Bammer's Crawfish trap ( Pic Heavy!!!)

[rhbama3]

Thought i'd make a tutorial on my favorite mudbug traps. I've tried many different sizes and ways and this is seems to be the one that works best for me. It has one funnel with escape proof entrance, a bait box with access door, a large access door to remove crawdads, two lengths of concrete filled PVC pipe( weight keeps it in place and always self-rights itself), a lanyard ring for the rope, and a capped end. I only use zip ties for the funnel and on the end cap but you can use them for everything if you wish. By keeping it uniform, you can make templates to show how much to cut which will save time, material and aggravation:
Supplies needed for 3 traps:
1/2 inch hardware cloth- 3 feet tall by 10 feet long
1/4 inch hardware cloth( for funnel)- 2 feet tall by 5 feet long
Quickrete
PVC pipe- 3/4 by 10 feet- cut into 6 or 8 inch lengths
Hog C rings- sold by the pound at feed stores
small bungee cords with hooks- anywhere
large and small nylon zip ties- anywhere
lanyard rings- Hobby stores
Heavy duty twine or trotline cord- I put 25 feet on each trap
tools needed:
Metal cutters
45 degree needle nose pliers
tape measure
hog ring pliers
The cylinder will be just over 8 inches in diameter. This works out to just over 25 inches of material( 8 x pi =25.13) but you want to cut 26 inches( 52 blocks) with the 53rd block being open ended leaving the sharp points. This simplifies the meausurements.
Okay, here we go. Feel free to ask questions.

 

[rhbama3]

Continued from post 1.

 

[rhbama3]

We're on the home stretch!
The end cap is a 16 x 16 square blocks section then cut to the following size:

 

[rhbama3]

Now that you have a trap built, here are some pointers:
-Fresh fish seems to work better than anything else i've tried. I like to fillet from the tail to the head, break the backbone out, and push the carcass into the trap, head pointed toward the door. This way when you open the door, you don't have to pull a stanky fish out by hand, it'll just fall out.
-If you are putting the trap in running water, always place funnel side downstream. If you can get there, place traps on both sides of the creek. Always place just downstream of any ripples or turbulent flow. If you got rocks in your creek, it's about guaranteed a trap in the mud just upstream will be loaded.
- The Nicodemus Rule- DO NOT leave traps overnight if there is a risk of gators being around. They will find it, and they will destroy it. Put traps out at first light and remove before dark.
- If you are in a place where you don't have to worry about theft, place flagging tape on your line to help you find the trap.
- A cooler with a bag of ice and no water is the best way to keep them for a while. No direct sunlight or they will overheat and die quickly in a 5 gallon bucket.
Hope you enjoy the sport as much as i do!

 

[fish hawk]

Nice looking traps bammer and good info too

 

[mattech]

Pretty cool. One tip I would add, I'd use black zip ties. They are uv resistant and will last longer.

 

[blood on the ground]

You did good sir!

 

[twtabb]

Do you sale these? How much?

 

[Browning Slayer]

Looks great, Robert!!

 

[Miguel Cervantes]

Good lookin traps. I wanna see some before and after action pictures.

 

[brunofishing]

That's awesome would love to have a few of those!!

 

[rhbama3]

Pretty cool. One tip I would add, I'd use black zip ties. They are uv resistant and will last longer.

I usually do, but Tractor Supply was out of all but the 11 inch size and i had these. I do like the black ones better but didn't know about the UV resistance. Good to know and thanks.

Do you sale these? How much?

No, if you sell something it becomes a job and not a hobby. I figure i have about $18 in material invested in each trap.

Good lookin traps. I wanna see some before and after action pictures.

I don't know if you saw this thread from a couple of weeks ago, Hugh:
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=874799
One of the things i learned was that the 3 foot long traps while being more bulky, will keep the crawfish alive longer in a low oxygen area like a wet weather pond. If you get too many in a smaller trap, it will deplete the oxygen and they will suffocate. Didn't have a single dead crawfish in the mudhole traps.

 

[mudracing101]

Thanks for sharing Bama.

 

[Miguel Cervantes]

I don't know if you saw this thread from a couple of weeks ago, Hugh:
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=874799
One of the things i learned was that the 3 foot long traps while being more bulky, will keep the crawfish alive longer in a low oxygen area like a wet weather pond. If you get too many in a smaller trap, it will deplete the oxygen and they will suffocate. Didn't have a single dead crawfish in the mudhole traps.

Very cool Robert!!!

Thanks for that link, that is exactly what I wanted to see.

Problem is, now I've got a hankering for some mud bugs.

 

[kmckinnie]

We need to try that out in quitman.

 

[mattech]

I'm going to a wedding in West Monroe Louisiana this weekend. Gonna hit up a crawfish place out there. Best crawfish I've ever had, that's the only excitement I have about the trip out.

 

[pop pop jones]

that's the only excitement I have about the trip out.

Well you can always stop by to see Willy and the boys at Willy's place. Might even pick you up a duck call.

 

[mattech]

Lol, I guess

 

[Flaustin1]

I built a few and have been trying them out around the house. So far I havnt found and area with enough crawfish to make it worth my time. The most Ive had was 8 on one soak an only 5 were keepers. Bummer really.

 

[mattuga]

Can we see some success pics? I see that working great. I am off a big mid ga river hoping for the same. Would love to see the catch.