Waitin' on the Wild Card so I thought I'd....

[Greeneyed Pickle]

build a bait trap!!

When the Army sent me on that terrible trip to Key West for 3 weeks, I realized how neat and useful bait traps were. All the guys had them on their docks. After looking around I decided I didn't want to spend 40-50+ bucks on one so I checked my inventory and found I had plenty of left over stuff to build one!

I started making the frame out of 3/4in angle iron(aluminum) I had laying around. Decided I didn't have enough for as big as I wanted it. Found some 3/4in flat iron(steel) to finish the ends of with. Ended up drilling holes in the ends and fastening them all together with 10-24 1/2in SS screws with locking nuts(had to actually buy those today as I didn't have anything that would work)



Next I started wrapping wire mesh around the frame. The whole time I've been trying to figure out the best way to make the entrances for the fish. Had some ideas but nothing solid. While wrapping the mesh I cut off a section to mess with and see if I could figure out an entrance. Took me about 6 seconds and bam! Plain as day.



Continued wrapping the mesh around the frame and securing in with zip ties. Not really sure how I'm going to finalize securing it but I'll figure something out. (Ideas?!) All the sides are on, I'll work on the bottom tomorrow.



After finishing that I just had to see how the "entrance" would work. So I attached it and it seems to be about perfect!! I told my wife I'm pretty much a genius. She just gave me a weird look, I just don't think she really appreciates my geniusness!





Work for Friday is the bottom with bait pocket and door, rest of the trap entrances, and securing anchors for putting it in and hauling it out. After that I'd like to put some sort of rubber coating over the whole thing. Right now, it's not saltwater friendly.

Feel free to give suggestions!

Tim

[seapower]

That you're gonna start bringing some bait???? After all this time with you just riding around sittin' pretty on the bow, I ws beginning to wonder. Now if I can just get you to bait your own hook's and take off your fish, well it'll be alot less work for me. It's taken awhile, but you might just be coming around.
Now to your trap. We use vinyl coated wire of different diamentions, stainless hog rings and clips for fasteners, if it's gonna stay over board you'll need some zincs (to keep electrolisis at bay). Just need to get some bait (a few crabs with the backs pulled off should do the trick nicely) in it and see what happens. I gotta learn how to get some pics out of my camera! Frank

[Greeneyed Pickle]

a safe assumption at all! Well, as long as you're not expecting me to bring shad. And what do you mean "take off your fish"?! That's ridiculous, I'm not touching those things!

I looking at maybe coating it with bed liner or something when she's all done. Have to look and see what all is out there without breaking the bank. I was just looking to put it in overnight and pick it up in the morning. I certainly look forward to trying her out!

Tim

[Robja]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and they have Plastidip in an aresol can.

BTW did you and Frank go to the same engineering school?

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Looks cool.
Can't tell from the pic if the entrance is gonna be vertical or horizontal when the trap is set...(appears horizontal).
This won't slow gudgeons down getting in but it will make a huge difference in the number of spot and pinfish that come into the trap. Don't know why....but I have tried both. Make your entrance slots vertical(or maybe add another if it's too late).
Crushed crab is great bait. Smashed mullet for pinfish.
Awesome looking work. Mine have never been that pretty.
Hogrings are how I usually attach the mesh...with that angle iron though....maybe tack it....I heard Frank can instruct you how to weld.
Holwachagot

[Greeneyed Pickle]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and they have Plastidip in an aresol can.

BTW did you and Frank go to the same engineering school?

Plastidip should work! I'll look into that. Engineering Skool?! No, we make it up as we go along.

Looks cool.
Can't tell from the pic if the entrance is gonna be vertical or horizontal when the trap is set...(appears horizontal).
This won't slow gudgeons down getting in but it will make a huge difference in the number of spot and pinfish that come into the trap. Don't know why....but I have tried both. Make your entrance slots vertical(or maybe add another if it's too late).
Crushed crab is great bait. Smashed mullet for pinfish.
Awesome looking work. Mine have never been that pretty.
Hogrings are how I usually attach the mesh...with that angle iron though....maybe tack it....I heard Frank can instruct you how to weld.
Holwachagot

The traps will be vertical when all is said and done. Figured that would be best and everything I saw online had them that way. I have thought of soldering them on there, don't know how well that would hold.
What are Hogrings? My first thought was using D-rings so I can take the rope off when i'm not using it so it's all easier to store.

Thanks,
Tim

[seapower]

What's a hog ring? Where you from, New York? Like I said on the phone,"lets make this easy", come on down for a day and I can hook you up with vinyl coated wire, cutter's, and some of those mysterious hog rings. Have you ever been around pigs on the farm? If so remember those pieces of metal they put in their noses to keep them from rooting? Those are hog rings and no they don't put them in themselve's!
Us dum azz reb's have been so broke since the Civil War, that we've had to make do with what ever we had. I tend to think it's pretty smart myself, being able to make a living with some wire and hog ring's! Yep you've got quite a learnin' curve comin'. Can't wait till you move in next door!!!!! We'll see to it, you get some a dat edukashun ! Frank

[clt_capt]

Can't wait till you move in next door!!!!!

At least someone in the neighborhood will know how to post pictures... He is making a NASA Bait trap and posting pics along the way - and we have yet to see one rebuild pic of the Wild Card?

What Up with That???

[Greeneyed Pickle]

What's a hog ring? Where you from, New York? Like I said on the phone,"lets make this easy", come on down for a day and I can hook you up with vinyl coated wire, cutter's, and some of those mysterious hog rings. Have you ever been around pigs on the farm? If so remember those pieces of metal they put in their noses to keep them from rooting? Those are hog rings and no they don't put them in themselve's!
Us dum azz reb's have been so broke since the Civil War, that we've had to make do with what ever we had. I tend to think it's pretty smart myself, being able to make a living with some wire and hog ring's! Yep you've got quite a learnin' curve comin'. Can't wait till you move in next door!!!!! We'll see to it, you get some a dat edukashun ! Frank

UPSTATE NY, don't confuse that with NYC. I'll be your way before too long for the coated wire for the next trap. Still have to finish this one though! I remember the rings, some of the kids have them in their noses these days. HAHA, you know I'm always up for learnin'!!

At least someone in the neighborhood will know how to post pictures... He is making a NASA Bait trap and posting pics along the way - and we have yet to see one rebuild pic of the Wild Card?

What Up with That???

HAHAHA, not sure I'd refer to it as a NASA bait trap but that's funny! We'll get Frankie's pics up one of these years.

Tim

[seapower]

around here. Yes he's quite the "intelligent lad" there Fred, make no mistake about it! He's gonna teach me some of that fancy posting stuff. He tried to once, but I ran outta of napkin I was writing the instructions on. Boy those felt tip markers sure do write big! As for his NASA bait catching pot, just how many cricket's do you hink it'll hold? Frank