I kind of wonder what type of trap you are using... The type I use is like a cylinder of wire mesh (around a foot or so in diameter) with the ends that have wire mesh funnels so that the small end of the funnel points to the inside of the cylinder.
Good Luck!
Fred Williams
I’ve found that putting the trap in shallow water with bread for bait works well.
I sometimes try to chum the minnows to the openings by throwing small bread balls near the openings.
I find I get more minnows if I leave the trap in for an hour or two instead of overnight . Hope this helps.
I’ve also heard that a cheap can of cat food punctured in a few places works but I haven’t tried that yet
Good lick!
Thanks for the responses so far,My trap is as you (Fred) described wire mesh a ft or so in diameter with both ends funneled.I have tried cat and dog food as well as bread.I have got a few minnows just not what I would expect.The small creeks I usually trap in are loaded with minnows and I usually try and set my trap in a piece of slow moving water at a depth 18-24''.I can see the minnows everywhere.......except in my trap.I like to use minnows and other sorts of live bait.Anyway I will keep trying
ridgerunner13 wrote:
Thanks for the responses so far,My trap is as you (Fred) described wire mesh a ft or so in diameter with both ends funneled.I have tried cat and dog food as well as bread.I have got a few minnows just not what I would expect.The small creeks I usually trap in are loaded with minnows and I usually try and set my trap in a piece of slow moving water at a depth 18-24''.I can see the minnows everywhere.......except in my trap.I like to use minnows and other sorts of live bait.Anyway I will keep trying
Thanks for the responses so far,My trap is as you ... (
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I think it probably matters what kind of minnows you are trying to catch. In fresh water I use bread but in salt or brackish water I find a meatier bait works better. I am usually trying to catch mud minnows (brackish water) and have found the punctured can of cat food works well as well as a busted up crab or a couple of mashed up clams.
I think it helps to attach burlap on top of the minnow trap.Minnows are seeking cover and the burlap gives them a place to hide.
I have good luck with dry dog food for bait. The burlap on top is an excellent idea.
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