Bill Watson's folding minnow trap

[Nobby]

An idea for close season tinkering





Richard Walker wrote that he used and approved of these traps but thought he'd like one larger and that the'trapdoor' might open further.

[DickBrowne]

As a lad, I used to trap minnows with an old wine bottle. Fill it with sand, turn it upside down and score around the bottom of the sediment trap. Score all the way around a couple of times and a sharp tap with a ball-pein hammer would knock that small circle of glass out.

Empty the sand, cork it, pop some bread in and chuck it into the river. Wait half an hour then realise you've forgotten the string... Make another, attach string and repeat.

The minnows swim in through the hole but cannot get out.

We used it as a simple and effective way of catching perch bait. The perch fishing was generally less successful.

[DickBrowne]

Just found this one the web:

http://diyprojectz.webs.com/homemademinnowtrap.htm

Similar concept, but this one doesn't require the consumption of alcohol.

Not all progress is good...

[Marc]

Ingenious, the hours spent minnow snatching when younger are countless. Bit soon for closed season plans though surely.

[DickBrowne]

Nope, just a little late for a response to Nobbys original post ;)

[Marc]

Nope, just a little late for a response to Nobbys original post ;)

Ah I see. Wrote that sitting outside a fitting room doing my manly duty whilst shopping.

[DickBrowne]

Building up the points toward another minnow-snatching session, eh? Good planning sir!

[Match Aerial]

Interesting article any more of those Nobby?

[Dave Burr]

Being an incompetent at anything........ and everything... I just whacked a screwdriver through the bottom of a wine bottle, attached a length of string and hey presto, a minnow trap. I've also caught plenty by placing my landing net on shallow gravel, sprinkling a little bread or other bait samples and lifting quickly. Not successful every time but good enough for those impromptu opportunities when the perch are active and you need bait in a hurry.

[Nobby]

Interesting article any more of those Nobby?

Sorry, been on my hols. There was also a float making article, which I know you have seen.


http://traditionalfisherman.com/viewtop ... ill+watson

Bill's thoughts on floats were rather unscientific and caused all sorts of rows in the press. They worked OK, but not for the reasons he thought. It ended up with him replying curtly through the press to a doctor of Physics that he only went to Doctors if he was ill...........

His close friend Richard Walker kept unusually and diplomatically quiet as the row raged on................