I use one and depending on where I toss it I stay near by and just grab my vest when putting it in and taking it out... As for "baiting" the traps some guys swear by just bread, some guys say make dough balls with ground meat, and I have found that Bentiful dog food works better then just plain bread and it's cheap... $1 for a little bag...  I've baited a trap and left it sit for 20min and checked it and had 2 dozen minnows, the only word of advice really is don't wipe out a hole and try to avoid taking too many if you know they are spawning.  Roughly around 10-15C is the general temp for most of the SW PA species found in our creeks when they'll spawn, so I'd say just keep an eye out how many you take around April/May.   The only real issue I have with long soaks is the crawl fish, I don't know about most guys but I've had some baby lobsters in mine and they'll wipe out a trap if you're unlucky.  Also snakes, I haven't had the luxury of having one in my trap yet, but I've herd they are none too pleased if they get stuck...

I usually just handline for my chubs. I like having to fish before I go fishing haha. Caught some massive ones at my fave spot. make for great flathead bait.

srl135



How do you tell where cast nets are legal? I have thought a lot about buying one, but have held off because it seems complicated to tell if they are legal or not.

 
You may only use cast nets here, with a permit:
 
County Water Areas:

Berks: Blue Marsh Lake
Bucks:  Nockamixon Lake
Carbon: Beltsville Lake
Huntingdon: Raystown Lake
Wayne / Pike: Lake Wallenpaupack
Butler: Lake Arthur
Mercer: Shenango River Lake  

slabdaddy

Big Tuna

Most minnows go under the leaves in deeper holes,trapping is always slow. I would rather seine minnows in the winter. I know of a warm water discharge that empties into the Beaver river that will produce a gang of minnows fast,but you have to sort through them,many are 2-3 inch carp,emerals shinners,dace,and creek chubs.

You mean that you actually catch baby carp in a minnow trap? That would be pretty cool. I've been fishing my whole life and using a minnow trap since I was 4. I grew up beside the water. I've  used a seine for years and years. I have NEVER seen a carp under 18" long. lol. I know they exist, but I've never seen one. My best friend and I were talking last summer about this. In fact, I've asked lots of folks if they've ever seen a baby carp and  you are the first person that I've ever talked to that has. That's really cool. Do they look the same as a fry as they do as an adult? I suppose I could Google a pic of a baby carp, but just figured I'd ask. That's nifty. I'd like to see one sometime. I bet they make  good bait though.

 
 
  SD,
Purdy sure it's a NO NO to use Carp for bait in PA.
 
crappy

 Yeah,
Think if you caught it from the same body of water it would be legal. Guess the Fish Fuzz don't want to take the chance of introducing different types (Grass) and so on to other bodies of water, makes sense. I remember in the 70's the Allegh. River was loaded with Gold Carp / Koi. Some of my buddies woud take them home & put them in their bathtub  
 
crappy

They are stocked in at least 1 pond that I know of in the area for weed control. Saw one pushing 40" eating fresh grass clippings last summer. I've had them hit floating bread a couple times but they're very light biters couldn't get the hook set.

PA Bait fish regs:
 
BAITFISH includes all forms of minnows; suckers, chubs, fallfish, lampreys, eels between 6 and 8 inches in length; gizzard shad 8 inches or less; and all forms of darters, killifishes and stonecats (except those listed as threatened or endangered species). Legally taken gamefish may be used as bait. It is unlawful to use or possess goldfish, comets, koi and common carp as baitfish while fishing.
FISHBAIT includes crayfish or crabs, mussels, clams, and the nymphs, larvae and pupae of all insects spending any part of their life cycle in the water.
SEASON, SIZE, LIMIT – No closed season (except as noted below) and no minimum size. The daily limit and possession limit is 50 combined species. When purchasing bait, be sure to obtain and keep the sales slip or receipt. The receipt authorizes the possession of the fishbait or baitfish so purchased for a period of 15 days after its date of issue. Fishbait or baitfish purchased from a licensed dealer do not have a possession limit and do not count toward your daily limit of fishbait and baitfish taken from Commonwealth waterways. Approved trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times.
TAKING AND KEEPING BAIT is permitted using rod and reel or handline, dip net or minnow seine not over 4 feet square in diameter, or a minnow trap with no more than two openings that shall not exceed 1 inch in diameter. All devices must be under the immediate control of the person using them. Unattended minnow traps or baitfish containers left in Commonwealth waters must be identified with the owner’s or user’s name, address and telephone number. If fishing in a group and the total number of fishbait or baitfish taken exceeds the possession limit (50), separate containers must be provided for the fishbait and baitfish. Total possession limit in any one container may not exceed 50 baitfish or fishbait combined.
MUDBUGS (dragonfly nymphs)– No daily limit from lakes, ponds, swamps or adjacent areas; the daily limit from rivers and streams is 50.
FROGS AS BAIT – Except for those listed as endangered or threatened or those with zero possession limit, frogs may be used as bait. Certain seasons and possession limits apply (see reptiles & amphibians).
 

skeelol

Found cast net regulations http://fishandboat.com/fi.pub/summary/permits.html

Holy crap is this real? You can only use a cast net in these 7 lakes in PA and have to have a permit? That seems very odd. A friend of mine picked up a 5 foot cast net at Walmart and used it in various locations to catch shad and chubs, unaware that he was supposedly breaking the law. 

 
Yes, as unbelievable as it sounds to people used to fishing in other areas. Another bizarre regulation out of the byzantine bureaucracy of the PA Fish Commission & their pals in the PA legislature.

I don't get on- line everyday and when I do, I don't always go back to something that I've posted, so I apologize about not responding sooner to you Srl135. Do you use the minnow traps with the ~ 1/8" metal mesh? The ends of this trap are circular and it's the most common minnow trap. If so, an extension looks like that trap and fits in between the two pieces. It ends up making your trap ~ 15" longer which can hold alot more minnows if you're fortunate enough to trap that many. I've used the trap with the extension, but only take with me enough minnows that I think I'll need and can safely transport without them expiring. I use a 5 gallon bait bucket with a pump and aerator. You can make one for a whole lot less money than buying one.

Glad to hear its working out.
 
You probably already know this but be careful not to carry more than 50 minnows with you at any time unless you have a receipt from a bait shop from sometime within the last 15 days. WCO's can and will write you a ticket if you have more and can't prove you purchased them.

I said I had to sort the minnows from the Beaver river ,baby carps are a no-no for bait, Slabdaddy,the little carp have a turned down mouth like there daddy and mom and are dark color,the scales don't really like large (yet) but they are bigger than on the other minnows.

Big Tuna

I said I had to sort the minnows from the Beaver river ,baby carps are a no-no for bait, Slabdaddy,the little carp have a turned down mouth like there daddy and mom and are dark color,the scales don't really like large (yet) but they are bigger than on the other minnows.

Cool.  Thanks for replying. I hope I catch one in a trap sometime. I'd like to see one. I don't know why. I just do. LOL

I've  seen the golden carp twice about 7 years apart in the same creek at Pyme. Interesting looking fish. I don't get the part not using carp for bait though. In my experience, it's not as if they're going to be spread to waters where there aren't any as I've seen them in landlocked rock quarries and farm ponds [probably both introduced] and have seen them in every lake I've fished in which is considerable, from North to South, East and West. So why is it they can't be used for bait? Is it one of thos old laws when there weren't so many carp and the PFC was attempting to control their spread or...? I'm certain one of you guys has the real answer.

Sorry for the double post. Computer's acting up [again]!

Yesterday I fileted several perch and I kept and froze the egg sacks, the spines, and the ribs. I thought I would use the as bait in my minnow trap. I figured they have to work as well as dog food would.
I think this coming fall I'm going to try to set up a Rubbermaid tub with a filtration and airation system, them trap enough minnows and chubs to last throughout the icefishing season. I hate looking for a baitshop in a new area, or having to wait for the bait shop to open.