Minnow Traps

Type: Nontidal and Tidal
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A few spring fishing opportunities are just around the corner for yellow perch, crappie and northern snakeheads to name just a few. Live minnows are one of the most convincing baits to use for these species and with a little effort one can catch their own. Minnows are of course a general term used to describe everything from salt marsh mummichogs or bull minnows to nontidal species such as fathead and golden shiner minnows.

Minnow traps can be purchased a most tackle shops and are not too expensive and easy to use. A length of line is attached with a buoy or label with the owners DNRid number. I generally prefer the galvanized metal ones but the vinyl coated ones seem to work just as well. Feeder creeks, flowing ditches or the edge of a marsh or stream are good places to set one, if there is any current, try and set the funnels parallel to the current. Experience will soon teach you the most productive spots to set your trap. Stale bread, dry dog or dry cat food works well and in marine areas crushed clams or a few chunks of menhaden will entice minnows into your trap. In tidal areas it pays to keep an eye on the tide so that your trap and precious minnows do not find themselves exposed out of the water.

There are a few regulations you must be aware of when setting a minnow trap. You may not use more than one minnow trap at a time, it must be marked with your DNRid number and checked daily. The trap must be set within 100 feet of shore and attached by line to a property, pier, dock or marked by a buoy or pole and sign, you can also attached it to a boat that is not docked. You must have permission from a waterfront landowner owner prior to setting a trap of someone�s property and if set on public property you must remain within 100 feet of your trap at all times usually while you are fishing. One last and very special regulation is that you may not use your minnow trap in any trout management waters to avoid possibly catching fingerling trout.

The pictures below show a minnow trap set after submerged grasses have declined. The second picture shows a collection of mummichog minnows and sheepshead minnows. I usually release the sheepshead minnows, they do not seem attract fish as much as mummichogs. You may also find other small fish you did not intend catch or keep and they usually can be safely released