Minnow Trapping - Black Vs Silver Trap (400+ Caught!)

In this video I compare the Gee's G-40 Minnow Trap (Silver Trap) to the Frabill Minnow Trap (Black Trap). Both of these traps are extremely common and can be found at almost all sporting goods stores. I used the same variables in each trap such as the type of bait bait, hole size, depth of trap, amount of time the trap was set, etc. I set both traps in seperate holes for five days and switched them back and forth each day to get the results! I hope you guys enjoy this video and I hope it helps you choose which trap you should use in the future.
Link to purchase the traps I used in this video:
Gee's G-40 Minnow Trap (Silver Trap): amzn.to/3fYVqyj
Frabill Minnow Trap (Black Trap): amzn.to/2ZdYyAh
The links above are Amazon Affiliate links. Purchasing the traps through these links won't cost you any additional money. I recieve a small percentage of the purchase which helps support the channel and making more videos like this.
Music by:
Weightless by LiQWYD / liqwyd
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/liqwyd-weightless
Music promoted by Audio Library • Weightless - LiQWYD (N...

[@gregpopovice4670]

Great video Matt. Here's a little info on why we believe that our Gee's G-40 performs better. It was determined over 100 years ago that the Gee's trap was constructed of galvanized hardware cloth. The hardware cloth is full 1/4" squares which allows for a higher visibility rate. Minnows are like cows... The school often follows after the lead minnows. With the ability to view activity on the inside of the trap the other minnows become less apprehensive and enter the trap. One or two go in and the rest follow. The imported traps are all made of expanded metal. The process of slitting a sheet of steel and then stretching it to create diamond shaped openings. These diamonds offer less visibility and therefore the other minnows may not be as likely to follow. The addition of the vinyl coating reduces the visibility. Try this test. Take a half of each trap and hold it up to a wall with a picture or sign with lettering and try to read thru both halves. You'll find that our Gee's allows you to see or read much easier than the imported traps. What if you took half of our Gee's G-40 and half of the imported and wired them together with a mesh in between to partition the halves and thus determining which half performs better. Thanks, Greg Popovice Tackle Factory The manufacturer of the Gee's G-40 products

[@marknevells7821]

Is no question gees traps are the best I've trapped my own bait had a few black traps I gave them away

[@daveg2199]

Greg, have you ever considered testing green to mimic a weed bog/patch. Minnows are definitely safe in weeds. Thanks for your answers.

[@joe1071]

Based on the comment that minnows can see other minnows in the trap easier, and are less guarded because of that, you should do an experiment with two silver traps where one you start with minnows in it and the other without. See which one catches more.

[@ClaytonDarwin]

Great setup for the test. It never occurred to me that there would be such a stark difference. Good info.

[@gretchengrow213]

Thanks for explaining the difference to me I can't wait to try this can I find this at an army navy store

[@nttrung30]

Put a zip tie on the end that does not have the clip. You will never have to worry about it coming apart or losing part of it. kzbin.infoUgkxxvthjLYk8bJwhOkjNsLvPwnSKZmnHeT1 The diameter of the holes are about 2 1/2". They can still get out if there is no bait in the trap. You can also use a zip tie to keep the bait in place. I use a can of Sardines in oil with hole punched in it wired to the bottom and then loose Chicken or fish. This keeps them there longer, but if left long enough the trap will be empty. I learned this the hard way. I threw the trap in and watched it aMost fill up. Like a dummy, I got greedy, when I came back in an hour, all were gone except four. Good buy for the money!

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

I always tie a little piece of string I’ve lost one half many times

[@nathanielchristensen934]

Yes a new upload! Discovered your channel a little while ago and love the vids. Keep up the good work!

[@wesleybickford9731]

Great video! Makes it easier for someone to decide when going to buy a trap!

[@drush406]

Pretty much my experience too! Love Gee's G40 traps!

[@TehLexinator]

Awesome video. Very useful. I have the same results with crawfish. Silver always outperformed the black.

[@gregwillett2363]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@alexcharbonneau3369]

Awesome video Matt, Answers the age old question.

[@Adefrenne]

very nicely handled comparison study here. Thank you for doing such a great job that is enlightening.

[@keithmatthews4441]

Thanks. I'll be buying the Gees trap from your link.

[@Jonston17]

I really enjoyed this thanks man

[@cowdiologist2759]

Great objective test! Thanks!

[@ShaneJMcNair]

@reeltexasoutdoors commented that his silver traps seemed to work better at catching bait fish than the Black PVC coated traps. The PVC coated is mainly for saltwater applications, since the silver galvanized traps will fall apart in a short time of saltwater use. Thanks for sharing and confirming the difference color can make.

[@LetsssGooooooooo]

Glad I just bought the galvanized steel (silver) one yesterday before your video was recommended to me 🤣

[@vcpitcher18]

Great video! Let’s see some more vids!

[@Mike-cc2eu]

I’ve had the same response from the black trap great job making this video

[@richiek1131]

Nice job ...thorough work.....

[@livefreefishmore1008]

Thanks Rich!

[@ChrisDavis-dt6xx]

Very nice test thanks

[@jefflien2599]

Verycool thanks for sharing this buddy!!

[@randymiller1953]

Its not the color its the funnels i add an extension to my black net funnels and caught more minnows then the silver one, they swim in and right back out

[@alvinm1548]

Nice comparison....

[@mohares2]

Great job great video

[@The-Sportsman69]

Thanks for your video 👍

[@treeshark10]

I like the scientific approach you take, and I have no criticisms, only suggestions. I was thinking the darkness of the water would be important to how these traps perform. Darker traps might work better in darker waters or vice versa. I don’t know enough to say which way it might go but I do think that with ice on top of the water, light will scatter and reflect differently than without ice. So maybe try it again in the summer if you have time. Another viewer commented on how the minnows will follow each other, and therefore will tend to get caught more often by traps they can see each other through. So, I wonder if a transparent or translucent trap would work even better than a silver colored one. Also saw a comment that said the coated traps are better for saltwater applications, since saltwater will rust out an uncoated trap much more quickly. Keep up the good content. Have a great day everyone.

[@dmitryobrien8785]

Amazing info I never knew that. My question is can u make a video of u catching minnows from a small running frozen creek. And do the same test and let us ppl know the difference in that. Thank you

[@robgrubb420]

really appreciate this info

[@Papa-rm6hr]

Great video thanks for the lesson I have one of each now I understand what’s happening

[@aquaholic9469]

You seem like a very nice person to be around

[@KainOutdoors]

Great test man. Maybe next year you can paint that black trap silver to see if its the color of the trap or the trap design.

[@livefreefishmore1008]

Good idea!

[@WallyOutdoors]

Any tips on places I should start searching for bait like this? I too live in NH.. Not looking for spots just ideas to get on my own. I appreciate any intel. Great content..

[@marsbotbyl159]

I spray paint my silver traps flat black and they still out preform the black plastic coated traos. I think the open view is the trick.

[@DonnyAngler]

I believe the black trap is more so made for higher traffic areas where the trap may go missing. it is a bit harder to see. Great research if you are not as worried about hiding a trap

[@lawanabaucom9657]

Jus came across you love ur content

[@bbowhunter2]

I watched his video last year. I own six black traps. And they do not work very well. After watching this I decided to modify my black traps. If silver beats black wonder what Bright chartreuse painted traps would do. Lol you can keep your silver and black traps as far as I’m concerned. No brainer.

[@kevinfudge9886]

Excellent video. Could you make one in the spring or summer?

[@AKC357]

GREAT EDUCATIONAL MOMENT💪🏾💯🎣❗️ NEW SUB🎣💪🏾👍🏾💯❗️❗️❗️

[@alistairclark6814]

Damn dude I wanna hang out with you! Can you do a color test on crawdiddleys? I am super impressed with your understanding of controlling and responding variables in designing an experiment. I would love to see the brainstorming process of your process designing an experiment to find an answer to a question. I just built 2 black crawdiddley traps.... we shall see.

[@michaelobrien2007]

honestly i was not interested in the color until i seen the difference but i wanted to know what bait you used and you showed that so i can set up a trap at my place instead of buying them at 6$ a dozen a 20 dollar trap can pay itself off in 1 trip

[@keredeht]

try a silver trap vs a black trap spray painted white... the entrance is different on each trap, I'm wondering if the black one is easier for fish to escape from because of the lip on it!

[@BrockDonati]

Hey so on your shiner video in the feed buckets What was the brand of the aerator you suggested? And if you’re working on doing a shiner farm would you need a ac or heating unit? And do you think because they spawn about now could a shiner farm work? Thanks so much videos are great!

[@livefreefishmore1008]

Hey Brock, I responded to the questions and your other comment on the tank video. Thanks for watching!

[@aidant6795]

Would it work if I spray painted a black one with silver paint?

[@whitetail54]

I have both styles and been trapping minnows for years ans the silver trap for some reason always catches more, i try painting the black ones white but still didn't catch as many maybe it's something to do with the type of material its made of.

[@allenbolen9705]

I’ve used both kinds. I used them in creeks all over WV. No difference in what they catch around here. I always used bread for minnows. Meat for crawdads or crayfish.

[@edwardbopp]

Do you find the same results for catching crawdads?

[@ombrom.6040]

I am wondering how that would work dearing the summer on the river and how it would work with Kayak

[@bobbyc1542]

Have you tried using other bait such as bread?

[@trxa5023]

Can you use these minnow traps for crawfish

[@garyhenneberry72]

been using both for years, set them in the narrows and scare the minnows into them, the silver trap fishes about 5 times better. Can see the minnows swimming out of the black one.

[@Frank-st6gd]

You should wire the bait in the center of the trap.

[@caseycool101]

What are those little fishes used for? Bait or eating

[@dannykelton8857]

Wish my little traps had that good of luck. Lol

[@livefreefishmore1008]

You can! It took me a long time to figure out how to trap minnows with any amount of success. Once I learned how to do it, it seems the luck is everywhere! I might do a video exclusively on how to locate and trap shiners in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@josh8765]

@@livefreefishmore1008 yes please! That would be awesome

[@northernlights3622]

How do you preserve them?

[@blobsgaming6127]

It also depends on how clear the water is on how good the black on e does

[@donaldmooney8769]

I trap/net golden shiners for wholesale in maine, it’s crazy how the colors are different by pond some ponds silver beats rust, some times rust way out fishes silver, no matter what the black traps suck for me

[@toddalmquist5829]

If it's color and not design that makes a difference, what if you were to paint it chartreuse or fluorescent orange?

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

My Gee”s traps are stained a fairly dark brown Cause there old always they catch many more I can’t understand why

[@mikefeddersen2476]

Late to the party. I wonder if you did a test of a half black, half silver if there would be anything to that?

[@heyjohnson5535]

This makes so much sense ive literally never caught a single shiner in a black minow trap in my life. Never thought it mattered obviously i was very wrong. Never even haev seen a silver one before what is the point of black ones at all their pointless completly pointless and ive never been happier to click some random youtube video.

[@seanfoltz7645]

If you have a snake problem, these traps are also great for catching snakes - just put the trap along a wall or fence and dig a slight depression so the edges are flush with the ground - the snakes crawl in but then can't figure out how to get out.

[@banjohappy]

As kids we used to trap minnows in the creek for fishing in the ponds down the road. One time the trap was completely submerged and when we checked it, there were 3 milk snakes drowned in there. They had swum in to eat the minnows. Would have been pretty exciting if they had been able to breathe and still alive when we checked the trap. Milk snakes aren't venomous, but have nasty tempers and bite hard.

[@ronaldwhite1840]

Thanks, I have a black trap that going to be painted silver,

[@Ratz_vr-1]

The ring in the black trap helps them get out. I cut the rings out of mine it does much better .

[@davfinport]

THIS IS THE TICKET. YOU MUST DO THIS

[@fredgarvin4482]

?? The rings where the halves meet?

[@Ratz_vr-1]

@@fredgarvin4482no the rings where the bait fish swims in on each end .

[@oldviking6404]

Just wonder have you figgured out why one is much better is it just the color of the traps?

[@jayboogie27]

Where have you been, man? Haven't seen you down at the dock this spring! Hope you're doing well.

[@livefreefishmore1008]

You too! I'm doing good! I haven't been down there at all this spring with everything going on, hopefully next season!

[@ML-ks2lj]

Can someone make a trap out of some type of flourocarbon plastic

[@AtomicOverdrive]

Think the black trap may be to hard to navigate for the bait fish. Where as the silver is easier for them to see how to get on the inside. I could be wrong though..

[@joshuamay01]

New to the channel I have a Channel myself great job on the video

[@whisperingoutdoors]

I always thought the silver ones did better because they didn't have that coating there for the minnows can't swim back out of the holes cuz the metal pokes them,I gave my black ones away and I only use the silver ones...... But what do I know lol

[@joshswildlife7822]

You should start doing weekly posts

[@squashscent5071]

Please

[@livefreefishmore1008]

There is a good possibility it's heading that way! Thanks for watching Josh!

[@user-bf5cx8bu5v]

Your results are quite compelling! I do notice, however, that you did not just paint a gee's trap black, but rather have a totally different mfgrs black trap? Although both traps "appear" to be the same, perhaps there is some other factor, other than just color, that influenced your results? I'm not trying to pee in your cheerios my friend, just wondering about possible other variables at work here? I think it would be nice to see a black gee trap, side by side, for comparison. I'd also like to see a set up where 1/2 of the trap was black and the other half silver with a piece of 1/4 mesh dividing them? I'm curious if the silver side would have more minnows as well? Again, not criticizing you....your test just got me thinking about the possibility of other variables, other than color, thatcould be at work here. Thanks for you experiment, your results sure changed my "intuition" as to which would have been better!!!!

[@banjohappy]

Note that the holes in the black trap mesh are larger than the silver mesh. Those little fathead minnows probably swam right out of the black trap.

[@JVRottweil]

Ordering me a Gees

[@iklink]

Is this in California?

[@mikerhym6084]

So gravy train is the key

[@allandam9540]

why the silver trap more fish then the black trap?

[@JVRottweil]

Looks like its better for shiners than minnows

[@kevtanjohnson]

Silver traps always out form the pvc coated ones for me

[@simonh54]

instead of dog food, what else can I use for bait ?

[@theoogabooganed414]

Hot dogs, cut baits, bread and many other things

[@Jaysonschannel5326]

Yellow onion.

[@sirtango1]

Plain old sandwich bread has worked well for me for decades! 😊

[@taylormayhew369]

i think the hole is smaller on the silver one and its sharp not soft and rounded.

[@gabbypeng930]

what state do u live in

[@paidinfull8818]

Set em right on bottom. Better results

[@maksc3781]

I really like your scientific approach. What are you going to do with the fish? Eat, bait or something else?

[@ivanruiz2807]

Do a catch clean cook vid

[@joenordby178]

Why do you put your traps in near the surface, wouldn't the bottom be better?

[@tristinmclaughlin9369]

I never knew color had any difference in trapping minnows

[@paidinfull8818]

Also them tiny ones should be left in the pond. I didn't see many big ones in there.

[@quantumreflexintegrationbo5791]

there is really no better one its based on your area and sometimes the water color and the time of year and the spot its in even if there side by side

[@ethanbrad2933]

It’s crazy how picky fish are 😂😂😂

[@randymiller1953]

Notice the funnels on the silver ones are longer . But still not that great

[@tomlee7651]

Wish I had watched this video before buying my trap.

[@jonathantheunacceptable4259]

Why do you need so many minnows? Do you run a bait shop? That's more than any normal bucket/tank setup could contain and I can't see you using them all yourself

[@naychiv9325]

Now you put the black trap out of business! “Thanks a lot!” say the black trap maker! Anyway, why do you keep so many minnows? Do you sell them?

[@jkane1341]

Ive done the same comparison but 3 types of traps, frabil,. gees, and a nylong clothe trap. IMO the nylon traps work best because they smell like the pond and not metal smelling and I think the softness of the nylon wont spoke them away where hard metal can spooke em.

[@billtribble7197]

do you use fresh dogfood everytime or use the dogfood until it disolves away completely?

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

I’ve had limited success with the black traps I can’t understand why I’ve tried them a few times Always much less

[@dalehammond1704]

This has been tested hundreds of times. The silver is the one to get and use plain old white bread.

[@TTomky]

I can help. Black minnow traps do not work. They represent a large predator to minnows. Only use black trap for crawdads. Also, only place traps in water deep enough to cover traps. Out in open water predator fish herd minnows to top of lake and pin them against ice cap for feeding.

[@TW14137]

Great job on the vid, really enjoy your content. However, music is very annoying.

[@banjohappy]

Not a fair test. The holes in the mesh of the black trap are bigger than the holes in the mesh of the silver trap. The minnows are small enough to swim out through the holes in the mesh of the black trap. It's not the color of the trap that makes the difference. It's the size of the holes in the mesh.

[@daveg2199]

It is absolutely a fair test. You may not be happy with the title of the video but the test is fair. And he put his time and effort into it. He’s comparing one product to another. He should’ve said Gees brand versus Frabill. He should have been calling them by their product name not silver or black. And the difference in color is just one difference between them.

[@user-ji3yj8qg8e]

Hey I came on here , I've trapped.minnows for 25 years up in northern Ontario..I went from silver to black traps years ago when the company made the switch . We caught 1/4 the minnows in the black traps . Why one might ask? Has nothing to do with colour or seeing other minnows it's a flaw in the design itself. Has anyone else.noticed another difference in the black vs silver traps ? The entry point...... The silver doesn't have the ring , this flaw in the rubber coated trap is what causes the low count on minnows. They can slide in and out easily without getting poked, when they try on a silver trap they turn right around. Test this out on day when you drop your traps in you can see it right away. You can fix these traps easily by cutting the rings out and adding some thin wire to make the funnel point not so easy to slip out of. Your numbers will be right back to normal and you won't notice a difference between either traps. The black coated ones are stolen less and seen less by beavers :)