Make Your Own Minnow Trap Using a 2-Liter Bottle
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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!
fried chicken also works if you want to catch crayfish. i recommend that it be fresh and hot that way the smell will be strongest when you put it in the trap. (Good luck)
I have a canal in behind my backyard full of cradawds and minnows. the minnows eat the bait so this should help. crawdawd traps are bigger and have a bigger opening.
I cant wait to try it!It sounds fun!
I tried doing that with my friend and all we got the next morning was stinky water with soaked bread in it.
will little peaces of bread if it doesent work what do minnows like to eat
mix crackers and dogfood
I made about forty. I attach each to a rock with twine and put french fries in.after i put the french fries in, i put a little bit of salt and leave it over night.each trap gets obout 20 minnows in it. i sell the minnows to my scout troop as fishing bait.oh, and C.S., each trap should cathc about 10 to 20 minnows.
Is this a practical way to catch 2-3 dozen minnows a day for bass fishing? I am making one right now at this very moment…but I was wondering if it was adequate for what I need, or if I need to make more than one of them?
the minnow trap catchs crawdads to. i catch crawdads to feed my ckickens they love minnows to :>)
If you dont have 2liter or 3liter bottles, regular 20oz bottles will do, you just wont catch as many
perfect I can’t wait to try this out on my troops fishing trip
cool works
hi fish 8900
about 20
Cool reply sound awesome gonna try this with my buddy
I tried making one of these but used power bait instead and it didn’t work. Anyone know why?
Power bait floats,NO GOOD
works great
this trap works great i use it every day
When does it work best?
if you set your traps in the mornings and evening and then go and checks them and c what you have?but i think that you should have some kind of bucket with you so you can keep the minnow in the bucket so when you are ready to go fishing.
me and my dad are gonna make one and use the minows to catch catfish on yoyos
I am going on vacation to lake Michagin and want to catch minnows. I am going to make the trap, but does it work?
this does work very well, i was going for minnows but instead i got 3 baby blue gills
Awsome 🙂
yes,It really does work,because i have cought a lot of them.and i use dog food and that does work too. because i have tried and it does work.as many as you rally want. but i might advice you to take a bucket or something to put the minnows in,I have made a minnow holder out of a 2 litter plastic pop bottle and it really works to to take my minnows to my house.
it will catch water bugs too
Will it work in salt water?
In salt warter the tides might wash your trap away! If you try it make shore you anchor it real well. Good luck!
this really does nt work from my correcet usage it only hols 10 11 12 minnows.
really all u need is one. get the bottel cut it at the part 2,b DONT dicard bottem just flip it overand fit it in, and no need 4 fastening. there you go. the better way.
this is awesome i love the trap and i hope it works. now i don’t need to use a net to catch minos cause now i got a trap to do it all for me.
will the trap work in a creek
YES That’s the best for minows!
just use hot dogs for minnows its the best they stay a lot longer
A live minow is by far the best bait! If you use A hotdod you mite cetch me L.O L
as a 5 yo i made a trap using a goldfish bowl, on its side, w opening facing the shore of a lake i lived on. i put bread crumb in the back of it. the fish would get in the bowl and try to get out the back, seeing the deeper water thru the bottom of the bowl. i would just scoop them up and put them in my baby pool full of water. what a shock my parents had when they saw 100s of fish, and minnows but i had no fising pole!! i am going to try this and also use it to catch bugs!! thanks for the ideas for me and my kid.
If you don’t have A rod/reel I’ll give you one .I have alot. My best is an A.B U Garcia I won at a fishing tornament
i hope it works
What time of the day should I set the trap?
you should set it at night and then pick it up in the morning
Good advice, The preditors are nocternal
any leave it all night
put them out any time morning is the best wait till the next day then go check them
You can get 10-20 in10 minints or nothing in a hole day. Look where they are,fill botel with warter and anchor with rocks. .for best result bring flour. wet into small bb’s for bait. Can’t go wrong! Good Luck!
Were should you put it if u have a pond
hope it works.
As a class today we went to a pond and caught minnows and shrimp so we kept them as pets and now we will feed them fish food and crumble it up very good.
this is the bomb
Sounds fun! Minnows here I come. I know the perfect spot.
use meow mix to get minnows
Great idea. The smell and it won’t float This will work!
i am going to try this i hope it works
i am a girl and this trap has helped me and i get 50 minnows aday
I catch my minnos and keep them alive for years in my live well
i found it works great
I made a different kind of trap and used it during winter.I wanted minnows but i caught a catfish and a bass.I should catch minnows this summer.
What kind of trap did you make?
cool i’ll try it hope it works
you can also use a can of the most cat food and you will find a few crawdads as well as minnows that way you can fish for bottom feeders like catfish
Wow!That is so cool I hope it works!
you only need 1 bottle
Not if you want a twist off lid.
sounds fun ill try it
sunds fun i’m gonna make one
Bagels tend to last longer than crackers or bread
i usually catch around 20 a night
COOL!
How much/many crushed crackers should you use?
two crackers would be fine, i also find that polo biscuits work well
How many minnows should it catch?