Ring Net Woes

[Stormin' Norman]

No luck with the ring nets on the Magothy yesterday. I went with the rings because with the kids on the boat it’s nice to have something that is compact and can stow easily. The problem with them I think is that when you are boating and pulling them from an angle, the crabs have an easy time escaping. I think they are really best suited for piers and bridges. Another problem seemed to be that most of the bait was pulled out through the bottom of the netting. The net traps just did not seem up to the task.

I’m switching from the rings over to some topless steel traps. I’m wondering if the topless are better than the standard – any one have an opinion here?

I also saw some guys running trot lines and they seemed to be doing okay If anyone has a link or some info on setting up for a trot line I’d appreciate it.

Most everyone we talked to said the Magothy is slow…but honestly the way it was going out there I don’t think it would have mattered if they were busting loose there.

Norm

[rgminer]

I used rings for a long time. Both cloth and mesh and never had a problem. if the crabs are swimming out you probably aren't pulling them in fast enough. Water pressure is required to keep the crabs from escaping, the same is true for topless traps. You said you were with kids. Were they pulling the rings up? It takes some effort to keep the pressure on all the way to the surface..

[rrr]

Yeah, you need to keep pressure against the crabs for both rings and topless. I would use topless traps over rings just because that would be my preference just because I am more familiar witht the topless traps.

[Antman40]

"I also saw some guys running trot lines and they seemed to be doing okay If anyone has a link or some info on setting up for a trot line I’d appreciate it. "

http://www.vims.edu/adv/ed/crab/trot.html

http://www.blue-crab.org/crabbing/trotline.html

Tony

[Bob H.]

I use only rings and the pressure from forward boat momentum keeps the crabs in place while pulling. I did lose 2 big guys last week that managed to bail just before getting in the boat. I use hair scrunci's from the dollar stores to secure the bait.

[Burchbeer]

I use 4 door topless Foxy Mate traps along with 4 door traps with tops and find the topless traps out perform traps with tops 2-1.

[Pat N Mike]

Have used all three:

Rings are OK if setup right with mini-float to hold line off the bait. I never did it that way when I used to use them, but it sounds like a great idea. Have to maintain good pressure all the way in for them to work, not kid friendly.

Box traps are good, but most are short for stowability. The smaller doors don't close with the force of the larger topless traps. The little buggers seem to find the corners and escape more often than the topless.

Topless, they are the best in my opinion, the force is greater since the doors are larger and I rarely have one in the corner about to escape on the topless. They stow better in the boat but do require more control as the line can get hosed on the corners and so forth. They are heavier, so not sure how a kid would handle yaning one up.

Pat N Mike
Patrick

[Stormin' Norman]

Thanks everyone for the input here. I'm thinking about just making the investment on the topless traps. I checked them out at BPS yesterday and they seem pretty solid.

[blodg]

Storm'n Norman originally wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input here. I'm thinking about just making the investment on the topless traps. I checked them out at BPS yesterday and they seem pretty solid.


I bought mine from kcrabpots right here on TF....always like to support the guys on TF. 30 traps promptly delivered right to my door.

Joe

[Antman40]

Norman, Joe is right......Get you tpx from Kevin [wink]
Buying one is one thing but buying 30 is another......Kev will save you at least $4-5 a trap.

Tony

[cat fish hunter]

i tried to find Kevin / kcrabpots in the classified section and had no luck; any suggetions how i could contact him,
Thank You!

[Antman40]

cat fish hunter originally wrote:
i tried to find Kevin / kcrabpots in the classified section and had no luck; any suggetions how i could contact him,
Thank You!



'Vinyl Coated Box Traps 12'x12'X6', 4 doors black in color $6.25 ea. ; rigged with 15 ft main line and float for $9.00 ea.

Topless Crab Traps w/ spring bait holder $6.25 ea. ; rigged with 15 ft main line and float $9.00 ea.


We do ship or they can be picked up.

Kevin
410-803-8485 '

This is from another post.......it's got the info you need.....good luck.

Tony

[fredjr]

or go to Ebay and search for topless crab traps.

i've also found that the big box traps outproduce the short stack foxy mates, but the topless still has the best catch rate.

[blodg]

At the top of this page it lists 'options>>'

Select Member Directory, Select 'k' and go to page 6 and bmail him directly.

He charged me $10/per including delivery.....the traps are exceptional.

[Stormin' Norman]

Antman40 originally wrote:
cat fish hunter originally wrote:
i tried to find Kevin / kcrabpots in the classified section and had no luck; any suggetions how i could contact him,
Thank You!



'Vinyl Coated Box Traps 12'x12'X6', 4 doors black in color $6.25 ea. ; rigged with 15 ft main line and float for $9.00 ea.

Topless Crab Traps w/ spring bait holder $6.25 ea. ; rigged with 15 ft main line and float $9.00 ea.


We do ship or they can be picked up.

Kevin
410-803-8485 '

This is from another post.......it's got the info you need.....good luck.

Tony


Awesome...thanks again guys...This place is just great in so many ways. I'll be sure to give Kevin a call.

[Antman40]

If you can't get anyone on the telephone just send him a Bmail 'Kcrabpots'......

Tony

[cat fish hunter]

Thanks for all the help; i'm down to about 12 traps, no 2 are the same and they have seen better days. i think its about time for some new ones!
Thank You!!