How to Make a Homemade Minnow Trap

Follow these simple instructions to make a homemade minnow trap.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 liter soft drink bottle.
• Razor knife
• Small rocks
• Duct tape
• String
• 10 minutes

1. 
    

   Get all the listed materials together.

2. 
    

   Cut the bottle right where it starts to narrow. It is better to lay the bottle on a flat surface to keep it from slipping. Better yet get someone to hold the other end. Use a utility razor knife or Exacto knife if you have either available.

3. 
    

   Once cut the two parts should look like this.

4. 
    

   Place the cut top down inside the remaining bottle with the narrow part down. Use the duck tape to secure the two together. This makes a funnel that the minnows will swim into, but won't be able to get back out.
   
   Place some pebbles inside the bottle to weight it down. Make a small hole near the top of the trap and fasten a string about 15 feet long.

5. 
    

   Place some dry dog food or bread into the bottle and fill with water. Toss the trap into the stream in a calm deep section. Check it in a couple of hours.

6. 
    

   You shouldn't have any trouble catching minnows in your trap. They are hard to see in this photo, but there are several in this trap made from a Mountain Dew bottle made by one of the boys on a camping trip. (You can see an eyeball in the inset photo).

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you place the trap in a calm eddy in the stream. Smaller fish stay there to keep from having to swim hard constantly.
• Be careful with the razor knife or Exacto knife. I cut my index finger to the bone with a razor utility knife when I was a teenager. If it had hit the joint it would have cut it off. It only takes one slip!

[Doodlebugs]

on 12/21/2008 Free bait is the best bait. Good article.

[voliegurl]

on 12/20/2008 I love to fish and use minnows...thanks for the ideas!

[Tfurby]

on 12/19/2008 This is great! A very inexpensive way to catch fish bait. 5* plus a recommendation!

[Wasatch]

on 12/17/2008 Used to have a great jar to do this with. My kids should enjoy this in a few local creeks.