Subject: Trapping small fish.

From: Tim Westbury <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 1995 08:07:10 GMT

Any ideas or references reguarding the impact that the periodicity of 
checking traps has on trapping success for small freshwater 
fish (30-40mm)?. Also has anyone had any success trapping in open
 water, I have had success in vegetated areas but none in open water
 and wonder whether this can be atributed to the nature of the fish
 or my trapping regime.

Thanks.

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From: [email-masked] (Gordon Couger)
Date: 10 Aug 1995 20:02:41 GMT

In article <Pin[email-masked]>,
> and wonder whether this can be atributed to the nature of the fish
I have had very good luck trapping small fish in lakes and ponds. You just
need to build a trap with the right demensions for the target fish.

You have better luck near weed beds than in open water because  small fish
stay around weeds and away from open water.

If you are trapping in streams you can do much better by taking advantage
of fish swimming up stream. You use wing nets to direct fish into your
trap.

In running water you need to tend your traps much more often than in still
water. This might be several times a day in running water compaired to once
every couple or three days in still water.

Good luck
Gordon

Gordon Couger - 624 Cheyenne, Stillwater, OK 74075
[email-masked] 405-624-2855 evenings 
    I do not speak for my employer

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From: [email-masked] (Mari Ann Flott Hogas (KVS))
Date: 14 Aug 1995 07:32:42 GMT

Tim Westbury ([email-masked]) wrote:

: Any ideas or references reguarding the impact that the periodicity of 
: checking traps has on trapping success for small freshwater 
: fish (30-40mm)?. Also has anyone had any success trapping in open
:  water, I have had success in vegetated areas but none in open water
:  and wonder whether this can be atributed to the nature of the fish
:  or my trapping regime.

: Thanks.

I had good success trapping sticlebacks in a large lake. I used a trap build
of plexi-glass. Description found in IBP handbook no 3 (Ed. T. Bagenal),
Placement both in and outside vegetation areas gave a good catch, but bether in
 vegetation areas. The catch was also better if I could leave a fish in the 
trap.

Sizes of fish was between 7mm and 75mm. Total catch (14 days / 30 traps) was 
more than 1600.

Torbjorn Pedersen

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 13 Aug 1995 17:02:37 GMT

>   Tim Westbury <[email-masked]> writes:
>  
Tim
	i've just managed to net my first stickleback. I'm attempting to show they can be adapted 
to aquarium life. Water temps are the critical factor. However, going only by my limited observation, 
I'd say your open water traps aren't successful because the really small fish avoid open water like 
the plague. I've noticed the larger (comparatively) sticklebacks will venture a foot or so beyond the 
margin weeds, but the really small ones stay right under cover. Meanwhile, I'l like to hear more 
about your traps. Could you e-mail me with details? Thanks
	Paul Musgrove