[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
NFC: BAITED - UNBAITED MINNOW TRAPS
Aloha Patrick .
I too thought nothing should enter an unbaited minnow
trap until I forgot to bring bait and put the traps in
anyhow . They did OK .
I've caught sculpins to topminnows in unbaited
traps . Just about everything has at least made an
appearance .
My thoughts are that the funnel ends are a
critical aspect . As the fishes graze along they
stumble into the funnel and are herded into the
opening of the trap . Without the funnel shape I think
few fish would inter the trap with or without the bait
.The herding thing is especially true when the trap is
oriented up and down stream .
During daylight most fish seem to see the trap
as a potentially dangerous object and don't get too
close if they can help it . At least this seems true
in clear water . At night the fish finds itself in the
funnel with the current edging it downstream twords
the opening and they go with the flow . Once in the
trap the reverse funnel herds them away from the
opening . I use bait if I am out for a day using
active collecting methods such as a kick net and want
the bonus of trapping but intend to take the traps
back out at the end of the day rather than leave them
overnight . I think the bait can then be a help in
overcoming the visual fear of the trap . If I were
specifically after some of the catfish tribe Id use
bait but just about anything may end up in an unbaited
trap overnight .
D. MARTIN -- Its true . If there are any bream
around they like to use a minnow trap as a club house
!
=====
COSED ! GONE FISHIN . BILL
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/