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minnow trap?
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:33 pm
by jiggy2006
i haven't checked yet, but is it legal to catch minnow for bait in ontario & queubec waters?
if so, how are you catching your own minnows?
i heard about traps made of 2litre coke bottles, and using dog food/ bread to catch them? does it really work?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:22 am
by Gord
In Ontario, you can catch and have in your posession 12 doz minnows. In Quebec the use of live baitfish is prohibited.
.....this type of trap is the most popular ......
and you're right about the bait.....dog/cat food or bread.
..or better yet, and alot less hassle, purchase the minnows from your local retailer.

hello
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:52 pm
by Boosterman
The trap like bowzog posted is what I use and works well. The only thing I do is ball up my bread really tight so it sinks to the bottom of the trap so the minnowns have to go in to get it. If you don't do that I find the bread floats and the minnows can eat it from the outside.
The mnr reg's for minnows is 120 minnows in your posession per person at any time.
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:33 pm
by jiggy2006
in quebec use of live minnow is prohibited.. but can we still trap minnow and kill it before using it?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 6:41 pm
by S.M.05
Anything they can swim into I guess, but you would be better to buy a trap like the one pictured or go to bowzog for your fixn.
Not sure if there is any truth to this but someone told me catching a minnow in one body of water and fishing with it in another (even if its dead) is prohibited in ontario.
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:53 pm
by jiggy2006
what abouts catching the minnow in the same body of water and in quebec?
if live minnow is prohibited.. can we catch & kill it (freeze it) and use it later!?
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:54 am
by Crunchy
As per the rules (which I just reread a few times)....(text from the rule book)...
In zones where bait-fish is permitted, a sportfishing licence holder is allowed to use to capture bait-fish, one dip-net or up to three bait-traps, except in Zone 17 where such gear is prohibited for fishing. Bait-traps left unattended must be identified with the name, address and licence number of their owners. When one or more persons fish under the licence of another person, the number of tackle used by the group must not exceed that authorized for the licence-holder.
So you can only trap baitfish in QC where its permitetd to use live baitfish. So in this area, that means only on the Ottawa river. Once you off the Ottawa River, no baitfish is allowed. And the gatineau river also has a live baitfish ban.
Thats how I interpret it anyways.
How do you use the trap
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:39 pm
by peteskan
I have seen the trap (pictured) on many occasions and have wanted to try one out. Do you basically just throw it near the shore line or do you try to float it out aways?
With minnows at 8.00/doz (in my area) it would seem reasonable to try.
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:43 pm
by Crunchy
I found the best places are little creeks that connect to larger bodies of water. Culverts come to mind.
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:57 pm
by mdej
I add dog food to mine, toss it in the water at the end of the dock, keep it about 1' off the bottom.
Go out in the morning take the minnows needed for fishing, release the catfish and bass fry and toss it in the water again the next night.
Just remember to label your trap. Officially it need to have a label attached. Never had anyone check it however.
These traps seem to work well for areas where minnows are around.