fishing DIY Shrimp traps.

[rayke1938]

After several different types I think that I have finally got it right.

What do you need.

Cable ties - Bunnings or cheaper still on ebay.

Plastic gutter guard 180mm wide Bunnings whites super gutter guard 180mm X 8 m about $7 or cheaper at Masters.

Ideally 25mm begonia pot saucers from K mart $1 each but they havent had any for months.so I use Frisbees from K mart $1 each.

Bundle of

tent pole shock cord $3 from K mart

around 12 gauge gi soft drawn fencing wire. I scrounged some from a farmer mate.

Empty 2l soft drink bottled.

I use soft copper wire for the hooks and attaching the tie rope. You should be able to scrounge some from a sparky or auto electrician

First step is to cut the gutterguard to length. Just mark the edge of the frisbee with a felt pen and place a mark on a length of wood and roll the frisbee Add an inch to allow for an overlap join.

Similarly cut the fencing wire to length.

The fencing wire has to be formed into a circle and the neck of a 9kg gas bottle is ideal for the frisbee size and if you are fortunate to find some 25mm begonia saucers an upturned flower pot is good.

Then cut a hole in the frisbee slightly smaller in diameter than the soft drink bottle.

Next step is to cut the neck off the soft drink bottle ( I find scissors best leave the screw top on the bottle and it is easier to make the initial plunge into the bottle}

Then using a small tipped soldering iron melt 4 holes around the hole in the frisbee and corresponding holes in the drink neck and cable tie the neck to the frisbee,( Do this in well ventilated area because of the burning plastic fumes.) You could drill the holes but it is much faster with the soldering iron.

You will note that I have also made holes around the circumference of the frisbee.You only make the holes on one of the frisbees.

Next step is to join 2 lengths of the gutterguard side by side.

Just tie them together loosely untill the whole lengthy is complete and then flip them out and then tighten up the cable ties.

The co joined gutterguard is then cabletied to the frisbee and the top is pulled in so that the diameter is slightly smalletr then the outher end that is secured to the frisbee and one of bthe fencing wire circles is cable tied to the top

nAnd then the second wire circle is tied in to the centre of the pot

I then insert a short rod into the top of the trap to attact the clop that I tie the rope to.

Clip is made from the copper wire mentioned earlier.

I then place some weight opposite the rope attach point. ( Anything heavy to take the pot to the bottom quickly.( I use old galvanised bolts )

Next step is to burn 3 holes in the other frisby that is going to be the other end of the pot.

[bersim]

Thanks so much for posting this Ray!!! You are so generous in always sharing your knowledge.

James

[rayke1938]

We then have to attach the lid using the shock cord and another clip made from the copper wire.

Cut the shock cord slightly longer than the height of the pot and tie a double knot in one end and thread it through the frisby then the clip and back through the frisby and tie another knot.

Then melt a hole in the other end of the pot placing the hole at 90 degrees to the weights and take another length of shock cord and knotit and thread it up through the pot and through the hole on the lid.

Pull this cord as tight as possible and tie a knot in it and trim it off.

Completed pot.

I burn my name ( Pity I cannot spell it) into the pot with the soldering iron .I also burn my name into the float ( Helps preventing people thinking that they are their pots.)

I have lost a couple of photos where I initially attach the mesh to the frisbee so I will take some more tomorrow night and update.

I did make some pots out of galvanised gutterguard and they were a lot easier to make but they are starting to rust out after only 2 months in NPD, If you can find some 250 mil begonia saucers they are a lot easier to make up and use less gutterguard and catch just as well as the larger frisbee pots.

Happy shrimping.

Cheers

Ray

[ellicat]

Thanks Rayay

[kmcrosby78]

Bl00dy brilliant Mr Kennennedy ........ :silly: Shows what you can do with a bit of thought.

[Do$tylz]

With wintercamp coming up I thought I'd have a quick squiz at this and complete a bit of DIY myself with your awesome idea Ray. Hopefully I can nab a few shrimp myself.

Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge again.

And that is hilarious. I laughed in my office when I saw how you spelt your name

edit - and I hope you don't mind Ray - I've turned this into a sticky. Great info for others in future.

[Binder]

Made a few of my own using this idea, work well. But I dont drink soft drink and the kids dont need it either , so I dont have access to free empty 2l soft drink bottles.

So I am going to try something different for the funnels.

Got these on fleabay, about $19 for 10 delivered from hong kong. Comparable to the price of buying elcheapo 2l softdrink bottles and they are a bit wider at 150mm across, also a bit more robust.

[Binder]

Ok, I have retro fitted funnels to a couple I had made with soft drink bottle tops, with funnels.

First photo is a funnel sitting on top of a trap Ray gave me, his favoured smaller size ones. be brilliant for those I reckon.

First step, make the hole bigger.

Dont have a fancy oversize hole saw like ray, so the old hacksaw blade and gaffa tape did the job.

tried one pot with the frisbee pointing in, but it didn't result in a very big gap between the funnel ends.

So did the other one old school.

When the funnel is cut off, the depth is comparable to the soft drink bottle top.

The two traps ready for duty. Got two netting ones in the dam that are about to give up the ghost, these will go in as soon as they do.

[bersim]

Looking good Andrew. How many zip ties did you use though!!! Nothing is going to be escaping from them!!!

James

[Binder]

About a dollars worth

Only $1 for 200 at the local cheapie shop

[rayke1938]

Bump

[fifis101]

Normally I would love anything DIY and don't get me wrong these do look pretty good but can't you get the standard collapsible traps for like $5? Only $2-3 off ebay if I remember right. Have you had issues these types of traps to warrant making your own?

[basshunter1987]

43 minutes ago, fifis101 said:

Normally I would love anything DIY and don't get me wrong these do look pretty good but can't you get the standard collapsible traps for like $5? Only $2-3 off ebay if I remember right. Have you had issues these types of traps to warrant making your own?

Yep! The Redclaw chew through them like Tubby Taylor at first slip! That and, they're not as strong, tend to rot (a lot faster than gutter guard ever will), and the netting holes get clogged up with algae fairly quickly. The traps you speak of are useful for shorter times in the water, but our shrimp pots live on the bottom 24/7. I use opera house traps with a smaller hole for some of my pots, and they're pretty good, although have some of the same issues as the collapsible square traps.

[The Mad Hughesy]

1 hour ago, fifis101 said:

Normally I would love anything DIY and don't get me wrong these do look pretty good but can't you get the standard collapsible traps for like $5? Only $2-3 off ebay if I remember right. Have you had issues these types of traps to warrant making your own?

I've just bought a few of the eBay cheapies only for occasional use. I've used them in the past and they do not last long at all. redclaw destroy them very quickly! if I wanted them to last a good few years of heavy use, then id make my own like this

[Drop Bear]

On 2/10/2016 at 11:43 AM, basshunter1987 said:

but our shrimp pots live on the bottom 24/7.

awesome work thanks for the tips!!

[Pokitren]

On 10/02/2016 at 3:43 AM, basshunter1987 said:

Yep! The Redclaw chew through them like Tubby Taylor at first slip! That and, they're not as strong, tend to rot (a lot faster than gutter guard ever will), and the netting holes get clogged up with algae fairly quickly. The traps you speak of are useful for shorter times in the water, but our shrimp pots live on the bottom 24/7. I use opera house traps with a smaller hole for some of my pots, and they're pretty good, although have some of the same issues as the collapsible square traps.

What opera house are you talking about? I'd like to try them. Would you mind telling me in more detail?

[Drop Bear]

On 18/05/2022 at 6:34 PM, Pokitren said:

What opera house are you talking about? I'd like to try them. Would you mind telling me in more detail?

This sort of thing

https://www.hookedonline.com.au/4-x-wilson-folding-opera-house-traps-four-pack-gre