Troubleshooting & making a minnow trap

Homemade minnow trap from 1/4" mesh. Jump to 14 minutes if you don't care about the plot or the problems.
Construction note: if you don't already have a scrap piece of chicken wire to play with, make a practice cone out of paper first.
*****
As an aside, this video discusses the process of figuring out how to get your inventions to work, hopefully in a slightly structured and logical process. Sometimes it's important to know what went wrong where and why, so that you can work on improving the next version. Whenever I make anything, I expect some level of failure, and so I prepare for it by thinking about how to improve the second one!
Here's a strange pattern I've noticed after making weird things for the last several decades: 1) The first one is usually buggy, because you don't really know what you're doing. 2) The second one usually works best, because you are comfortable, confident, and competent. Here it's all fresh in your mind; at this point you are both inspired and focused. 3) The third one is usually a slightly lesser quality than the second- but other people (who haven't made one) won't be able to notice. By the time you're working on the third one, it's becoming tedious, and so you start to lose your concentration. This tiny decline in quality is the mark of the beginning of arrogance; it is the overestimation of one's own abilities, where we have stopped improving our skill in order that we might start to congratulate ourselves. Remember, confidence is focused on the task, where cockiness always has a secondary objective. To find out which you are, ask yourself what your true goals are, and answer in the most intellectually honest way possible. Many of our acts of creation are simply self-indulgences paid to the ego in some strange effort to impress others. Ironic that vanity could be the fuel of innovation, is it not? Whatever gets us there, I guess. Although it is a bit of a tragedy to worship an uncaring muse. We worry about our own dingy shoes at a funeral, even as the corpse is beside us- yet no one else pays notice. And why not? Because they are all preoccupied with their own shoes.

[@pocket83squared]

Continuity error: the Harbor Freight axe video is still not out, due to April rain (and some procrastination). Out soon. Enjoy the weekend! *Edit-* This might be our minnow: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semotilus_atromaculatus

[@halsingefiske7989]

pocket83² the crayfish looks like a Nobel crayfish

[@justingrizzle775]

Jtlt55g3èj

[@James-bp9zy]

Helping you identify them.... at 30:00, the one facing us on the left side is Jeff. Jeff's a good guy, you'll like him.

[@Kolajer]

I'm always impressed when people can tell him apart from Greg. Guys are practically twins

[@spoosh13x13x13]

lmao James you beat me to the punch lol .. I was totally gonna do the same thing and say the minnow's name was gorge and he's a cool guy lol but you beat me to the punch lol ... :)

[@FesterJester]

the one he picked up at the end was alice the schools gossip

[@destindd]

James Props. Great comment. I'm definitely stealing it; something Jeff would never do.

[@UnrivaledPiercer]

"Nobody is really watching videos about minnow traps that don't work." Uhh, I am! I enjoy your content because your commentary is quite refreshing in general because you speak your mind and think outside the box. I like seeing the gears turn during your projects and see your really interesting solutions to problems.

[@bringamosa8480]

I agree!!!! :)

[@meltheredcap6307]

Same! I would rather watch a video that was about "I tried to make this, here's the process, here's the troubleshooting and modifications, it didn't work, here's my theories on why it didn't work and my plans for future alterations" than one about "yay it worked first try".

[@CheveeDodd]

They look like creek chubs to me. Especially with the sound that little guy made at the end. This was fun, thanks!

[@pocket83squared]

I think you are exactly right. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semotilus_atromaculatus

[@CheveeDodd]

@@pocket83squared They can get semi-large. I catch them a lot when trout fishing. They "bark" a lot when out of water.

[@nckmccauley28]

Just wanted to say thanks for doing the collab with Peter Brown. If you did not, I would’ve never found you. Though I may not find the subject matter if each of your videos relevant to me, I love each of them nonetheless.

[@nicolasbergeron7854]

I'm with you on that! If not for that collaboration, I wouldn't know about Pocket.

[@ObscuraGrey]

^This

[@egg19]

Without the collab, I would never have found Peter Brown. I'm quite glad I did, and eternally grateful to pocket.

[@GirishManjunathMusic]

I do believe it was the grate that made it functional. Minnows may look dumb to our elevated (physically at least) minds, but after the major portion of your life in a river, I'd say you'd be able to tell when there's a wall ahead of you. But then again, I've never trapped for fish in my life, so who am I to say?

[@spokehedz]

I also believe that it was the back wall being removed--my grandpa used to feed his fish basically dog food, and I know I have watched fish nibble at bread before...

[@robotturkey2929]

White bread, crackers, and hotdog works too.

[@martyjehovah]

I agree with this assessment just because every minnow trap I've ever used has a funnel at both ends and comes apart in the middle. I wouldn't be surprised if the big round shadow of the original lid might look a bit too much like the gaping maw of a predatory fish for them to be willing to get close enough to find out. Then again most of the ones he caught were fairly large, so maybe it was the size of the hole after all.

[@ruthiewrangler9864]

I shall call the unnamed River, The pocket83. Love your videos and could listen to you explain things all day long.

[@Jiisuri]

Pocket Creek.

[@poiuytrewq4645]

forgive me if i'm wrong but they look a lot like fish to me

[@pocket83squared]

This _is_ the KZbin comments, so I'm sure you're still wrong somehow.

[@brocoliobama]

I think they're bluntnose minnows? not entirely sure as they are alot larger than most minnows ive seen but the stripe looks like em. They're notable for their faces being well, blunt and round

[@StucklnAWell]

@@pocket83squared they're obviously shrimp, I saw it on the discovery channel with Gordon Ramsey

[@nicolasbergeron7854]

I really enjoyed this video. As 'boring' of a topic as it seemed, it kept my attention the whole way amd has actually persuaded me to build my own minnow trap(s). There are a few bodies of water nit far from my house and we have a swamp/marsh in our backyard. I should like to see if stocking it with minnows helps decrease the mosquito population. Thanks for entertaining us and constantly giving us ideas. Also, I used your 2x4 clamped to a lawn tractor trailer trick to load up the brush from a couple trees I dropped in our yard and bring it to our burn pile, it worked a treat! Holds much more than a standard wheel barrow, more stable and just as easy to move. And on that note, I will leave you.

[@JMAAD]

get cheap knee high stockings for bait bag.......add dog food tie up inside trap.all the was to back facing the funnel..bait will last long than the wire..tie the trap to the bank with long enough trine as to be able to toss it further out into creek.....in a way to reuse stocking bag..funnel hole is big enough...bingo minnows

[@galli0]

I'm folding 30 odd napkins for my best friends daughter's confirmation (that's due in less than 9 hrs and I've yet to go to sleep, but your video kept me entetraind for about 15 napkins, so thank you for that!

[@TheHobbyNerd]

Great informative video as usual. Thanks for the morning (for me) nature walk as well. Also, the fish that you caught look like juvenile creek chub. The scientific name is Semotilus atromaculatus. They should do a nice job eating the larvae for you and if not they make great bait. We have them down in Delaware as well.

[@geraldspratley4637]

Pocket goes Walden. Great video brother. Lovely scenery.

[@mjbailey404]

The crawfish can and will kill your fish, especially if you plan on putting them in an aquarium. Additionally, baitfish appreciate brush and such to hide in, which should increase their longevity (a couple floating twigs would work)

[@NiceAlex]

I don't think he's planning to keep them as pets, just relocating to another location upstream

[@SeraphimKnight]

Could you harvest fiddleheads from all those growing ferns? Are they even the right kind?

[@Sludgepump]

They look like the right kind! I was thinking the same thing.

[@aurthorthing7403]

Looks like brown bass or babt largemouth bass? Some type of bass.

[@jimcichkid1]

@@ruthiewrangler9864 Wrong, they are chub minnows, they don't look anything like bass.

[@chuckygman4058]

That definitely was a good catch I believe you should keep the little lobster for couple of years to see if he can get nice and big but it was a good catch

[@cozmo1266]

That was a crawfish or crayfish

[@sawntobar5185]

I enjoy these videos. Your approach is deliberate yet distinctly human. Sometimes failure teaches more than success!

[@seancoyote]

Thanks for sharing your minnow trap that didn't work and your process in fixing it, It was probably the size of the hole, although more water flow isn't a bad thing. I enjoyed your simple walk through the woods. Grew up in Jersey and miss such, being stuck out in Vegas with a desert with some springs being closest to what I knew as a kid. Looks like you found it was a creek chub. I looked up the regulation for your bait trap in PA, Just so you know, you cannot no more than 2 openings for the trap, and they cannot have a greater than one inch diameter opening. (your thumb is about right, rule of thumb and all) Just in case you were thinking improvements. Creek Chubs, and crayfish are a allowed bait fish in PA. pfbc.pa.gov/fishpub/summaryad/bait.html

[@farmerbob4554]

I think your minnow trap is very elegant and the only issue is what you’re using for bait. I’d suggest using a crawfish tail as bait, peel it so you just have the white and you’ll have that trap loaded with minnows. PS The ones you caught look like Dace.

[@dragon111409]

I just like your voice and rambling , its nice to hear , and your videos always give some little insights into my own project every tip helps especially when its delivered in such a soothing calm manner . Also , Nice Crawdad catch.

[@DaveScurlock]

"At the end there isn't always minnows in your bucket" - too true, pocket

[@허구한날-c5t]

Jesus is Christ, who died and died of blood on the cross, as predicted in the Bible, to free you from the law of sin and death. If you believe in Jesus, you will be freed from Satan's power forever and become a child of God. Believe in Jesus and welcome him. Jesus, who loves you, is God the Creator.

[@1956tojo]

The only minnows I saw in this whole video were mostly too skinny for the mesh you used.... Most of them can simply swim thru the sides or the ends or where ever they wan.... Try using window screen for a trap for in your creek there and try using the trap you have now in the river.....

[@victorquadros1428]

Interesting. If you catch enough crayfish (the little lobster), then you could possibly have a breeding population and go and catch more crayfish. Crayfish breeding would be an interesting project, or at least building a little pool or irrigation canal for them. They also aren't terribly hard to breed, for each Male deposits tons of eggs into the females seminal receptacle, and the females choose when to become pregnant. The females also oxygenate the eggs with their swimmerettes too

[@jon_vannatto]

A Pocket video without hatchets in the thumbnail? Inconceivable! Luckily I was granted a hatchet easter egg in this wonderful video to appease my hatchet lust. On a serious note, thank you for a very enjoyable video about minnow traps!

[@stevedobra8276]

30miles west of Philadelphia in creek in cedar hollow were many mlnnows that had that line on their side. Dace minnows

[@probablynotdad6553]

Now do a video of you powder coating it with black paint and marketing it as the 'Pockenator 3000'.

[@billbaggins]

Brings back memories of being 8 yrs old and the wonders of new discoveries 😊

[@thefox347]

Skip ahead in a Pocket video?!?! Why I never!!!

[@ginnyl7949]

just drop it in and have no lid and create cone shape as in the real store made one.add a string and deeper water add fish or crab. dog food no good.

[@maidenlord6663]

First you don't need plastic on it 2nd just throw a handful of dog food in it third make sure it sinks to the bottom fourth good luck

[@buckshotgaming247]

I don't know if he already said this but the problem I think was that they could see the back of it the coffee lid so the knew that it was there

[@malenekoldborg]

sometimes fish etc dont like the smell of new things. Ive had that issue with a trap. after a while (in the water) the scent of new metal vanished. might be your problem. btw. i find your videos interesting and i like to learn new things.=)

[@pocket83squared]

That's a fair point. Thanks. I was thinking along that line, but more about color. If you've ever seen lattice covering the underneath of a porch, white lattice prevents one from seeing in very well. I'd figured that once the wire had become covered by algae and dark dirt that it would become more appealing to cautious little fish ;)

[@jerryfrancis7523]

Very good design. Easy to follow directions. Thank you

[@brandonbarlow9354]

Not trying to hurt your filling just trying to halp you out the way i do it i dont put bait boxs in it i just put the bait in like it is

[@johnzillner1596]

LMMFAO @ 8:40 ! "The camera never lets me know how HIGH I am"

[@neilsargeson1695]

It's a few .....FISH.... and a .....lobster ...... there you go ah ah ah ah ah .

[@pgsibilo]

Love the design and build 💯💯💯

[@diii8840]

A little late to the party, but they look like bluntnose minnows to me.

[@MB_angling]

have to use bread my freind and place it loosly in the trap

[@zaneseligman1313]

I just feel like you probably won’t survive in your current location very long.

[@pocket83squared]

Across species, there is one trait that's the single most highly-correlated with an organism's survivability. Can you guess what it is? It's adaptability: the flexibility to incorporate _and act on_ new information. When it was getting doled out, you and I didn't get equal shares, partner. And this is why one of us is far more likely to still have all of their original teeth. Thanks for a great comment.

[@bigmikeg84]

They look like bait to me Also, didn't know crawfish could survive so far north.

[@sampolchow5724]

We have them up here in Minnesota, they survive the deep freeze of our winters.

[@ruthiewrangler9864]

I live in Northern Minnesota and we have crawfish or crayfish as we call them, in all our lakes. Bass love them.

[@bigmikeg84]

@@ruthiewrangler9864 Oh ok cool, good to know if I'm ever up there to watch my toes.

[@kinnikuzero]

The shakiness of the video gave me motion sickness Edit: Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the video it's just the parts you were moving the camera

[@pocket83squared]

Sorry about that. It's on my list to try and get a Go-Pro, or some other camera that's better suited to walks in the woods. It's just one more thing, though.

[@FullRythym]

So I just wanted to clarify: this is a rescue operation for the minnows to return them to the river? With the end goal being to have them eat as many mosquitoes as possible, correct?

[@pocket83]

The goal was to populate my drainwater pond with indigenous fish, just to limit mosq's near my house. Making a trap was just a game, to see if I could do it. It was pickier than I'd expected. Saving the minnows that become trapped might be futile, though I would probably still do it if a harsh drought were to hit. Those channels dry slowly, so the bulk of the minnows would be forced into only the deepest remaining pools. It would be hard not to liberate them if that becomes the case. We'll see what happens as the summer comes.

[@drportland8823]

Huh. It never occurred to me that there would be a reason to trap minnows. Interesting that a minnow trap is basically the same thing as a yellow jacket trap.

[@pocket83squared]

lol. It never occurred to me that there would be a reason to trap yellow jackets! I suppose you could life prank somebody's mailbox.

[@luuksimons6369]

ghello... like the stuff

[@samo4648]

What are they for? Bait? Cat food? Fun?

[@SkunkTreeCarvings]

weather the trap...and bait the water also.

[@acethapa420]

All it’s missing is weight inside the trap

[@BlackWarriorLures]

That's a nice haul at the end. Gotta try and make a few of these traps.

[@MB_angling]

you also barly put any food in the trap

[@alexanderbistyak2310]

I'd guess that their all creek chub

[@brianmiller5103]

The fish are called creek chubs

[@jdniedner]

Probably said it before, but I envy your property. It's a dream of ours to have a place even one tenth that you have.

[@pocket83squared]

Thanks. I mean, I don't want you to envy- but I do appreciate that we both appreciate the same things. All I can say to help you is to tell you that we set out for this over a decade ago, and we made every little decision consistent with that goal: we reduced our vehicle expenses, dropped cable TV, and all but eliminated drinking/dining out. Only water at restaurants. We fixed every little thing we could instead of replacing. We built equity into the house, and spent the decade repairing/preparing it to sell. Every dime went to the mortgage. We reduced our food waste. Started using Craigslist and thrift stores. Every little bit helped; it's ultimately about the large sum that results of long-term reduction habits. There's just so much in our lives that can be cut out! Sorry to sound preachy. If it's what you want, I really hope you get to the woods.

[@ginnyl7949]

add air rater they need to breathe

[@throughmylens5127]

All ways used oatmeal in jugs

[@ledraps22]

Those were all creek chubs I believe. I got a thing for rivers in Appalachian regions, pocket. Show me more of that river! Try out fishing there.

[@pocket83squared]

They stock trout not far from here, up by where the old tracks cross the water. I probably won't get to fishing this year though. I used to love bass fishing. They fight!

[@ledraps22]

@@pocket83squared I go for smallmouth bass and trout here in NJ too. Plenty other fish to choose from just a short drive away. Couldn't ask for any other fish with how fun they are. There surely has to be some wild trout in that stream, maybe native brook trout too, you should investigate! Minnow trap should help survey the species in that river.

[@SeppoVataja]

try eating them fiddle heads

[@TheAamens]

Why not make fish bridge from pvc or acrylic for better visibility

[@gastcast2959]

he cant because you dont contribute to his patron

[@gastcast2959]

(if he has one that is)

[@samo4648]

@@gastcast2959 he doesn't have one, and if he did, how would you know John doesnt contrubute?

[@thatgoose2639]

This video game me a creek chub

[@nobull-dozer3356]

PTE - Polyvinyl ethylene .

[@lukearts2954]

I think you properly label it paradise... That's some beautiful land you got there. It's stunning that such a river doesn't even have a name... (yes, it's a river alright =D ) The little 3 ft creek on my properly line even has a name... XD

[@victorcastle1840]

Nice video, with no annoying music ! I believe you are using hardware cloth, which has the square pattern, unlike chicken wire. Chicken wire is smaller diameter wire and not very rigid.

[@pocket83squared]

Hmmm. Noted. I did not know that, and I've been calling it 'chicken wire' my entire life (thus far). Usually on video I use generic descriptions, like 'wire mesh,' but sometimes my personal vernacular slips through.

[@victorcastle1840]

@@pocket83squared , So do I . Google them both and see the difference. Chicken wire is a very thin gage and rust out quickly, but is cheaper. Usually with round or hex shaped holes. I imagine you have seen it around chicken yards ?

[@KelikakuCoutin]

Those minnows are HUGE! Good job. I've been told those fern sprouts are good to eat. According to Wikipedia they call them "fiddleheads." BS"D.

[@robotturkey2929]

Looks like creek chubs to me. I got a mountain brook and pond as well, water moves too quick for mosquitos, or I thought it did. Now I am wondering...

[@pocket83squared]

Better on the side of caution with those things. If it doesn't rain for three days, that's still enough to hatch them, right? Besides, how can having little fish in your pond be a bad thing? It's actually really entertaining to watch them school around.

[@robotturkey2929]

@@pocket83squared the pond has top minnows, some bass and pickeral but we made slower pools in the brook next to the driveway.

[@ritavanderwall6024]

Pocket I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos. Not necessarily that I will replicate anything you make but that you find ways to improve, or create with items you already have on hand. Any your property is beautiful, from the sounds of the leaves crunching underfoot, to the ferns sprouting up, and what I imagine is a lovely smell of dirt and soil. I could laze for hours by the river, just listening or reading a good book. Thank you for sharing.

[@yourhighschoolenglishteach8405]

I had a different idea for attaching the screen to the coffee can lid. What if you pre-bent all of the finger tabs down, and then used a torch to heat up the tabs? Then, they were red hot, you could press the tabs directly into the coffee can lid, and they would melt through. It would avoid having to punch all of those holes (which doesn’t even seem that difficult, haha).

[@nathandodds5647]

awesome video, information i'll probably never use...but interesting none the less. I had no idea that lobsters lived in rivers either-although thats probably my ignorance.

[@baileykeen1226]

These are creek chubs

[@peepers4763]

Don’t recognize the species but I’m guessing cutting a whole in the lid was the successful improvement. The bigger trap opening couldn’t hurt.

[@briancoolman6260]

look like creek chub

[@wojomojo]

The patience....I don't think I have it. But that's what makes your design details so well-considered

[@barthanes1]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure those are creek chubs. They make good bait if you wanted to catch something bigger.

[@WubwubDJ]

Another banger

[@criptonic1828]

i didn't even realize it was 31 mins long until you mentioned it at 28 mins! i just clicked and started watching because i always enjoy your videos no matter the length!

[@darfjono]

which harbor freight video was that again? that little lobster. gotta keep him around. new channel mascot.

[@pocket83]

Sorry, it hasn't been released yet. I'm usually in the process of filming ten or so videos at a time, so I occasionally mess up chronologically. Hopefully it will be done this week if I can get some sun!

[@darfjono]

you damned time travelers!

[@yankeeredneck7229]

There Creek chub

[@ethantomek992]

420th like 👌

[@kortt]

Aren't the curly ferns fiddleheads? We eat them up here.

[@pocket83squared]

Sure, but I don't know if these ones are totally safe. I'll have to do some reading first. Aren't they bitter? They look bitter. Eh, salt & butter even makes snail taste nice! Gotta be better than Purslane.

[@-sasha-5975]

I used to make traps like that out of liter soda bottles. cut the bottom off of one and the top off another and put them together pretty much the same as you did here.

[@adrianpivotto1916]

Well looking at how much larger those ones were increasing the whole size definelty could have helped. But either way if it works it works

[@boon8318]

ive never been much of an outside guy but you make this all seem so interesting, but when are we getting the 6th sixth gen game examination

[@gooseheresy7076]

28:00 We don't even have the same interests, you just make it fun to watch, im glad I spent 31 minutes on this :D

[@jraschke]

Spottail shiner

[@hyenapeacekeeper2220]

Someone PLEASE dub a scream over when he picks up the fish at the end!

[@kmonnier]

Your wire manipulation gave me a great idea for my chicken coop builds.

[@truly1676]

I love following thru your vids. I knew you would catchum.

[@thunderstruck1078]

Reminds me of Pleasant Stream and Old logger's path in Canton.

[@frogassassin1587]

The way you connect all of it is amazing to me I use zip ties

[@bonsaibloom]

these longer videos are wonderful, thanks pocket

[@cocok.291]

That area does seem like paradise... I live in southern Ontario so I live in a pretty similar type of environment. I never understood homesickness until I went to the Caribbean and the trees and plants and ground... Were just so different it just made me feel so out of place. The earth really does speak to you

[@pocket83squared]

Coincidence that you should say that. I once visited a little island called Cococay in the Caribbean. I was expecting lush green jungle canopy, but it was just waist-high and scratchy sun-dried shrubs. The water was blue lovely, and it had that exotic tropical feel, imported white sand beach and all. But there's no contest to the Earth's variety of appeals that grow here. I'll deal with the six months of cold, because it just feels more 'home' up here. Admittedly though, climbing a palm tree and picking a coconut is one of my most satisfying memories. Hard to de-husk the things.

[@c4duck366]

i can just listen to you talk for hours and hours. thanks for your content

[@Makwaa]

I know that you may not see this, Mr. Pocket, but I feel the need to let you know that I appreciate each and every one of your uploads. I love the way you think and I love hearing your insights. Have a great day, and keep up the amazing work. Thank you.

[@pocket83squared]

I see it! In fact, I really appreciate the encouragement. Thanks a bunch!

[@maxximumb]

Are they blacknose shiner (Notropis heterolepis)?

[@qwertyzoion]

I'm stuck whit pocket83²...... yeah!!!

[@dynamicequilibrium5322]

We always just called them striped minnows.

[@gizanked]

I used to love walking around the streams and creeks as a kid, using my hat to catch crayfish with my brother. Always important to put the "net" on the backside because when they shoot away its towards the tail end. This time of year is great as things start to turn green. The ferns are popping out and the mayflower is starting to bud along with the trees. The snow looks nice for a while but I'm pretty ready for some green.

[@pocket83squared]

Ha! So you net from behind, and they dart right in? Never heard of that, but it makes sense. Here's a curious behavior I've noticed about the frogs in that little pond: misdirection. They jump in from the south bank, facing north. Ok. Now you might expect for them to hide on the north side, and so your eyes naturally go there. Yet they will dart to the southeast (for example) as soon as they hit the water, and instantly hide under some muddy leaves right under their water ripples. Kinda reminds me of the way that prime numbers occur in nature with leaves, and with insect brooding periodicity. Inadvertent cleverness! For example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodical_cicadas

[@throwaway7442]

Those are creek chubs. They get 6-8” long

[@mctrucks8825]

In Ohio we just call them creek chubs or shads, and im willing to bet that it was both varibles. The hole may have been to small for them to fit through and the entire coffee can lid probably would have made them turn around but i definitely cannot say lol. If thats any help at all haha.

[@victorcastle1840]

I don't think Shad, just by the tail shape alone .