We put a light on the dock at night. We have a hoop net with a 10 ft handle that we use as use swift scoops from the sides as they are mesmorized by the light. They will hold in the day near the bottom and we can usually scoop them by going to the bottom and scooping upward.

Dip nets usually dont do to well in the shallow because as soon as it hits the water they scatter. Then bringing it up is not fast enough either. A hoop is the way to go.

 

I have tried to use the Mesh traps before on Harsens, but they dont go into them for some reason, maybe cause the water is too clear and they see the mesh and are spooked. We use Glass traps that work well.....and so does the local bait shop on the Island. I have 2, but they are old, and I acquired one from RJT a month ago, that he got from an Oldtimer that doesnt fish anymore. Do a Search on them, and something should pop up. As far as what you need now, you might want to check to see if Cabelas has them, they are around 45.00 in cost.....Good luck Jim, hope you find something that will catch-em.....There's always some kind of Fire-Works this time of year:evilsmile

Mushy

 

EBAY!!!! i got mine on there a few years ago. works great.

 

I think Ninja has them in his store or did have them

 

I found that a company here in Michigan-Venture Marketing in Grandville makes 'em-so I ordered on. Can't wait to try it out!

Mushy,

What do you bait yours with and how to you set it-on th ebottom or floating?

Jim

 

I'll tell you. You can attract them by putting stale bread in an onion bag and tying it to the dock

 

Put some crumpled up saltine crackers in em....the glass traps work great!

 

I found that a company here in Michigan-Venture Marketing in Grandville makes 'em-so I ordered on. Can't wait to try it out!

Mushy,

What do you bait yours with and how to you set it-on th ebottom or floating?

Jim

I have to Stake it, because of the current on the channel side of the cottage, the back of our cut is too shallow for the nice emeralds to come in. I have a rope that hangs down half way from the Stake to the bottom, or close to the bottom. I bait with stale or regular bread......they work great.....

Mushy

 

you may want to check out Jann's Netcraft in maumee, oh or on their website i'm sure i saw them in an old catalog

 

What about, rather than glass, making one from a large clear plastic bottle? They should how to do it on youtube (I would post a link but can't yet since I'm a newish member).

 

here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHNdyHe-BY

I will be making a few of these here soon but I will have to make some modifications:coolgleam

Pat

 

That is a nice post .That utube kid gave me a huge start

 

If you catch your own minnows how would the DNR handle that with no certification tag?

 

What about, rather than glass, making one from a large clear plastic bottle? They should how to do it on youtube (I would post a link but can't yet since I'm a newish member).

Wish I'd seen this post earlier. There was a guy at the Ultimate Fishing show that had done just that. The old glass traps would work perfect in this situation, but I'm sure the plastic model I saw would work too.

 

These are the ones I use:

and can be purchased fairly resonably here:
http://www.vmisales.com/glassminnowtrap/index.html

 

The thing I like about the glass model posted above is the "cap" with the little holes punched in it, because if you place it with the opening for the fishing facing downstream, the water will come through the little holes and push some of the "crumbs" of bait out of the opening for the fish, attracting fish from downstream. Also it should "anchor" nicely and not tip or get carried away, as long as you fill it with rocks to weight it down.

If you make the youtube one, I'm sure you could acheive both affects easily, so it's something to keep in mind.

What about 3-6 inch perch/shiners? Anyone think it would be possible to make one, youtube style, with the biggest possible bottles, using several even to make it bigger, that would be big enough to catch baitfish this size?

 

I got one from the Ultimate fishing show from K&E Minnow Trap company in Allen Park, MI 313 999-6201. It is plastic and comes with oatmeal for bait. They have two models, One is a trap and the other can be turned upright and used as a minnow bucket. he had an aerator hooked up with the hose throght the top. It was around $20.

 

I can't wait to try out the traps I'll soon be making. Does anyone know if it's legal to use perch caught in the trap as bait? How big would the hole need to be to catch 3-6 inchers? As far as regulations, from my understanding you can use a minnow trap w/out a special licence in MI so long as your address is written on it and it is no longer than 24 inches - correct?

 

If you catch your own minnows how would the DNR handle that with no certification tag?

there is a section in the fishing guide on catching your own minnows and using them for bait. you are allowed to do that as long as your not transporting them from where you caught them to another body of water. you don't need a special license either, just your regular fishing license.

 

The thing I like about the glass model posted above is the "cap" with the little holes punched in it, because if you place it with the opening for the fishing facing downstream, the water will come through the little holes and push some of the "crumbs" of bait out of the opening for the fish, attracting fish from downstream. Also it should "anchor" nicely and not tip or get carried away, as long as you fill it with rocks to weight it down.

If you make the youtube one, I'm sure you could acheive both affects easily, so it's something to keep in mind.

What about 3-6 inch perch/shiners? Anyone think it would be possible to make one, youtube style, with the biggest possible bottles, using several even to make it bigger, that would be big enough to catch baitfish this size?

I would think an empty absopure water bottle would work well, if you can get your hands on one.

 

I can't wait to try out the traps I'll soon be making. Does anyone know if it's legal to use perch caught in the trap as bait? How big would the hole need to be to catch 3-6 inchers? As far as regulations, from my understanding you can use a minnow trap w/out a special licence in MI so long as your address is written on it and it is no longer than 24 inches - correct?

That is correct. The fishing guide states that you may use any fish for bait that is caught leagally (there are a few exceptions, carp, lamprey, goldfish) perch fall under the hook and line regulation. However, I asked the DNR the same question because we get a few fingerling perch in with our minnows on occasion. He said we can't sell the perch for bait but we can put them in the guys buckets with the minnows. I would call the DNR and find out for sure.

 

I would think an empty absopure water bottle would work well, if you can get your hands on one.

What a great idea! I think an absopure bottle would be perfect and I'm sure I can find one if I put my mind to it and it would provide a lot of volume. And I'll call the DNR to make extra sure that everything I'm doing is on the level.

From my own personal experience and reading up on the subject on many forums and websites, I have decided that for bait I will use a combination of: chicken liver, a piece of stale bread, some dry dog food, hot dog bits, a can of salmon-flavored cat food, and maybe oatmeal. Most of the dog food bits and liver will be inside of a sock or panythose because that way the smell, flavor, and little bits dribble out little by little, keeping the fish interested and not filling them up or running out. The cat food will be in a can and I will simply puncture a bunch of little holes in the top of it so it seeps out slowly, same idea. It's not necessary to use so many baits, it's just that I'll only be in Michigan and Hilton Head (where I plan to do the same thing in salt water) for a week each and I don't have time to experiment. I figure if I use them all I can't go wrong! I'll also maybe put some shiny bits of tin-foil inside, which is supposed to help attract them as well, and use rocks to weigh it down.

After I make my trap(s) I'll take pictures and share my results.

 

Hey try using a large plastic bottle that is used for drinking water, get two and cut the the bottles spouts off .Try to imagine a wire trap and put the spouts inside out just like the wire ones,and you will have your funnels that trap the minnows. sorta like this...I will try to use arrows to show you.... > is the spouts and = is the bottle with both ends cut off .and assemble like this >=<....Does that help ?You can hot glue it or just jam the two spouts in real tight. I used to use a two liter bottle as akid to catch small minnows in creeks. good luck eh?:fish2::fish2::fish2:

 

That is correct. The fishing guide states that you may use any fish for bait that is caught leagally (there are a few exceptions, carp, lamprey, goldfish) perch fall under the hook and line regulation. However, I asked the DNR the same question because we get a few fingerling perch in with our minnows on occasion. He said we can't sell the perch for bait but we can put them in the guys buckets with the minnows. I would call the DNR and find out for sure.

I know for sure you can't use gobies for bait, even though I think it is a stupid law. You can legally catch them on your line and throw them back into the water (even though you shouldn't), however, if you put them in a bucket and use them for bait (which will eventually kill most, if not all of them), then you are violating the law. I know they just don't want people transporting them and using them for bait in other waters, however, if that is the case, then make the law that way. What possible harm is there in using gobies for bait in Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie, if you catch them from there in the first place. I just don't get it....sorry I went off on a tangent.

 

Yeah you have a good point. I'll post on here when I get confirmation about perch. Think perch in the 3-6inch range would be good bait for northern pike and muskies? I bet some perch on the smaller end could even lure some large bass.