BL Workshop
Make your own minnow trap
Click here for a PDF version of these instructions.
You’re ready for fishing. You’ve got everything … but bait. And no cash to buy any. Well, forget throwing money at minnows. Gather your own! It’s simple with this easy-to make trap. Here’s how:
You’ll Need:
- Two plastic soda pop bottles. The three-liter size is best, but two-liter will do.
- One woodworking nail, about 6-penny size (the exact size is unimportant).
- Some twine, kite string or something similar.
- Adult permission and/or help.
For tools, scrounge up a pair of sturdy scissors and locking pliers (such as Vise-Grip) or common slip-joint pliers. A utility knife can help with initial cuts but isn’t necessary. You’ll also need a controllable flame source — the kitchen stove is perfect.
STEP 1: Label one bottle “A” and the other “B.” Cut off the bottom one-third of bottle A and put in your home recycling bin. Leave the bottle cap on.
STEP 2: On B, cut off the neck & shoulders, close to the top of the bottle label. It should be cut just below — maybe a half inch or so — where the sides begin to straighten out. Toss the bottom and spare bottle cap in the recycling bin.
STEP 3: The remaining steps should be done near your flame source, with the pliers and nail handy. Keep a bowl with cold water nearby also. Fit funnelshaped piece (B) into the bottom of A so it points toward A’s remaining bottle cap. It should now form a nice little “cave.”
STEP 4: Holding the two bottles together firmly in your weak hand (left hand if you’re right-handed, right if you’re left-handed), turn on the flame with the other hand. Pick up the pliers with your free hand and firmly grasp the nail near its head with the pliers. Carefully hold the nail over the flame so that it gets good and hot.
STEP 5: Keeping your grip on both the A and B bottle parts and the hot nail in the pliers, push the nail point through both the funnel and bottle, in 10 to 12 spots around the lip of the “cave” that we mentioned. Drop the hot nail into the cold water.
STEP 6: Using your string or twine, sew the two bottle parts together. Alternately, simply cut the string into short pieces, using the same number of pieces as there are holes, and individually tie each hole up so that the two plastic parts A and B don’t come apart.
STEP 7: Reheat the nail as in Step 4, and put a bunch of holes all over the sides of the bottle (A). A couple of dozen should do it.
Setting Your Minnow Trap
To use your trap, add some bread or cracker bits through the funnel (B). Sink the trap in your favorite pond or lake for a few hours, preferably overnight. Tie it securely to a dock or tree. The minnows will go in the trap but aren’t smart enough to get out. Next morning, simply open the bottle cap and pour the minnows into your bait bucket. You’re all set for a day of fishing!
Here's a trick that will make you the sultan of suppertime.
Jul. 1, 2009 at 6:05 pm
im going to try this!
Jun. 18, 2009 at 1:33 pm
It works i caught 52 nice sized minnows went fishing the next day in the river and caught a 10 pound catfish and a couple sturgeon
Jun. 16, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Im planning on keeping some minnows as a pet so should I try to catch them in the pond or buy some at a bait shop?
Jun. 16, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Ok I live right near a pond a have tried thease traps before and have never cought anything so i was wondering what bait to use “I have tried bread and cheese” and where to set it do you just throw it as far as you can or should i try to get it close to weeds or something?
P.S I f you respond put To curryman at the beggining so i know.
Jun. 10, 2009 at 7:04 pm
i look forward to trying this
oh and i herd that corn works good whole cernal
Jun. 7, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I haven’t tryied it yet but I’m sure it will work fine
Jun. 6, 2009 at 9:03 am
for cray fish i use cat food in a homade trap made from a 2 leter bottle i caught 6 in 1 trap!
Jun. 3, 2009 at 8:41 pm
instead of discarding the bottoms recycle them and use them as planing pots to grow trees or other plants =]
Jun. 3, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I also sharpened a stick and tied the other end off the string to it stuck it into the ground and threw it out and it works as a great holding point
Jun. 3, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I just got mine set with beta balls gold fish flakes and bread crumbs and i have to check it tommorow sounds great if im not mistaken hot dogs should work well to
May. 28, 2009 at 8:43 pm
cool
May. 26, 2009 at 4:01 pm
looks cool
May. 25, 2009 at 8:04 am
COOL
May. 24, 2009 at 7:50 pm
awsome dude! I love it. I might use the minnows as feeders for my 10 gallon native tank.
May. 20, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I put bread in mine, I leave mine in for 1 week, and I catch so many minnows that there smushed together and I live in westvirginia
May. 7, 2009 at 8:09 pm
BASS HUNTER,IT DOES WORK I CAUGHT ABOUT 10 BLUEGILL IN ABOUT 3 HOURS IN MINNOW TRAP
May. 3, 2009 at 11:17 am
check your state regulations before using…in PA openings must be 1″ or under and have your name, phone# and address attached to trap. dog food works excellent for bait. you can buy a minnow trap for like 12.00
May. 2, 2009 at 5:07 pm
i have a wire trap and i catch 500 to 1000 minnows in one trap i let it soak in a creek for 2 to 3 days with beef liver. you shounld try works realy well !!!!!
May. 2, 2009 at 8:26 am
what is the best bait to use for bait fish in vt
Apr. 26, 2009 at 7:27 am
im using two 16oz water bottles and what is the best bait for the minnows
Apr. 26, 2009 at 6:51 am
At the end of the game you can play as Lugi after that play the whole game with Lugi And you should get a star!!!!!!
Apr. 25, 2009 at 9:12 am
i made about 13 of these and bourght 3 i used some cheap sardines and i cought about 8 crawfish in each trap and a few minnows does any1 no which bait works well for freshwater shrimp
Apr. 25, 2009 at 8:50 am
i used to do this it works so great but little food dand 20 minnow!
Apr. 22, 2009 at 6:50 pm
i need to try this
Apr. 15, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Im gonna try some milk jugs, i’ll make them and set them out tonight and check back in, in the morning to let ya know how they worked
Apr. 11, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Will the traps work on catching 1-2 inch bluegill as well as other small fish? plz let me know.
Apr. 7, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I made like 10 of these traps (because i have tons of jars in my basement) and caught a lot of minnows just tie the string TIGHTLY because my first time out i lost a total of 3 traps because of the string coming untied
Apr. 7, 2009 at 12:26 pm
if you cut a plastic bottle in half and dispose of the cap then put the nozzle end into a jar then fasten it however you want (i prefer to use metal wire) tie a long string or shoe lace to the jar and then throw it into the body of water available to you (stream pond ECT) the next day you should have a handsome catch of minnows
NO BAIT REQUIRED!!!!!
Apr. 7, 2009 at 2:52 am
NICE AND SIMPLE TOOK ME 2 MINS TO MAKE WITHOUT THE HOLE BURNING I HAVE MADE SIMILAR ONES AND THEY HAVE WORKED GREAT I CAUGHT A HEAP AND LANDED TWO 50CM FLATYS I BET THIS ONE WILL WORK EVN BETA
Mar. 30, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I used something simalar to this but I used a 5 gallon bucket, cut a hole in the lid stuck the end of a 2 liter bottle tied it on, just like the original. I used bread, beta pellets, goldfish flakes, and broken up nightcrawlers as bait. I put it in my shallow pond overnight, checked it the next morning and had over 50 minnows, 3 crawdads, 10 tadpoles, and 2 small frogs (Just in one night!) I went fishing in my deeper pond that same day and caught a very nice 7 pound bass along with a few others.
Mar. 30, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Wont they just swim out the same hole if its filled with water?
Mar. 27, 2009 at 11:16 am
i used a big gatorade jug and i caught a little catfish and a few minnows
Mar. 18, 2009 at 4:10 pm
nice
Mar. 15, 2009 at 2:41 pm
done this in a similair way with a cheeze ball tub, and i also tried it with a coke can. both worked great.
Mar. 2, 2009 at 3:05 pm
i made one 2weeks ago an caught a snake and about 15teen good size minnows andd i went fishin an caught a 21 pound catfish an a couple brim u haft to try it it works good.
Feb. 26, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I tried this with bread crumbs for bait, It did not work
Feb. 16, 2009 at 6:36 pm
WILL THIS WORK IN THE WINTER SEASONS BEACAUSE I WANT TO TRY TO RAISE MORE FISH FISH FOR THE SUMMER
Feb. 13, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I’ve never tried this befor but im willing to if it works to catch anything for bait. I thank you for this item to try.
Feb. 13, 2009 at 6:23 pm
This looks cool! I’ll have to try it!
Feb. 1, 2009 at 3:34 pm
you can make it a different way too
Jan. 27, 2009 at 6:27 am
i will probably use the minnows for live bait when fishing.
Jan. 14, 2009 at 8:03 pm
this is a great idea. it does work well with the 20oz bottles like minnowboy said i used fish food pellets and that worked very will
Jan. 11, 2009 at 7:53 pm
these traps work very well. i made a couple out of 20oz bottles and put dog food (crunchy) in the traps. i had about 6 nice minnows in each one. i have made a couple out of 2 liters too but havent used them yet. but just so everyone knows it will work with small bottles too.