Alright, listen up, y’all! You wanna learn how to tie a crab trap? It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya. It’s somethin’ even a ol’ woman like me can do. So, you city slickers better pay attention!
First off, you gotta get yourself a crab trap, right? I mean, duh! Can’t catch crabs without a trap, can ya? They got all sorts of fancy ones these days, but I like the good ol’ fashioned kind. Wire mesh, sturdy frame, that’s all you need. Don’t go spendin’ your hard-earned money on them fancy-pants traps. Waste of money, I say!
Now, before you even think about throwin’ that trap in the water, you gotta make sure it’s baited up good. Crabs ain’t stupid. They ain’t gonna crawl into no empty trap. You gotta give ’em somethin’ they like. We always used chicken necks or fish heads. Smelly stuff, yeah, but crabs love it. You can use whatever you want, really. Just make sure it’s somethin’ that’ll stink up the water and draw ’em in.
- Chicken necks
- Fish heads
- Anything stinky the crabs will love!
Okay, so you got your trap, you got your bait, now what? Now comes the tricky part: tyin’ the rope. You don’t wanna just toss that trap in the water and watch it float away, do ya? You gotta tie it to somethin’ so you can pull it back up. And you gotta tie it good and strong, otherwise you’ll lose your trap and your crabs!
First, you need a good strong rope. Not that flimsy stuff they sell at the dollar store. You need somethin’ that can handle the weight of a full trap and the pull of the tide. I like to use a thick nylon rope. It’s strong and it don’t rot in the water. Make sure it’s long enough too. You don’t wanna be standin’ on the dock wishin’ you had another ten feet of rope, believe me. Don’t skimp on rope length, it can make or break your day!
Now, you gotta tie that rope to the trap. Most traps have a little loop or a ring on ’em for tyin’ the rope. If yours doesn’t, you can just tie it around the frame good and tight. I like to use a good ol’ bowline knot. It’s easy to tie and it don’t slip. But if you don’t know how to tie a bowline, a good ol’ square knot will do just fine. Just make sure it’s tight, real tight. You don’t want them crabs getting away.
Once you got the rope tied to the trap, you gotta tie the other end to somethin’ on the shore or on your boat. If you’re crabbin’ from the shore, you can tie it to a tree or a post or even a big rock. Just make sure it’s somethin’ that ain’t gonna move. If you’re crabbin’ from a boat, you can tie it to a cleat or a railing. Again, just make sure it’s somethin’ strong and secure. Don’t tie it to something flimsy or you will be waving good bye to your trap!
Now, here’s a little trick I learned a long time ago. Don’t just drop that trap straight down to the bottom. You gotta give it some slack. That means letting out a little extra rope so the trap can sit on the bottom without being pulled tight. This gives the crabs a chance to crawl in. If the rope is too tight, the trap will be suspended off the bottom and the crabs won’t be able to get in. I usually let out a few extra feet of rope, just to be safe.
And another thing, don’t just leave your trap in one place all day. Crabs move around, so you gotta move your trap around too. I usually check my traps every hour or so. If I ain’t catchin’ nothin’, I move ’em to a new spot. Sometimes it takes a little while to find the crabs, but once you find ’em, you’ll be pullin’ ’em up left and right. Patience is key, just like baking a good apple pie.
So, there you have it. That’s how you tie a crab trap, country style. It ain’t fancy, but it works. And that’s all that matters, right? Now go on and catch yourself some crabs. Just be sure not to get pinched! And don’t go telling everyone my secrets, ya hear? Oh and always wait a bit between throwing in the trap and pulling it up, thirty minutes to an hour should be enough if the crabs are around. If you leave ‘em overnight be sure to bait them up real good when you set them again and let ‘em sit over the slack tide.
Remember, the best way to learn is by doing. So get out there and give it a try. And don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. There’s always some ol’ timer down at the dock who’s willin’ to lend a hand and share a story or two.
Tags: [crab trap, tying, knot, bait, fishing, how to, crabbing, rope, secure, catching crabs]
