Introduction: Fish Trap
Its a trap... for fish. Its pretty much the basic trap that uses the funnels where fish can swim in but not out.
Step 1: Materials and Such
most of the materials and such in this project can be subsituted and worked around depending on what you have.
materials
-wire mesh,
-plastic mesh
-some sort of mesh
It needs to be small enough that the fishies cannot swim out of it. I used a plastic mesh that i got from the fencing department in lowes
-thin enamel coated wire
-thick wire
-2 dowels,
They dont need to be very thick, i used bamboo kebabs.
posterboard, wrapping paper
something that you can use to make a cone stencil
Tools
wire cutters
something to cut the mesh with
needle nose pliers
Step 2: Cut the Peice
The trap consist of four peices , two cones , the cylinder body and the door.
to make the cylinder body just measure out a rectangle of the mesh, The rcylinder should be about twice as long as it is wide so keep tht in mind when you cut the rectangle.. This step isnt real hard its basically cut a rectangle.
Step 3: Roll and Connect
So now you need to roll the rectangle into a cylinder . Try to leave and overlap of about 2 units of the mesh. Then used the thin wire to weave the two sides together Start at the edge of the mesh and work across making a seam. Do it as if you were sewing the mesh together with the wire and every so often make a couple loops around the two edges to reinforce it. Using needl nose pliers to pull it through it makes it much easier.
Step 4: Ah Yes the Cones, the Cones
The cones are made out of a half circle of the mesh rolleds into cone shape and connected with the wire. I found that the best way to make it fit was to first make a cut out with the poster board and then adjust it to make it perfect then use that peice as a guide line for the mesh. Its best to keep a little extra on the cone peice because its much easier to trim down than it is to strech it. The angle of the cone should not be to steep Mine was about the same as a typical kitchen funnel. middle of the cone should be a little bigger than the size of fish you want to catch. dont try to catch avery big fish without a very big trap because it will not work.
Step 5: And Now for the Hard Part
The attaching of the cones to the cylinder is the hard part. The cones need to be inverted and attached with the wire to the outside edge of the cylinder. This is also the part where you need to trim off any extra on the cones to make them fit well. start at one point on the edge of the cone and cylinder and then "sew" around the cylinder.
Step 6: And Now for the Harder Part
This part requires an arc welder, plasma cutter and a large jackhammer. Or you can use wire cutters and scissors. now that you have you lovely cylinder and two inverted cones on either side its time to add the door. The door is most critical to removing the fish you caught and adding bait and weight. Decide what size you want your door to be and then cut out a piece of the cylinder that size. Next find a piece that when folded in half is about an inch bigger than the opening on all sides. Fold the piece in half to double it over and make it stronger.
To stiffen the door I used a piece of thick wire that a wound through the piece of mesh on the side of the mesh that was not closed from folding over.
Step 7: Attaching Said Door
Uses a coil of thick wire to attach the door. twist the coil of wire through the mesh on the top of the door and the top of the opening. If you look at a composition notebook that has the wire coil then you can see and example. Then uses two little loops of wire to secure the two sides of the door hinge.
30 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
I own a trap like this, great art of an outdoorsman.
10 years ago
Looks like a simple and cheap, yet effective design. Good job. The trap should have no issues as long as it is not being used for more than 24 hours before being checked. This might allow the fish to eat all of your bait and escape. (yes, some fish cannot get out but the smaller ones might stick around only as long as bait does)
11 years ago on Introduction
Dear Austin, I cannot but wonder whether the cylinder should be longer, so that the inner holes of the cones are farther away from each other, so as to allow the fish to enter the trap entirely in its search for the bait, as shown in the attached image.
12 years ago on Step 7
i would be easier to use hardware cloth that you can buy at most any hardware store...I know that home depot carries it & so does Lowes.
It comes in different sizes(hole sizes & sheet/roll sizes) and all you need to cut it is a pair of tin snips.
You can use plastic wire ties to bind it all together or you can buy special clips....
follow the directions on this instructable, and you will have a trap that will last YEARS....
12 years ago on Introduction
Very nice idea. I mean, sure you can spend the money if you got it. But if you have the time and materials to make this, save your fishing money for beer.
14 years ago on Introduction
you could probably catch some crafish/cradads in it
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
yeah i made something like this a few years ago trying to catch crawdads. it worked and i caught a few, but mostly i got bluegill... also for bait, i used old rotting fish that had been forgotten in the back of the freezer. we covered that in mesh as well, which kept it from getting devoured right away. also i heard dry dog/cat food works well, but i haven't tried it.
13 years ago on Introduction
This actually works very well for turtles, but you have to check it often so they do not suffocate if the entire trap is submerged.
13 years ago on Introduction
I caught prawn in Hawaii with a trap just like this! They were attracted to white and we put in some coconut and got several very quickly thereafter. mmmmmm
14 years ago on Introduction
is austin your real name because my name is austin to.
16 years ago on Step 7
im confused? how do you cut the hole ont the side to get out the minnows
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
simply cut out a square in the mesh any size but not to big or to small. a 2" by 2" square should do if you are catching small fish. look at the pictures in the make.
14 years ago on Introduction
Just curious if you would be willing to share the dimensions for this trap as an example. I'm making a scaled down trap with scratch paper before I buy material and am trying to determine the size or the math for making the cones exact. Any advice?
17 years ago
the trap i made is about 2 1/2 feet long. and how did you taste that minnow if it was whole? Did you feel it swimming in your stomach? Ive heard people do that with goldfish
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
what size fish do you catch
15 years ago on Introduction
Nice try making it a little bit bigger for larger fish, other than that the trap design is awesome!!!!!!!!!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
sharks? /=P
15 years ago on Introduction
>I swallowed a whole minnow for $20 once they taste like crap >a whole minnow for $20 once >$20 Yes, he did.
15 years ago on Introduction
does it matter if the cones arent perfect? either way, i patched it up with a neat little thing
15 years ago on Introduction
if you make a med- large trap, catfish are easily caught with it. i'm using it this summer