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!
We have an electric stove, and they said use a gas stove.
What do i do?
electric or gas does not matter
How do u put it down without it floating around?
You burn hole in it with the nails. This allows the water to enter and it will submerge. No need to tie it down.
i have a store bought one with this kind of making without all the holes in it it great for minnows and piggy perch
Its cool I used it
good for cat fish
Awesome this type of thing is on youtube.although the hot nail is new.do out side though because of the fumes off the plastic
It’s just like a bug trap
I love catching minnows
Some food I would use is Granola bars at Nine Eagles I dropped my Granola bar in the water and sunfish were everywhere then came a catfish.
Why would you use hot dogs, sardines, or worms to bait minnows when you can use those as perfectly good bait for fish? Dn’t waste those on minnows… they will eat anything that’s small enough.
it works good another good bait is dog food
Try using dog food that’s what we’ve always used and it works great
Check if you need a permit to catch live bait, or you could face a $500.00 fine!
You don’t need a permit to catch live bait unless u are between 16-67 years old
I used epoxy resin to stick the two halves of the bottle,then a hot nail for the sink holes.
Remove the inner bottle top before sticking.Put holes in the bottle top to prevent airlocks.
If you are baiting it with maggots,make smaller nail holes so they cant escape..
I’m going to attempt to use PVC cement. that should work well enough.
You can use a hole punched to make the holes instead.
Would a milk jug work?
yah cut an x in the side of the jug and fold down and your done. works really good
I cant wait to try it but if you release them, will they still follow the bait into the same trap?
what type of food should i put in my minnow trap?
It depends we’re you go but chopped up hot dogs work anywhere… Good luck.
is sardines a good bate for minnows
Salteen crackers are the best
OK bait they will eat.
i have a regular minnow basket ……… but dont no what the best food is to put in them anyone no ?
you don’t have to put anything in but i would suggest worms
will this work in upper michigan
Waw amazing i get a lot of fish within 30 minutes
i hope this works!
you dont have to burn holes with a nail you can use a knife or scissors
this is a good trap and works very well
awsome way to catch minnows you have to try this
Where do i put it?
its awesome you have to try it
Got to try this!
how will the minos get into the bottle?
dont set your trap in the winter
unles you live in TX
cool
I stapled mine it woks fine
Can you just skip the sewing together part and just staple it
Whats the best time to trap minnows?
Any time is good as long as you are in an area that has lots of minnows. The best spot would be were there is a strong current in a stream from 6″ to 1′ so the minnows will stay in better. If you only see a few going in walk away for about 1 to three minutes and it should be packed with minnows.
summer
Catch lots of minnows in 5mins
You can catch loads of minnows in10mins
Going to try this at Bass Lake when we go up to Yosemite for Spring Break!
My dad and i use a small twine link net tied onto 2 sticks. It works really good for us.
Try sardines that’s what I always use
it depends on the season you are setting your trap
What kind of fish would you use minnows to catch? I like fishing and will try using minnows that I caught, the next time I go. I have used bagel as bait before and that works well.
cooked bagel or just raw
this can also be a crawdad trap
I caught a 20lb salmon and a 17lb pike in mine
yeah ok
WHAT!?
yeah,yeah,yeah.oh sure!i caught a 25 in. catfish in mine!
man i tried it with bred but no progress….i dont know if im doing this wrong because i see mnnows swiming around and about but aint catching non with the trap
It really does work because i have two fish tanks and i have 5 in one tank and 3or 4 in
another tank, and it really does work so if any one like to make it and find out for your self, and see if we aren’t wrong about how many minnows you eill catch in the minnow trap, believe me it really does work.
and yes it does work.
it is so coooooooooooool
whats the best bait!
I used a cheese cracker (after trying everything else) and caught about 50 minnows in less than 20 minutes! I just broke the cracker in half and dropped it in thru the open hole. As it flaked apart the minnows swarmed into the trap to eat the flakes.
this is ASWOM like it really works
i caught like 6 crawfish and a bunch of sucker minnows
does this raelly work?