Make Your Own Minnow Trap Using a 2-Liter Bottle
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!
i might try it. it looks interesting.
this thing is awsome
Im trying to get shiners out of a pond. What should I use for bait and where should I place the trap?
i went to the local park yesterday with a net an didnt catch anything . Im gonna try to build this and try it .
1. you do not need a flame or a nail,2.you do not need 2 bottles as 1 is just as good and easier,3.you need to have a rock or weight in bottle so that it sinks,4.all you need to do is cut 4 small holes and feed a bit of your line to tigh the bottle parts together…i could go on and on but i think you get the idea..MB rivers not lakes if you want catch many minnows
iv made many minnow traps in my time and i wouldnt go to all the hassle ye go through,its a lot more simple to make one
I tried it in 3 ponds or something and it didn’t work. I baited it with almost everything and it still didn’t work. Great do-it-yourself trap but I’m disapointed.
i was looking to do this for a job this summer and i was going to buy the real traps but they are $10 online and i found this and it works great because my mom drinks a bottle a day so in 2 weeks i will have 7 traps great money
omg i caught like 1 minnow 🙂
I don’t know if I would be able to do that, oh well, it still looks cool! 😉 🙂
If you have trouble with wasps in the summer, the same thing will work, only instead of cracker bits, use sweet smelling liquids.
i wish it were legal in ut, because in some places it isn’t. 🙁
this looks really cool
this looks like it will work great!
well…………its awsome because this is a 10 cents trap ( 2 bottles) that works, when in stores their 10 dollars!!!!
ha lol this looks like great fun
thats really cool
i got some crawfish in this trap
it wrks great i love it
cool!
i love this i use it allot in fishing you go up the food chain!! minnow,brim,BIG bass!!!
it works i caught 200 minnows:)
that looks cool i”ll do mine toomorow.
tried it, didnt work 🙁
did it sink compleatly?
im gonna catch minnows at my grandmas cabin, and put them in a fish tank!!!
cool i m gonna try it
this rocks.i cught like 20 bass in a day.
I like it! is there any other thing you can use to poke holes then a hot nail?
yes you can use a one of the blades off of a pair of siccors
IVE BEEN FISHING FOR YEARS I’M DEFFENITLY GOING TO TRY THIS!!!!!
I caught like 10 minnow and put them in a little fish tank.:)
i cought100pound 7 ft long shark
how big is it
I think this would be great for my dad (who uses rubber bait and doesn’t catch anything) for this Christmas in 2009. I got the 3 liter botlles, I can’t wait to make it! I wonder how my dad will react.
I’m going to give this a try, but how are you going to get the water snakes that typically drown in normal wire traps, out of the bottle? I doubt that a 2 foot water snake will just pour out.Been trapping for a long time.
its awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
i really like your idea kudos!!!
i may only be 13 but ive been doing this 4 years and it never disapoints me i catch minnows crawdads and somehow snails i love it
I tried this and didnt catch anything. Ill try a different spot.
good keep trying
I love it I caugt 70 minnows.
thanks minnow master! well i tried catching minnows in my trap and didnt have any luck but bass were born a wile ago in the pond and now their 3 to 6 inches long so we just use a fishing pole.
I caught 63 minnows in less than 15 minutes. Love it.
I caught 49 minnows in a real minnow trap for 1 hour and 51 in the do-it-yourself trap. FUNNY!
If your lookin for smaller minnows use the hot nail and put a smaller hole in the cap
looks okay…
staple sound better than a hot nail and string
i caught 347 in one trap
Thanks i will try that it should work good but i am going to use a paper clip so its not as hard
Thanks again
To curryman r u sure minnows r in the pond if so yes the weeds r a good idea
I catch craydaddys and use these traps to catch minnows for there food it works great.
which end goes up? i think its the one with the “cave”
i doesnt matter which side goes up
I thought it was an amazing idea.
thats a great idea, i’m gonna go make one now!