A Tale of Two Crab Pots

#crabbing #crab #hoodcanal $20 crab pot vs. $120 crab pot. Pros and cons! Is the extra price worth it? Click bait to find out! Whoops, I mean click to find out!

[@brianboatman5564]

Thanks, as always, for another great video! Very well thought out video.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Brian! I truly appreciate it!

[@NorthwestAdventurerNWA]

There’s so much to learn. Thanks for sharing!

[@WAFishQuest]

We all learn from each other! I need to get back to work on that windmill btw!

[@outdoorloser4340]

Thanks Blake another good educational video. 👍 I went out on our July 15 opener up here in region 7, and my cheap square pot like yours had 5 keeper dungees after a 3 hour soak. My other even cheaper pot which is a 2 door triangular prism only had 1 keeper. I've had both pots for 10 years and that's usually how it goes. I actually kind of hate that triangle pot, yet I keep using it year after year without spending another $20 bucks on a collapsible square. I guess being cheap has its drawbacks, 😆

[@WAFishQuest]

Yeah I'm usually pretty cheap oh well. That's just how good you are- you don't need to cheat and use the good stuff!

[@ThePiscatorian360]

That was a nice informative video. I like how you spruced up the cheap pot to make it fish more effective. I pulled the trigger on a more expensive trap this year as well. Tight lines!

[@WAFishQuest]

You as well! Yeah those expensive ones are nice but I sure am worried about it getting stolen! (Ha ha). When I put it out for overnighters I do it right at dusk.

[@ThePiscatorian360]

@@WAFishQuest yeah I had that happen to two of them 6 years ago. I went for the cheapest ones aftee that unitl decided to buy a fancier one a few weeks back. Lol

[@farmenheimer]

Very helpful… thank you!

[@WAFishQuest]

You are welcome!

[@SledorFish]

I have used those cheap traps since I was a kid. They work just fine and last a long time if you rinse them off after every use. I miss the old days when we could just go crabbing before WDFW went to these stupid derby style seasons.

[@WAFishQuest]

Yeah, does make it pretty tight for sure. Didn't serve us well in MA 11/13. I'd take reduced limits or even an annual limit, personally. The cheap traps are fine IMO! Storage is really nice too.

[@sov19871987]

Bought 4 stainless steel crab pots in January for $200, all ready to for crabbing. The guy was relocating to another state and just had to sell them.

[@WAFishQuest]

Whoa! That's a screamin deal! People give me pots fairly often, but usually the cheaper ones. Ha ha.

[@PNWSamson]

Solid information! Hey, what was that building you showed briefly? I saw that brown box crab in the display case. I've found Puget sound king crab but never seen a brown box crab yet. Have you?

[@WAFishQuest]

I have not! That building is the Point Whitney Shellfish lab. They grow and plant oysters and geoduck seed for harvest in Puget Sound and Hood Canal. I believe it's a public/private/tribal government partnership but could be wrong. If it's in that display case, it probably came from Hood Canal. Hood Canal can get 600 feet deep though, so I have no idea how deep they may live. Oh and thanks!

[@JustinxCharles]

Do you have a video on your boat set up? I really want to get into fishing and I like how mobile your boat was at 7:03 lol. Would be really nice to see your boat and set up for a beginner like me!

[@WAFishQuest]

That's easy Justin! You got it! Not sure when I'll get to it, but that's an easy shoot.

[@JustinxCharles]

@@WAFishQuest that would be so great thank you! Just found you but love every video I've watched so far. Very informational without being boring lol. Great stuff

[@HobbiesHobo]

I foolishly tried to convince myself that the more expensive pots were better but have since then come to my senses, unfortunately "Pot Theft" is a serious part of my formula, cheap ones work well enough. The discussion would be completely different if it revolved around commercial trapping. Haven't been out once yet, injured on first trip then my fishing partner went out with a friend, got 5 keepers with a cheap trap in 1 hour & broke the boat. Won't be back in the water now until early or mid August. Thanks

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks as always! Yeah unless I'm overnighting I tend to go with the cheap-os. Bummer about the boat breaking!

[@mr.e.2175]

Play time is short get the good stuff first be sure to check reviews and enjoy!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks for the comment Mr. E!

[@crazywednesday]

I use a very heavy zip tie on the doors to act as a spring.

[@WAFishQuest]

Good tip. Thanks!

[@crazywednesday]

@@WAFishQuest Leave the tag end hanging down against the door on the inside.

[@everettseahawk8347]

I have a cheap pot and a more expensive pot and my cheap one almost always gets more crab for some reason. I guess the crab are more budget conscious.

[@WAFishQuest]

that does make me wonder if the little ramp is a factor. thanks!

[@adriandeere847]

​@@WAFishQuest I took the " ramp" out of mine and put in regular triggers.

[@mrbrain80]

Where do you buy the cheap $20 pot?

[@WAFishQuest]

Sportco in Fife usually has some about that price range. They are folding traps, so they'll be big flat rectangles.

[@garroncrashhaun5533]

What is Ghost pot, I've never heard that term before 🙃

[@WAFishQuest]

Ah! Great question. It's when you lose a pot and it still catches/traps/kills crabs. Crabs will enter pots for some reason even when they're out if bait. So a lost pot, without a proper rot chord, can catch and kill 100s of crabs.

[@garroncrashhaun5533]

@@WAFishQuest oh snap! I never thought about that before. Good to know. I'm assuming other rot cord is the biodegradable part you were talking about. Makes sense :) Thanks for the information!

[@WAFishQuest]

Yep! I appreciate the question. Maybe I'll make a short about it!

[@RV_Chef_Life]

Crabbing is like a box of chocolates.......🤣🤣🤣

[@WAFishQuest]

You never know what you're... Going to get pinched by!

[@nicd4466]

That’s what you put rubber bands on the doors..

[@WAFishQuest]

Eh?

[@Fathercoffee]

He had no weight or band on that door.

[@WAFishQuest]

Lesson learned there!