Homemade Minnow Trap

[Vince Fusco]

 Has anyone here made their own minnow trap? I made one from a plastic 2 litre Coke bottle, but it never worked so well. I baited it with oatmeal. The minnows in the creek swam all around it, but none went in. 

[chris]

I have watched several vids. on you tube for making minnow traps.

like you I have made and used the ones made from an empty soda bottle.

I like to use dry dog or cat food as my bait. I have also used raw bacon, it seems the more oil the bait put off, the more minnows get attracted. I usally allow my trap to sit over night, some times I will leave it for 2 days.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I tried it Vince, to no avail. The minnows never went near it. I tried crackers, bread, dog food, cat food, oatmeal... The little devils WOULD hang around outside, though, until the bait floated out of the trap and then feast.

But the trap itself never caught me the first minnow. I probably should have left it at least over night. In the end, I threw it away.

[chris]

Update, I put my trap in this past saturday night,I used dry dog food as bait. I left it in the water untill this morning

just a little over 30 hours. I had 26 nice size minnows.1 1/2 inch long, my daughter and I used the minnows for bait today and we brought home 6 nice size crappie. and threw back 10 small ones.

Are you putting anything in your traps to make them sink ? I always put some small rocks in so it will sink and sit on the bottom. I have always have always gotten  minnows, and a couple of small crawdads.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Chris,

My soda pop bottle trap would sink on its own, but I never left it in long. I think that was my main problem. Overnight is important.

[chris]

yes I found out the hard way letting it sit overnight is very important. 

the minnows will get attracted to it very fast, however they seem to take a while to figure out how to swim into it.

I also allow my crawdad traps to set over night, sometimes I have left them for a week.

I just have to remember how many I put out, so I get the same number back. Several times I have had small bluegill and bass in the crawdad traps. I guess they cant resist an easy meal.LOL

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Thanks, Chris.

Obviously, some pre-planning is needed for the traps..