Prawn traps?? what is your preferd trap n why???

[CCB]

One trap is crazy just alot more work just add weight to the trap and line I made some custom glow half balls for my square traps they fit perfect roughly 5 lbs I put one in each trap and then 5 lbs in front of the trap I couldn't imagine pulling 12 strings with one trap. I don't prawn much but do pretty well when I do.

Jeffy all traps will catch main thing is minimize trap movement . The commies don't have to weight there lines and there anchored and don't move.

 

[jeffywestcoast]

Yes Good tip folks thanks again, i am going to weight the traps on the line as well as ahead of the traps to minimize trap movement, my boat is only 16.5 feet so going to start with one string for now..probably look at a couple more traps soon.

 

[triplenickel]

I used some cheap 3/8 chain and zip tied it around the interior perimiter of my traps as weight.

 

[jeffywestcoast]

I just want to make sure i am doing it right , i guess putting the chain on the inside perimeter of the trap would be better to keep it from snagging, makes sense. My main worry is to come back and have my traps ,floated away from where they were set,GPS doesn't help much at that point. i have already donated quite enough crab traps to the sea, going to try n be really careful with this prawning string..

 

[jeffywestcoast]

thanks again for everyone's advice, i purchased the Ace line hauler yesterday from chandler,I pick up a couple traps tonight and with any luck should have some prawns sometime soon....Wish me luck!

 

[therise]

Has anyone ever purchased the use commercial prawn traps with the streched webbing, and just added some smaller diameter webbing inside to prevent escapees?

 

[jeffywestcoast]

I picked up two of the round sporty version with tighter mesh, from what i have read or been told, the commie traps are all over the internet for that exact reason, (stretched mesh)... don't wont any escapees..so going with the tighter mesh, they were pretty resonable at 39.99 at Harb Chan just trying to fig how to fit 1000 feet of rope on my 16.5 foot boat, maybe a half size plastic garbage can will do the trick or an old laundry tote..

 

[Stress Medicine]

If you have already gotten your traps, this may not be helpful, but I love my square hard mesh ones. Consistently good producers (except for last Saturday) always out fishing any round mesh ones I have used. I have 18" and 24" square ones build to commercial standards. Just got 4 new ones from Bauer Sea Traps at AquaTackle in Sidney, I run them in a set with the 24 first overboard with the 18 about 50 - 60 ft behind it. The 24" trap has no weight, the 18 has about 3lbs of lead in the bait tunnel, For the rope between the two traps, I have 50 - 60 ft of poly attached to the bottom trap, it is stored in the trap and when setting the traps, is connected to the main line with a 1/4" stainless quicklink. Then I snap on the second weighted trap with a heavy duty snap. 400' of rope up to 2 floats. First float is a football shaped one to have less drag on the traps in the chop and the second (about 3' away) is round. If the traps are set to deep and float, the first ball may go under, but the second ball rides high and dry to make finding it easier. I find the weight in the second trap good enough to hold them in all but the most severe conditions and yet not too hard to pull. All four shots of rope (mixed 5/16 poly and leaded, 400 ft each) fit in a standard rubbermaid tote bin. Fits right under the puller when retrieving or setting. Just coil or pile the line in keeping the end of the line on top, never any problems with tangles. All my ropes have eyes spliced into the ends for easy connection of snaps and quicklinks. Floats and traps are connected with big stainless snaps so they can be separated. The 1/4" stainless quick links eliminate knots, are easy to undo and run through puller with no problems.
I know this style trap takes up more room in the boat, but that's only a problem till they are in the water, then they shine.
Hope this helps.

 

[jeffywestcoast]

Thanks for the tips StressMedicine, i have 4 traps now so i will have to see how that goes, 2 swedish traps n two round sport traps, going to pick up some stainless 1/4 inch quicklinks like you said so i dont have and issues with my puller, also to add another 400'' to 500' to my line , also going to space my traps 50' apart so they dont compete. hope this helps as i am interested to see if these round traps out fish the square swedish style i bought. weather depending i should be able to try it out later this week.

 

[Stress Medicine]

jeffywc,
Sounds like you're onto it, good luck.

 

[Cedarstrip]

Having used a number of different types over the years, my one main observation would be that it is important for the opening, or 'ramp' that they crawl up be located at the bottom of the trap. ie. not 6" off of the ground.
Those traps with the lower openings always seemed to out-perform those with it higher.
My .02

 

[jeffywestcoast]

I was also told the same thing that the ramps that start at the bottom of the trap fish better then those that start 1 inch up the trap. I think that theory will be put to the test tomorrow, my swedish trap have the ramp starting at the bottom, My round sporty style stack able ones have just 3 openings half way up the trap, guess i will have to see.