Primitive Survival Fish Trap - Build, Catch and Cook

This week we're going primitive! Fen and I are building a primitive survival fish trap from natural materials native to NW Florida. These fish traps are a lot of work to build but once they're done and fishing, they're well worth the time investment because they're catching fish while you can turn your attention to some other survival matter.
Through experimenting with several different combination trap construction methods and native materials I found that smaller grape vines make excellent weaving materials. River cane (native bamboo) is perfect for the stays (longitudinal pieces), and the aerial roots of grape vines make good bindings.
We're using a pretty basic over, under basket weaving method for the most part. The fish trap we made is big and you certainly don't have to build one as large as this. In addition to the small bluegill we caught, there are some larger catfish in this pond, but we didn't catch any of those. To bait the trap, I split a piece of cane and inserted a couple of worms into the split. The tension of the cane kept the bait in place when we set the trap. In total it took us about 4 hours to build both the main basket of the trap and the funnel.
After catching some fish, just let a fire burn down to coals and throw them on the coals, scales and all. The skin and scales will help protect the meat from burning. It just peels off when it’s done. This is about as primitive as it gets in cooking! We’ll probably do a few more catch and cook vids in the future as well.
When it comes to bushcraft, primitive skills, survival, or whatever you want to call it, a theoretical knowledge is just the start. You need to get out there and practice those skills to truly learn them. The materials you have access to may not be the same as what I’ve used so you may need to modify the methods to work with your local materials. But this is something you won’t know until you actually try it.
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[@Soviless99]

dude i wish my dad did that with me 😢 youre an awesome dad im so glad i discovered your channel while looking up bow construction videos!!! peace and lookin forward to browsing your channel!

[@clayhayeshunter]

thanks

[@mohammaddh8655]

exactly what i was think about

[@gregknight293]

If more parents had raised their kids in this old time manner like you are, this nation would still be strong with good values. You are building a life - long bond with your son that he will never forget. Great primitive skills in your trap and your archery gear too. Much respect !

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Greg

[@AdisiTaliWaya]

Weeping willow branches soaked in water work great for the horizontal weaving part of the trap. If your located here in the Northeast honeysuckle vines that are soaked in a bucket will also work great. The honeysuckle vines will give it a tight beautiful look and they can also be used for making small traps for catching small bait fish or minnows. If you want to waterproof your traps brush over the traps with melted beeswax.

[@donniewillis2926]

That was amazing. I really enjoyed the educational aspect but also the interaction between you and your son!!!

[@josephcade3541]

Nice trap but i would have put the bait in a container filled with holes to allow the scent of the bait the permeate the whole trap and that way any fish caught inside the Trap can't eat debate and so the bait continues to work for you feeling the trap with more and more and more fish if you noticed when you pull the trap out of the water the bait was gone

[@visitor6427]

Интересная тема, но не до конца раскрыта. Прказан олин кадр как жарится рыба 🐟 и всё. Хотелось больше видеть результаты работы, насколько аппетитно это получилось

[@bradcement3068]

Well made trap. You should have your own primitive survival school.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Brad

[@FT4Freedom]

People who have access to land are the royalty. Great video.

[@geoffreybudge3027]

The trailers from Japanese Kudzu is like spruce root but so easy to pull up as it runs along the ground . The bark by itself in a dandy material as well , prepare the trailer like watap 😊

[@user-ii1iy8fz1d]

Your boys are truely blessed to have such a father. So few children get to learn such fundamental skills and build an understanding and love of nature, and how we get the food that sustains us, especially outside of the poisoning, sick, crashing global monoculture supply chain most depend on. Hold fast in these dark days and gratitude for sharing these cherished moments with us. Take care! Xxx

[@bowbailey69]

That is inSANE!!! All this time I have been struggling to make my funnel traps just on the ground, with a lot more staves. Such a headache. I have never seen this method before. THANK YOU!!

[@JacobvsRex]

Raising those kids right! I love seeing them involved in all you’re doing. My kids are about the same age and they eat these kinds of projects up. Been live trapping squirrels lately just to teAch them the methods involved

[@vanbarker7972]

Cool camera shot inside the trap!

[@mjones4421]

A hell of a lot of work but it’s an excellent survival tool that should last a long time!

[@globyois]

What an adorably cite little boy. You’re blessed by God.

[@fredflintstone6163]

Been busy crafting forty years like your program

[@tbutman42]

Excellent work with primitive materials... the proof is in the pudding.

[@bushcraftboys693]

i wish you was my dad i would love that

[@skellyfishingandhunting]

There is nothing like hunting or catching your food and cooking it over a fire 🔥

[@locotico71]

awesome video. Thank you

[@ILhamKambaa]

Good trap, i have like it in my house

[@jlarryturner]

Nice basket Swamp gal here....

[@frankhughes5702]

Nice trap! I've been wanting to make one. The last time someone made a trap like that in northwestern Florida, was probably many moons ago.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably so!

[@youcanthandlethetruth6976]

I used to steam the vines, makes them more pliable. Then you set them out to air dry and they will regain their rigidity.

[@bushcraftonbike687]

I´m actually building on of those right now, tomorrow I gonna finish the inner part. Where I live, I use mostle willow and some dewberry vines. not making a video though...

[@TannerMullen-kp2rw]

The music in this is great.

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Love it: son, barefoot. Dad, shoes, and socks! ;=#) Appilachticola area is my fave area of Florida.

[@shawnkliewer9987]

This is what he does in his backyard, with all the time on his hands, using modern tools. Lol,

[@Howeverwhatabout]

Best video I’ve seen in years.

[@sailman9454]

If you weave with two rods it dosnt matter how many uprights odd or even numbered. If you are only useing one weaver there must be an odd number

[@kandelljordan1018]

Finally a bushcraft channel that’s Florida based 🙏🏾💯

[@user-qd3cr9pl8v]

Very good

[@benleavelle7511]

Good Lord! thank you for an actual materials list at the beginning! thank you so much

[@Janethejungleaka]

Nice 👍

[@williamhoover1515]

Building the trap looked like fun. On the Alone show would it have help to make small crayfish traps? Very small traps can be cranked out quickly and use little material. I grew up in Michigan and those cold Northern lakes had the crayfish come out at night. If you had 30+ crayfish traps on the show, do you think it was possible to check the shoreline and stream traps every day and fill your stew pot with these extra protein bits.

[@shanek6582]

My luck half the vines I grabbed would be poison ivy.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yeah, got to watch for that!

[@johnnywick2011]

I'm at work so I cant spend to much time on here. But this is how i live. My wife my son and I love stuff like this. This is the best content you have done so far. And it shows the importance of teaching your children and building a relationship. Most of all when times are hard they'll know what to do to get though it. Thank you for this clay. It hits a soft spot in my heart. Hope all is well with you and yours. Mubb

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Mubb!

[@johnnywick2011]

@@clayhayeshunter what kind of vines are those?

[@clayhayeshunter]

They’re wild grapes. We call them muscadines here locally.

[@johnnywick2011]

@@clayhayeshunter thats what I was thinking. There the same here. Makes great wine.

[@stevenpoe640]

I bet that boy loves his daddy.

[@WaschyNumber1]

Nice 👍🖖

[@jaredvermeire9845]

Awesome video!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks for the visit

[@lobopropredatorcontrol]

What a great project to do with the kids ! Great video

[@keithgainer2915]

Take them bream heads and put on that stick and you can catch crawfish for the next day.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good point!

[@keithgainer2915]

@@clayhayeshunter , I'm sure you know but you can also catch quail in them....little scratch feed on the ground for a couple of days and brush it in....

[@clayhayeshunter]

The old timers used to do that in north Florida where I grew up!

[@Smitty_76]

Enjoyed it! Great thing to teach the kids!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Stefan!

[@Elijah-qi2lv]

Clay, while preparing for alone what books/learning materials did you use? I plan on eventually getting your books and others when I start my new job.

[@tobycooper9218]

Definitely going to be watching more videos on your bushcraft, been wanting to learn more and more about what I can use with what I have in Florida.

[@D.I.Y.BUSHCRAFT]

Parabéns pelo vídeo. Boas vibrações

[@nwprimate6416]

That was awesome! Really great job on both the project and video. That split bait stick is new to me and looks like a great idea.

[@clayhayeshunter]

The stick works pretty well but the worms don’t last long with so many little fish around. I think I’ll try a combo of bait next. Worms and maybe a half a bluegill. Maybe bring a catfish in.

[@timpike1976]

Raising that boy right!

[@deezuschrist]

Love these kinds of videos. Nice work

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@chrisbird4913]

Ur a good dad

[@stefanvanvuuren3931]

Awesome Clay!! Can't wait to see where your channel is going when it come to more Dad - Son activities. Thank you.

[@WaschyNumber1]

I wonder why the fish don't swim out again. 🤔

[@4321alive]

That's awesome Clay!

[@ironleatherwood1357]

You should be on the alone show my friend, I'm also trying to get on.

[@JoshuaDeanPHC]

I was wondering if Clay had ever applied. I think he would do well, provided he could bulk up a little.

[@Makete100]

More. I would like to see more like this. Excellent!

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’m going to be doing more primitive skills stuff.

[@romilsonsoares1199]

Top

[@ahorseman4ever1]

Great video! I really enjoyed watching you and your son do this project. I also thought that the way you stuck your cane in the sand was an awesome way to hold then for weaving. Up here in the pacific northwest blackberry vines would be great too. How much combined time did this project take? The efficiency of your steps makes me think you have done this before. Where did you learn this method or was this an original idea of yours. Thank you Clay

[@clayhayeshunter]

I don’t recall exactly but it was most all day. This is a big one though. The design is ancient. I don’t recall where I first saw it.

[@djinn201]

Nice love type of format. Cheers clay

[@ericwhitehead5281]

you ever catch any fish in these things?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I caught a few in this one

[@brantmoose5551]

Awesome!!

[@angelwatcher374]

How do you open the fish trap to get the fish out?

[@visitor6427]

Развязать нить

[@MangrovesToMountainsOutdoors]

Great job, man! Very cool.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Jim

[@wirawhitebelt7364]

👍

[@paleo52]

You need to be and instructor this fall at the Rabbit Stick gathering in Idaho. You could teach fish trap building,or bow making.If you are interested sent me a message for contract info.

[@clayhayeshunter]

When is it?

[@paleo52]

@@clayhayeshunter Sep 15th to the 21th just out of Rexburg ID.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’d like to attend some time and maybe even do a class but that’s smack in the middle of elk season! If I fill my tag early I might head down there but I couldn’t commit to anything. You guys should think about doing it the first week of October. Nothing going on at that time. Ch

[@viscosishane3222]

Bald! Bald! Bald!! My eyessss!!!!

[@codyjohnson8603]

Total build time?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably 5 hours

[@blessed1sj]

Question, did you take the funnel off to unload the trap?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes.

[@josephcade3541]

It would be nice to know the time it took from start to end.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Maybe 6 hours

[@johnnynephrite6147]

What plants are safe to eat down in Flowduh?

[@motivationfortress9516]

No hate on you, but why is it that everyone with these basket traps never really show good results is it really reliable in a survival situation?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It can be in the right situation. But not all situations are right.

[@user-ii1iy8fz1d]

Really? Looks solid, and is proven by many people's world over. This is just one trap, imagine what several could yield. What else are you going to do with no Facebook or twatter to waste you evenings once you batteries are dead and the interwebs no longer exists?

[@gotrijamika3380]

Heellloooo

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Hey Clay how many tick and redbug bites did ya get?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve never got redbugs in Florida. Mississippi now, that’s a different story!

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

@@clayhayeshunter Eat lots of garlic.Mites hate garlic but most people will hate ya too lol.Watch out big storm coming.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I love garlic!

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

@@clayhayeshunter Me too but not many hunters know the trick.Ticks and redbugs keep a lot of hunters out of the woods.Good luck on all your adventures and blood trails.

[@Packraft_Stories]

Is there a timelapsed fighter jet sound in the video?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably a helicopter. There’s a training base nearby.

[@marcoscosta2089]

Wat's time for completed?

[@clayhayeshunter]

For one this big, a long day.

[@ShelumielSM]

2024?

[@rigdigwus]

finally unsubbing. you dont need to get views by making horrible thumbnails like the rest of youtube does... in your earlier videos you stayed true to yourself now its just to show off

[@clayhayeshunter]

I assume you’re referring to not having a shirt on. I would have had to put one on to not be true to myself. This is the way I spend 90% of my time in Florida. So I am, in fact, being “true to myself”!

[@RozVerde]

Why you got on shoes but not the baby?🥴

[@clayhayeshunter]

They don’t ever wear shoes!