Catfish Trapping With Catfish Slat Traps

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[@michaelluck8652]

This is one of the most informative and useful videos I have ever seen on trapping fish. I thank you sir for sharing this. Your knowledge base never ceases to amaze me.

[@Meattrapper]

Thanks Michael - I appreciate it. This is only scratching the surface. Lot's more to come!

[@Gonzo3780]

very neat...hope to see these in action this summer...

[@ToddWittenmyerBackwoodsLiving]

Very interesting! I had never even heard of a slat trap for fish. When I was a kid, some of the old-timers around here used fish baskets to take fish out of the local creeks. Of course these were illegal and still are, as far as I know. Anyway, when I was much younger I ate fish caught in these contraptions on numerous occasions! Take care Tim!

[@Meattrapper]

Here baskets are legal with the right license. It seems that right and wrong are dictated by how much money the government gets out of the deal. The old timers knew what worked for sure - and we can learn a lot from them.

[@joegrucci3975]

Great video! Do you have one on how to rig the trap to fish?

[@jeffarp7409]

Is there anyway to extend your cheese like mixing it with something like cornmeal or something like that. Thanks.

[@backyardmeat]

Interesting, something I knew nothing about. Thanks for sharing!

[@Meattrapper]

I'll be doing more in this series this spring - some on nets, a new survival type pipe trap, etc.

[@NSSorrell]

Thanks so much, you do good work!

[@Meattrapper]

Thank you very much. I do appreciate the kind words.

[@ssc5140]

Thanks Trapper. Wish you were near NC would like to run some catfish line with you. Thanks for the information.

[@Meattrapper]

Larry Reece No problem buddy - if you ever find yourself down this way let me know - we'll meet up for sure!

[@chuckcunningham9653]

trying to figure out how to make and use the release door on the top..could you help or maybe show a video of how the door works. Thanks for your help.

[@johndeaux5874]

I have a couple slats that are 13 -14 years old and still work great. A little maintenance here and they last a long time.

[@Meattrapper]

Yep. Much sturdier than nets for sure. The old timers knew what they were doing.

[@flamike8612]

Just checked, in Florida you can take non-game fish with a slat trap, legally, but it has to be built to the commercial fisherman's required size, be used under the commercial fisherman's rules and be identified as per those same rules. With a non-commercial freshwater license, you and use a SINGLE trap. If you don't use wood, and go with a wire version, the mesh size is also under the commercial rules. A bit of a pain in the kester, but still very much do-able! Thanks for posting the video. Mike S. Spring Hill, FL

[@Meattrapper]

Fla Mike Thanks for posting your regs - I'm sure it will help others in your state. Always better to be safe than sorry! Thanks for watching sir!

[@renita1231]

Great idea. Beats having everything distroyed. Stay safe.

[@Meattrapper]

Thank you sir, and thanks for watching!

[@parameshbabu3877]

I want by pipe traps how to by

[@parameshbabu3877]

The Meat Trapper

[@doittoday1]

Excellent, informative video, do you recommend a certain net other than wood slat traps for catfish?

[@TUKByV]

He has a video showing how to make a trap with three 5gal buckets.

[@Efish3]

Very interesting,never tried to trap catfish,only use hook and line combinations,but most likely not legal here.

[@chuckcunningham9653]

Great video. Well done. I live in SC and you have to have at least a 3" opening on the inner throat. I figure you can cut the plastic throat down but do you think this will still be as effective. Thanks.

[@Meattrapper]

Chuck Cunningham I believe it will - it will make the opening more inviting to the fish, and only a little less easy to get out. Running a 24 hour check will keep losses to a minimum as well. The plastic throats are easy to cut down and don't warp like wood - I really like them a lot. Thanks for watching!

[@NSSorrell]

are a set of plans available? or being close good enough?

[@Meattrapper]

I have never seen a set of plans. Might want to buy one and use it as a guide.

[@curtispeters5176]

do you ever enlarge the throat size on the plastic throats and thanks for the video

[@Meattrapper]

+Curtis Peters In my state, the opening must be 2" square so I trim the opening to meet that diameter. I have never tried a larger opening.

[@TUKByV]

I wonder if bamboo will make a passable slat trap.

[@chuckcunningham9653]

Thanks for the prompt replies trapper. I plan on building a 2x2x6 foot trap. Do you think I can get some larger cats with the plastic throat opening trimmed some. BTW SC states the throat opening can be no larger than 3" and previously stated that it had to be at least 3". My bad. I plan to open up the throat to about 2 inches. Thanks man.

[@Meattrapper]

Chuck Cunningham My experience is that when using slat traps, most of my catch was in the 1 - 3 pound size; but from time to time I would catch larger flat heads up to say 10 pounds or so.

[@robertblauvelt1330]

Yesser I agree on a lot of things you have discussed. Trial an error is the only way. I have my own kinda trap I call Ugly Boys. There square wire with several throats. Very effective Catfish,Bluegill and Bass.However I've never heard of catfish cheese. Would you be willing to let a fellow trapper know of this bait ?

[@stevefavre9491]

Thanks for the video. I stocked channel catfish in one of my ponds about 8 years ago. The largest catfish are now about 10 pounds. I want to catch them for frying for my family and small groups of friends. There is no current in the pond. Would you recommend a slat trap or a hoop net to catch the catfish?

[@Meattrapper]

Steve Favre Normally in a pond I would use slat traps. They are easier to put out - but slat traps are good for catching fish up to 3-5 pounds. You can catch bigger, but not all the time. Since your fish are in the ten pound range I would go with a hoop net in the 3-4 foot diameter range. Just remember slat traps are great for ponds, places without current and smaller fish; but to catch larger fish you'll need a larger diameter trap which means a net. Hope this helps and thanks for watching.

[@mongolloyd5236]

Theyve gota be pretty big fish by now, how did you do? I like to use steak fat or shrimp on a hook when I fish for them personally

[@earthsurfer13]

How do you feel about the "commercial" welded wire mesh traps for catfish?

[@Meattrapper]

The wire baskets definitely work, and they are lighter as well, but I feel like wood being a natural substance catches better than wire. I have no proof - just a belief.

[@earthsurfer13]

Cool. Thanks for the quick response.

[@Grizzlife]

Cool trap. Would like to see some catches in it. Planted onions, peppers and tomato seeds today in green house. I'll keep you updated.

[@Meattrapper]

I'll show some catches when I get to my net traps, which is what I run now. Good luck on the planting, hopefully the cold weather is behind us.

[@mrwindustries]

What kind of wood are these traps made of?

[@Meattrapper]

+mrwindustries They need to be made from hardwood. White oak and teak are common.

[@moisehebert9170]

Can I use Old treated lumber for the ribs

[@Meattrapper]

Yes.

[@thebossoftheswamp]

Really interesting content Tim. Well done with your presentation. Do you have gators and all that where you are? That could be pretty interesting for a northern boy.

[@Meattrapper]

thebossoftheswamp This is the new world record alligator. It was caught about 60 miles south of where I trap. www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/08/its_official_mandy_stokess_all.html . Not State record - WORLD record. :) Bigger than my kayak. Makes night fishing interesting. :)

[@Meattrapper]

thebossoftheswamp Also read this related story. When they skinned the gator, they found a fully grown, 3 year old doe inside it's stomach. It had eaten it whole. They also found squirrels, ducks and teeth that used to belong to a cow. www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/08/guess_what_they_found_in_recor.html . People have no idea what is in these swamps. You can go out there and never be seen again,

[@HaphazardHomestead]

Nice tip about placement of the bait. It's interesting what's legal from state to state! I have to pay extra on my fishing license just to use a 2nd rod.

[@Meattrapper]

Here in my State a commercial fishing license is required - it's a hundred bucks a year, but I don't mind paying it to be able to do what I want and not have to worry.

[@HaphazardHomestead]

With that setup, you could get your hundred dollar's worth! We can't have a trotline (or a trap like you showed) - at any price. But I can get all the nutria I want!

[@EDH28]

I have one. Haven't soaked it yet. How do I soak it? Put weight inside so it sinks?

[@Meattrapper]

D. Wize Yes. If you have something heavy and flat, like railroad tie plates, you can fish it while it soaks since the tie plates won't block the opening or fill up the trap. If you use bricks or rocks, it will obstruct the opening of the trap so fish can't get in. Good luck sir!

[@EDH28]

Thanks. I have some ten pound dumb bells. Hope I can pull it back up lol. Thanks.

[@outdoorswithroostercurrie6984]

Do you build or buy your Slat traps. If you build them can you do a How to video on building them?

[@Meattrapper]

Koot 1971 Sorry but I buy them. It's an art to building a good one.

[@bobbyharper8710]

Years ago we used slat traps because they caught the small fish that didn't have the oily taste and were just right for filets. Now they're only 25 catfish undersized allowed so it puts a damper on that type fishing for us. You can come up empty traps all week and have one good run one day but only keep 25.

[@Meattrapper]

Yes sir - it does catch the good eating ones. I think if more people would catch and release the big monster cats then we could have a bigger limit for smaller eating size.

[@brianwolf692009]

meat trapper, how/where do you get your catfish cheese?

[@Meattrapper]

I have a source locally thT buys it by the barrel. I buy it from him by the bucket. You can irder it from memphis net and twine but the shipping is expensive.

[@brianwolf692009]

thanks

[@MrOldclunker]

I love catfishing but when you said 5lb of cheese....I almost had a heart attack! Lord I hope there is a way to make the cheese and not be $5 a pound. LOL Great video and I am going to make one of these traps. I have to try it out in our big pond at work. Thanks

[@Meattrapper]

That is a great point actually. After all, everything has to pay or it's a money losing deal. The cheese is .50 a pound in bulk, so it costs about $2.50 to bait a trap properly without cutting corners. If you catch 10 pounds of fish, then your catfish costs .25 cents a pound. Of course, you have the cost of the trap, the license fees, the gas for the boat etc - but you get the idea. The more the government demands in licenses, the higher the cost of fuel - the harder it becomes to make it pay. The lesson is - a smaller number of traps in good spots is better than a larger number of traps in bad spots. Take care buddy and good luck.

[@NSSorrell]

Meat trapper, would cypress slat work??

[@Meattrapper]

Absolutely!

[@waltlars3687]

As a wood worker I see a lot of hard work and tricky cuts in makeing those or a very speical set of skills and jigs almost looks like You would have to mill your own boards a lot of thin stock espicaly with the round model This one time where plastic would be a better matrieal or a plastic coated wire

[@Meattrapper]

Yep - the old timers worked hard to make these out of oak or cypress. Lot's of time and effort went into them. In today's world, we forget just how skilled the old timers were in many things. Thanks for watching!

[@waltlars3687]

I can see where a modern version of this by only trapping the market size a square version made in plastic would be good Of corse out here in Calif about all I would be trapping would rats

[@chuckcunningham9653]

Walt Lars I'm a woodworker also and don't see much of a problem making these. I love the idea of pretty much going "old school" with the exception of the plastic throats. I have a surface planer and a table saw, and basic wood working tools and am looking forward to my first build. I really don't see where any "special set of skills " are required. Looks pretty straight forward to me.

[@waltlars3687]

I am sure that after somebody has built a few it would be easyer

[@AdmiralBirdy]

Plastic throats can be made from a plastic 5 gallon bucket. Much cheaper!

[@martinadejaquiz2482]

VG

[@michaelholloway4801]

Do you ever get snakes in your traps.....that gator in the comment below was caught where I fish I know the people who caught it

[@jasper4685]

Recycled pallets.