what is your opinion of the fishstick set

[RiverRat]

What is your opinion of the different varations of the fish stick set. I have not had alot of luck with it. Not that I havent caught coon in it I have played around with it and caught 100 or so but it doest seem as effective as a pocket. I do like the fact that it is fast as easy to make. Lets hear your opinion. RR

[trappnman]

I liked it for flat marshy type settings- but pvc pipe does the same thing with less effort.

Another god set in flat marsh, sand- take a piece of 2X2 wire (or really any size will do) that is cut 2 feet square. Bend it into a U shaped and place in shallow water. Cover the top and back with marsh vegitation- place a foothold in front of the cubby. I usually pile up grass inside to squirt lure on, but you could hang film cannister or whatever.

More stuff to carry- but a good set- takes mink too- in certain situations.

[RiverRat]

I am thinking low profile here for high thieft areas. Even when I could dig a pocket as the fish set is less visable. I may have to try that screen set though. Thanks RR

[PAMINK]

Rat
A set that's almost invisable for high theft areas is what I call the poke hole set. You'll need some kind of bank though. Take a rebar stake and jam 3 or 4 holes in the bank above your trap placement. Putting these holes somewhat verticle will survive flooding pretty good. A good lure mixed with fish oil works good here. Poke holes, place trap, squirt and go. Use a good drag to get that coon out of sight and it speeds up trap setting. Terry

[thebeav2]

I like the old fish stick. I pre make them and they are very fast to place and are very effective.
Remember to gang set all locations two fish sticks or a combo of fish sticks and punch hole sets and pockets. This Is the best way to take numbers and conserve time. Trap a area hard and then move on.


There Is very little you can do to prevent theft so don't worry about It.


Beav

[wannacatchmink]

What exactly is the fish stick set?
Thanks WCM

[coonwhacker]

PAMINK, that is alot like johnny thorpe's slick up set without the slick part. He uses shellfish oil.

mike

[RiverRat]

There Is very little you can do to prevent theft so don't worry about It.


I realize that but in my area I do and must worry about it. If I dont Ill have 25% of my stufff ripped off I have got alot of other trappers and people problems. Thats one reason I wont use the PVC set great set caught alot of fur on it myself on private ground in roadditches no way. RR

WCM the fish set is a stick that you either put ground up fish on or fish oil set infront of your trap and hope to have a coon in the moring. Make em walk between your stick and the bank.

[coonwhacker]

I have never had a real theft problem. I blend my sets so even I can not see them. I only do walk by checks. I will not get too close as to tip off theives. I do however go to areas where I have no traps and mess around when I know I am being watched.

mike

[trappnman]

Easy way to make the "fish sticks"- wrap a bunch of grass around a stick like a minature thing of cotton candy. You can wire the grass wad on- I usually "tie" it with longer grasses.

Then just squirt lure, fishoil,whatever you use on the grass wad. Place the stick out in water about 18-24 from a bank- if you have al ittle point on the bank- set it out from that. I give it a slight angle towards the bank. Put your trap between the stick and the bank- I like to put it 3-4 inches in front of the stick.

[Maineman]

The set works but personally it takes more time than it's worth...I'd just assume punch in a pocket or a couple rerod holes above a 1.5cs...

Like anything else, If you have the time and the right location, go for it...

[mustelameister]

My variation:

Cut two-foot stakes to dry by trapping season, so they don't become beaver candy. Stakes are 3-4" in diameter. Drive a 3 1/2" spike into the top of it, dead center. Clip off the head of the spike. If I'm trapping private property with permission, no conflicts with thieves, I use scrap 2"x2"s.

Freeze your little panfish (bluegills, crappies, etc) whole over the summer. Have them ready to go for trapping season.

Fish stick is this stake sunk into the bottom, bluegill speared on top of it. Squirt stake and bluegill with your favorite lure/fish oil.

We have sight-exposed bait law. Therefore, I have scrap "roofs" with hole drilled in center. This is placed on top of bluegill, so spike goes through the roof.

Tilt stake pointing "away" from bank so 'coon sees the fish under the roof.

Easy to pack, easy to set. Have your panfish thawed out the day you set.

Trap placement is 'tween stake and shore, as described above.

Also good to throw in a couple of blind sets on either side as long as you're there.

[trappnman]

Has anyone tried multiple traps on drags at this set?

[PAMINK]

Coonwhacker
Yes Johnny does use a variation of this set but his are made almost on a flat bank. I prefer to have a little more slope to mine as it will handle a little more water rise.

Steve
I can see multiple catches if you have the coon population. You'll probably get a few coon tangled in both traps but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Try it this fall and let us know if it works. ;D ;D Terry

[trappnman]

[foxtail]

I use it from time to time. Usually as a set where few other options are available.
I have one place where the pvc set Steve likes so much would be great, but pvc sinks and the water is about 4 feet deep so I don't feel like making the pvc "disposable".

I have never used multiple traps on a drag, but I have kind of use one trap with a drag. Actually it was more like a booby trap. The coon gets caught, the coon pulls the chain which is set right on the ledge, and the coon goes down to the bottom real fast.

One time the coon didn't knock the weight down and I found it high and dry. Not real happy, but dry.
I took the weight and tossed it out to where it was supposed to go and the coon went straight down in chrystal clear water and I got to see what happens on a drowner first hand. It is surprising how fast they die.

[mustelameister]

Sidenote here to the observation of a 'coon drowning in the post above.

In one campground I run box traps for various reasons. I usually transport all captured critters and dispatch with #220s elsewhere.

One day I forgot to bring the #220s along. I had 3 'coon, large ones, and headed for a remote boat landing. I submerged each of the box traps in just enough water on the ramp to cover the box trap, and observed.

Each of the 3 'coon merely walked back and forth, slowly, and appeared mildly interested in looking for an escape route. As they succumbed to drowning, they merely laid down in the bottom of the box trap. And that was about it.

No terror-stricken frenzied attempts to escape the cage. Perhaps being contained overnight in the live trap was long enough to persuade them any further attempt at escape was useless. Are animals capable of reasoning this?

Sort of reminds me of the difference between beaver caught by footholds and those caught by snares, where each capturing device is hooked up to a drowner system. These are primarily castor mound sets on banks along rivers.

In my experiences, trap held beaver will show struggle marks on the bank. Those that have walked through a half-submerged snare and had it snag around their body, will simply continue walking up the bank until the snare prevents further travel, then turn around, waddle back down to the water, and swim to the bottom of the drowner cable. Most of 'em. Very few times do I observe struggle marks on the bank.

I haven't drown a feral cat yet. That might be a different story.

[trappnman]

A cage trap might be one thing- but I will say this- and guys- lets not get graphic on this- but I've seen several coon go down a wire- they go down hard. Thats why drowning is NOT going to be a recommended method of dispatch by the BMPs.

[dj88ryr]

With that being said, are we going to be stuck with bodygrippers for coon trapping? Or said another way, is that going to be the recommended method for taking coon.? Can we look to Canadian law for the possible trend here?

[trappnman]

I would dearly like to see the BMP on coon...all I have heard- "not good".