Alright, let’s talk about crab traps, you know, those things for catchin’ crabs. I ain’t no expert, but I’ve seen a thing or two, and I can tell ya what’s what, simple and plain.
First off, you got them box traps. These are like, well, boxes. Usually made of wire or sometimes wood. They got these doors that let the crabs in but they can’t get out, see? Smart little buggers think they found a free meal, and bam! They’re stuck. You can put all sorts of bait in there, like fish guts, chicken necks, whatever smells good and rotten. The stinkier the better, I always say! Crabs got good noses, you know.
- Easy to use, even for an old woman like me.
- Pretty sturdy, lasts a good while if you take care of it.
- Can catch a fair amount of crabs if you put it in the right spot.
Then you got them ring traps. These are just rings, made of metal, with some netting stretched across. You lay ’em flat on the bottom, put some bait in the middle, and when a crab comes along to eat, you pull the ring up real quick. It’s kinda like snatchin’ candy from a baby, but with crabs, ha! These ain’t as easy to use as the box traps though, gotta be quick and sneaky.
Collapsible traps are another kind. These are handy ’cause they fold up flat, easy to carry around and store. They’re mostly made of wire mesh and work kinda like a box trap, but they’re lighter and you can stack ’em up nice and neat. Good for folks who don’t have a lot of space, or if you wanna take a bunch of traps out on your boat.
Now, there’s these topless traps too. Some folks swear by ’em. They say they’re the best of both worlds, easy to use like a box trap but stackable like the collapsible ones. They’re usually made of wire mesh and seem to be pretty tough, can take a beatin’. But I ain’t used ’em much myself, so I can’t say for sure.
What kind of bait you use is important too. Like I said, stinky is good. Fish heads are the best, especially if they’ve been sittin’ out for a day or two, real ripe. You can use chicken, too, or even just some old bread. But trust me, fish heads are the ticket. Crabs love ’em.
When you’re pickin’ out a trap, think about how easy it is to use and clean. Nobody wants to wrestle with a rusty, tangled-up mess. The easier it is to empty and clean, the better. And if you’re gonna be crabbin’ a lot, get somethin’ sturdy that’ll last. Wire mesh is good, holds up pretty well.
So, there ya have it, a few different kinds of crab traps. Box traps, ring traps, collapsible ones, topless ones… Which one’s best? Well, that depends on you and what you’re lookin’ for. But remember, the most important thing is to find a good spot, use some stinky bait, and have a little patience. And don’t forget to check your local rules and regulations, you don’t wanna get in trouble with the game warden.
And another thing, be careful when you’re handlin’ them crabs. Them pinchers are strong, and they don’t let go easy. I got pinched once, real bad, nearly drew blood! Wear some gloves if you got ’em, and watch your fingers. Crabbin’ should be fun, not a trip to the emergency room.
Last thing, take care of your traps. Rinse ’em off after you use ’em, especially if you’re crabbin’ in saltwater. That salt will eat right through metal if you let it. And if somethin’ breaks, fix it. A little bit of maintenance will keep your traps lastin’ longer. Makes sense, right? Ain’t nothin’ worse than gettin’ out to your crabbin’ spot and findin’ out your trap is busted.
So, good luck out there, and happy crabbin’! Remember, patience is key, and don’t forget the stinky bait!
Tags: [crab traps, types of crab traps, box traps, ring traps, collapsible traps, topless traps, crab fishing, crab bait, fishing gear, how to catch crabs]
