How to Make a Trap to catch crabs

Do you love seafood but hate the high prices ? Make your own crab trap.

There are many different kinds of traps used to Catch crabs.
This is a simple easy way to make a efficient crab trap.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
   Closed crab trap

   Crab is great dipped into butter or made into crab cakes. Either way they are delicious. To make a trap so that you can catch your own is a good way to spend time with your kids.
   You will need a high grade 1 inch mesh wire.
   This is a pyramid-style crab trap and is collapsible which makes it easy to transport.

2. Cut the wire for a bottom. Making sure to get the edges clean even cut. The bottom will measure 16" x 16" square.
   Next you will cut 4 triangular shapes of mesh wire.
   Making the bottom slightly shorter than the bottom 16" square bottom piece.

3. Once you have them cut.
   Lay the pattern out on a flat surface.
   Use the wire connector rings to connect the triangular bottom to the edge of the square.
   Using a pair of pliers , close the rings as tight as you can get them. Using 3 on each joint. Place one on each end and one in the middle.

4. Once you have all 4 triangular into place. You need to place 1 connector ring to the top end of the triangular pieces.
   When you have all 4 rings into place we can run the draw up cords.

5. To run the draw-up cord.
   Tie the cord, one to each of the rings that are on the ends of the triangles. Use enough cord to reach the
   other side of the bottom mesh; when in an open position.
   Take the cords and thread them through another connector ring, with pliers close the ring as tight as possible. Tie the 4 cords into a knot, to keep them from slipping back through the ring.
   The trap should be in a closed position with cord drawn up.

6. This will be the raising rope.
   To determine the length of cord, depending on where you are going to use the crab traps at.
   Some cords may only need to be as long as it takes to get from the pier to the bottom of the water.
   Others may be much deeper and will need more rope.
   
   After determining the length of rope that you will need, Tie it to the same ring that you tied the other 4 to.
   
   This will be the raising rope.

7. Now that you have home made a crab trap It's time to set it.
   To set your trap you will need some chicken scraps. old bones work well.
   Tie the chicken to the bottom of the cage.
   The crabs love to eat on the chicken. Let the trap set for several hours.
   Go fishing, hiking or maybe you will set more traps.
   When you return.
   Slowly raise the trap. The slower the better at first so that you do not alarm the crabs in the trap and scare them off.
   once you feel the trap close you can begin to raise it faster.
   
   
   
   ENJOY

[michaelmulvania]

on 8/10/2009 Very good article. You learn something new everyday. Thanks

[AngelGirl1024]

on 8/3/2009 Great article and five stars given. My problem is if I caught a crab, I wouldn't want to eat it. lol. I have a hard enough problem seeing live lobsters in those tanks. BUT this is a perfect way to make a crab trap for those that are interested in catching crab.
Thanks again for another good article.
~Melanie