Help?

[mburrows870]

Hello,
I was wondering what different people use for floats for rings or traps? alsohow they secure and adjust the line length? Thanks for the input I'm still trying to get setup.
Mike

[C-Hawk18]

Hey Mike,

If you use the search box on this board you should find a wealth of info including pics.

[captengine44]

Mike,

Search for Polecats floats/w the pool noodels. I made up 30 of them and they sure look good floating in a bucket, can't wait to try them!

[done workin]

The pool noddles are by far the best floats. I used to use the plastic/cork donut style and hated 'em. I take the 60" noodle and keep cutting in half until you're down to 7 1/2" pieces. You get eight floats per noodle that way. They very visible, easy to grab, great for wrapping the line around and CHEAP, and since they're "plastic" they don't deteriorate.

Haven't figured out how to easily adjust the line w/o retying. I leave mine at 10-12' and when crabbing in the shallows, am just very careful about running the trap line WITH the tide or wind so that I get to the vertical part of the line first.

[castnblast]

DW,

I use 3 pieces of the noodles tied together for the float. Then I wrap the line around the float when I pack them in. Adjusting the depth is easy...just unwrap the amount of line you want and then tuck the line between the segments of the float to tie it off.

I guess you could make a small slit in your floats and do the same thing using just one piece of the noodle.

[Crabslayer]

You can also insert a legnth of 1/2" pvc through the noodle and wrap your line on it just like you would retrieve string on a stick when flying a kite. Let out enough line then put a half hitch on one end.

[done workin]

I was thinking a half hitch, just hadn't tried it yet.

Also thought about slitting the noodle but thought it may slip or cut into thenoodle the rest although not that $ to replace it.

Thanks for the advice.

[mike2u]

I just used 3 noodles for 12 traps the other day.. Cut noodle 8 inches and then put a hole in the middle, pushed the rope through the hole. Then pulled the rope through the noodle hole and put a washer on the end with a knot. Then pushed the washer back into the noodles hole. I think this should make it float flat, and the washer will keep the rope from coming back through the hole. As for tying the slack or changing depths.. I make a loop and twist twice and then put the noodle through and this has held the line. Found this way to be the best and cheapest so far..

[crab dude]

I use 8" noodle and just tie #5 polyester cord around noodle with half hitches. The noodle is large enough to float the trap if somehow it gets in deep water by hard tide or dropped overboard. The # 5 cord is thick enough so its easy on your hands when pulling. The #5 poly is available at boaters world 1000' approx $30

[steve laf]

I use a crab pot marker sliced into 2" wide pieces. To adjust the length I fish the rope back through the opening in the middle and slide it into a slit on the top of the float. The friction keeps the rope secure unless you yank really hard on the float when pulling it in. My son does all the pulling and rarely has trouble with it coming free. I also use one color for all my floats and put my name onto them using my sons wood burning gun. Works great, looks great. Good luck!