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

[@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.

[@gregpopovice4670]

@@daveg2199 Hi Dave, Over the years I've had many people make suggestions of making the traps different colors and even camouflage. We still make the traps silver as they have been for well over 70 years and would have to increase the cost to paint or camouflage. So, we leave it to the customers to experiment. Thanks for the interest. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4ezhoaHdrRkb5I

[@Rick-the-Swift]

Hi Greg, I wonder if you have considered the shininess of your traps also may play an important factor in attracting the fish to begin with. After all, it's how the shiners communicate to each other through the murky water. Hope all is well, and I appreciate what you guys do!

[@Chris-hj2ym]

Cool info thank you

[@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

[@wesleybickford9731]

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

[@TehLexinator]

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

[@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.

[@nathanielchristensen934]

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

[@Adefrenne]

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

[@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.

[@MrOldclunker]

I would never have thought that there would be that big of a difference in the numbers. Convinces me to use silver traps from here on out.

[@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

[@LetsssGooooooooo]

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

[@Tigdude]

Great test...who would have known there would be such a difference..

[@drush406]

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

[@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!

[@BrianM-44041]

I believe it's a little of both.

[@Mouskowitz]

Is the color of the trap significant when trapping crawdads as well?

[@johnknapp6328]

Great Video Enlightened me as to what trap too get, Its on its way

[@gregwillett2363]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@MichaelBell-p7m]

I have been trapping Threespine Stickleback fish in lakes around Anchorage, Alaska since 1988. I don't put bait in the traps, as salmon eggs and rancid Cheddar cheese bait did not seem to help. One year, I was short on Gees Minnow Traps (like the silver one in this video), and I bought a half dozen of the black ones. I was not as systematic as the Matt in this video, but I set the Gees and black traps in groups, and I caught far more stickleback in the Gees traps than in the adjacent black ones, which never caught more than a handful of stickleback. Catches in the Gees traps are often in the hundreds of small stickleback. I stopped using the black traps. In short, I had the same result as shown in the video for an unrelated fish species, but the difference in catch might have been more extreme with stickleback than with minnows. As a practical matter, I recommend not using the black traps. However, I am curious why the unpainted Gees traps are so much more efficient than the black traps. Is it color, some attractive chemical cue that is sealed up by the black paint, or some repellent chemical cue in the black paint? Joe comented that if fish are more likely to enter a trap that already has fish in it, setting traps with a few minnows already inside should produce a larger catch. I tried that in several lakes, and the traps set with stickleback inside did not seem to do better than those that started empty. However, this was a pretty crude and unsystematic experiment. On the other hand, sometimes when I pull a trap full of stickleback to shore (no ice, I trap in June), a few stickleback will follow the trap to shore, as if they want to join the ones already in the trap.

[@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.

[@Mike-cc2eu]

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

[@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

[@aquaholic9469]

You seem like a very nice person to be around

[@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

[@richiek1131]

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

[@livefreefishmore1008]

Thanks Rich!

[@kurzhaarguy]

Wisconsin, maybe? I grew up in Park Falls. One of my first jobs was running a bait shop in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The man who owned it was in his 60’s and had run it with his dad. All our traps were 3/8” mesh. They were dark brown, mostly, because they were old and we put them in the barrel of logwood dye after doing traps. That was a seasonal thing to retard rust. For bait we usually used bread ends. In every minnow trap we had fresh egg shells. We harvested minnows by the thousands. I’m not sure how that squares up with your research. Either the mesh mattered, the bait, or maybe we’d have caught a heck of a lot more minnows. Side note: if you’re leaving dog food on the ice, you might be leaving fur behind when you’re checking.

[@alexcharbonneau3369]

Awesome video Matt, Answers the age old question.

[@BrianM-44041]

Oddly i have the black one and it fills up quickly with minnows, crayfish, and occasionally snakes at my local river here in ohio. Ill keep this info in my head for future purchases and get a silver one next time and see if it gets me even more.

[@keithmatthews4441]

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

[@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

[@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

[@hillbillycatfishin5860]

You should make one out of some wire mesh and see how it compares just curious if the big manufacturers are worth paying for or if homemade works just as well

[@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!

[@cowdiologist2759]

Great objective test! Thanks!

[@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!

[@jefflien2599]

Verycool thanks for sharing this buddy!!

[@edwardbopp]

Do you find the same results for catching crawdads?

[@Jonston17]

I really enjoyed this thanks man

[@ombrom.6040]

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

[@kevinfudge9886]

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

[@blobsgaming6127]

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

[@aidant6795]

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

[@BrianM-44041]

I wondered the same Probably, yes. But the diamonds are still providing less visibility it seems from this experiment and comments I've read so yes, but still not as well as owning the right one.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@caseycool101]

What are those little fishes used for? Bait or eating

[@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.

[@Papa-rm6hr]

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

[@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..

[@AKC357]

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

[@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.

[@mohares2]

Great job great video

[@alvinm1548]

Nice comparison....

[@Frank-st6gd]

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

[@jeffwiebenga393]

Dont change a thing dude , seeing that is eye opening , maybe this summer try it again but add a glass trap for comparison

[@ChrisDavis-dt6xx]

Very nice test thanks

[@trxa5023]

Can you use these minnow traps for crawfish

[@billtribble7197]

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

[@The-Sportsman69]

Thanks for your video 👍

[@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.

[@beebob1279]

I haven't used my minnow trap in years. I have the silver one. Never did I think of using dog food for the minnow trap. Our pond used to be a minnow pond. Then the owner put in game fish, and there are no more shiners left. We had the silver shiners and the golden shiners. Gone.

[@toddalmquist5829]

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

[@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

[@EdHeinlein]

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.

[@bobbyc1542]

Have you tried using other bait such as bread?

[@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 .

[@michaelb1478]

Interesting. Will definitely try

[@northernlights3622]

How do you preserve them?

[@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?

[@vcpitcher18]

Great video! Let’s see some more vids!

[@beez7753]

The silver gees trap is definitely better but go buy the glass minnow jug and you’ll have even better luck. You’ll see a noticeable difference. I don’t even bring my gees traps anymore

[@lawanabaucom9657]

Jus came across you love ur content

[@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

[@gregpopovice4670]

Our Gee's G-40 traps have been made in the U.S.A. for over 120 years. The question of performance comes up quite often. I have some technical explanations, but I believe that there is a very simple answer that most people overlook. It's simple, U.S. minnows are PATRIOTIC! If they're going to be fooled by a trap... It's going to be an American made trap. All jokes aside. Our traps have been used for decades by the USGS, Universities, Fish & Game, DEC and other organizations as the standard for sampling and collecting multiple species in the states as well as overseas. The literature and results of imported traps vs Gee's G-40s is very much the same results. The Gee's G-40 catches more in controlled studies. Here are some reasons that have been discussed. Our wire mesh has a see thru visibility factor that allows for other fish to see fish inside the Gee's much easier than the imports. The heavy plastic coating DOES NOT make the traps last longer than the Gee's and we believe that the coating may have some sort of smell that the fish dislike. Also, the imported black traps may look predatorial to small fish. Try painting a Gee's G-40 trap black and see if it performs as well as the silver. Thanks for using a Gee's G-40 minnow trap. Greg Popovice Tackle Factory The manufacturer of the original Gee's G-40 products

[@oldviking6404]

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

[@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

[@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

[@ML-ks2lj]

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

[@robgrubb420]

really appreciate this info

[@bradbradshaw-i4n]

some old timers still use a glass trap although they are expensive and break.

[@iklink]

Is this in California?

[@joshswildlife7822]

You should start doing weekly posts

[@squashscent5071]

Please

[@livefreefishmore1008]

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

[@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.

[@gregpopovice4670]

First, I want to make it understood that we do not sell a snake trap to the public. We do sell a similar trap to the USGS and other organizations for trapping snakes because of our tight fit and durability of the traps. The reason that has been given to us from these organizations for the reorders is due to the continuous consistency of our traps. If I was going to play around with venomous snakes, I would be looking for something that would fit tight so as not to take a chance of getting bit. It has also been said that our traps hold up better in the harsh environments that these organizations use our traps in. The desert heat can exceed 100 + degrees and our traps maintain their integrity. The black vinyl literally melts in the heat and the gaps do not offer the security and peace of mind when handling angry snakes. Again, I would like to emphasize that we DO NOT sell snake traps for public use. Thanks for reading Greg Popovice Tackle Factory

[@allandam9540]

why the silver trap more fish then the black trap?

[@ronaldwhite1840]

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

[@taylormayhew369]

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

[@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.

[@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! 😊

[@BrianM-44041]

Bread dough balls, chicken livers, catfish baits, anise soaked corn meal, etc even a dead fish carcass or pork chop bone with some meat left on it.

[@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!

[@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

[@gabbypeng930]

what state do u live in

[@mikerhym6084]

So gravy train is the key

[@kimberlysolimine3161]

Wire is a little smaller on silver and the lip on openings are dif black traps won't catch tiny minnows my experience anyway they swim through

[@JVRottweil]

Ordering me a Gees

[@joenordby178]

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

[@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?

[@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.

[@kevtanjohnson]

Silver traps always out form the pvc coated ones for me

[@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

[@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

[@randymiller1953]

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

[@wesleyharden-nd8jf]

Thats alot of free bait