fish and fish stick question

[kfin]

I want to try a bunch of fish stick sets this year but have the problem of having no fish. You have to love that.

Seems like last year you guys were chatting about somewhere you could buy fish heads by the case? Where might that be? Is it cost prohibitive? I am in central MO but we will be making a run to Chicago before trapping season begins and I could deter through Iowa easily enough.

As far as the set goes....would any scaled fish work well? Better to use a good sized head? Or just a 4" or so good chunk of fish wired on there? Is there a best fish or worst fish to use for these? Probably could catch of bunch of bluegill or small bass in some farm ponds but that would be the only option at this point.

Too late and no time at the beginning of the school year to go fish for a bunch and there is no place around here to get it that I am aware of.

Thanks guys













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[Deleted]

I was fortunate to find a guy that's in charge of a large bow fishing tournament. I would try to find some bow fishermen if you could? Go to your local bow shops, the AMS website, Cabelas/Bass Pro bow shops, state bow fishing associations, etc. Ask around and see if you can make some calls and track down a guy that does. They love it when you meet them at the boat ramp so they don't have to haul a boat load of carp home, then have to deal with a way of disposing them.

Just be sure to wash your truck bed out at night at the local car wash, so you don't get any dirty looks. Or attract most of the towns stray cat population. Also bring about $10 in quarters for the machine. Oh, the smell only lasts about 3 weeks. So maybe line the bed with a tarp first?

Otherwise there are guys on here that sell the chunked fish like you mentioned!

I've learned the hard way not to wait until last minute to fill the freezer with bait.

Best of luck to you this season!

[~ADC~]

I think the heads are a lot harder for the coons to steal off the post. We have used bass, catfish, carp and even walleye heads with success. I have a few extra heads in the freezer if you come by. Probably can't get you enough to make it worth the detour unless you get some from someone else on the way too.

[kfin]

I am fine on bait for the most part. Use mostly dp's with a few pvc sets and conni boxes. Just decided that this looks like a productive set and fairly quick and easy....

Thanks for the tips on the bowfishing places, I'll try that. Might even dust off my bow and head down by the river.

ADC if it works out when we are heading that way I will give you a call. Thanks for the offer.

Keith

[TexA]

FYI...........
EXPOSED BAIT was ILLEGAL the last I knew,
so ---
You might stay out of trouble with your CO
if you keep ANY bait covered from view from above or beyond.

SMELT, if you're lucky enough to have/get any,
makes a good Fish Stick set (wrapped with a covering of weeds).

Here's an idea:
Wrap a hand full of weeds onto the top-end of a stake,
Stick the stake in the bottom of a water-way(or on dry ground too if you wish)
squirt it liberally with a good shot of FISH OIL and
set your trap(s).......
If there are any coon in the immediate area, they will find your "Fish Stick".

[TRapper]

tex, in iowa it can be exposed over water if I am reading it correctly...in Missouri exposed bait if I remember correctly has to be 20 feet or yards from any traps...that is exposed from birds of prey

[Pinky "P"]

I use muskrat carcasses with success. I've even caught rats on them! (darn canibals!!)

[Selvig]

I also have used muskrat carcus and have caught beaver, muskrat, coon, yote. when I use a rat carcus I put a dab of call lure on top. So not really sure if its the lure or the rat.

[iowatrapper]

Only certain corridors you cannot. Straight from the regs



Exposed Bait
You cannot set or maintain any foothold or body-gripping trap or snare within 20 feet of ex- posed bait on land anywhere in the state, or over water in the following areas:
a) Mississippi River corridor - Allamakee, Clay- ton, Dubuque, Jackson, Clinton, Scott, Muscatine, Louisa, Des Moines and Lee counties.
b) Missouri River corridor - Those portions of Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills and Fremont counties west of Interstate 29.
c) Des Moines River corridor - Boone, Dallas, Polk, Marion, Mahaska, Wapello and Van Buren counties.
“Exposed bait” means meat or viscera of any animal, bird, fish, amphibian or reptile with or without skin, hide or feathers that is visible to soaring birds.

[justwannano]

So why wrap the stake with grass if there ain't any fish there? Just use a sponge/rag soaked in fish juice/oil or lure.
just

[marshman]

i would not think would work as good covered up with grass and would be to paronid of catching birds of prey, a good coon set yes, but i dont use exposed bait like that, maybe commercial bait in jar that get from trapping supply

[iowatrapper]

Aug 28, 2013 17:34:33 GMT -6 marshman said:

i would not think would work as good covered up with grass and would be to paronid of catching birds of prey, a good coon set yes, but i dont use exposed bait like that, maybe commercial bait in jar that get from trapping supply

I've never had issues with birds. I know a lot of other guys that use them with no issues as well.

[~ADC~]

Aug 28, 2013 18:12:01 GMT -6 iowatrapper said:

Aug 28, 2013 17:34:33 GMT -6 marshman said:

i would not think would work as good covered up with grass and would be to paronid of catching birds of prey, a good coon set yes, but i dont use exposed bait like that, maybe commercial bait in jar that get from trapping supply

I've never had issues with birds. I know a lot of other guys that use them with no issues as well.

x2 I'm not going to get too upset if I did catch one but I really don't think its much of an issue as its certainly a rare occasion.

[Selvig]

I've caught a crow in a coyote set before. You think my pan tension was a little light

[trapniowa]

Aug 29, 2013 12:10:03 GMT -6 Selvig said:

I've caught a crow in a coyote set before. You think my pan tension was a little light

Lol I thought only I did that! Same thing happened last year to me.

[Selvig]

Aug 29, 2013 12:57:27 GMT -6 trapniowa said:

Aug 29, 2013 12:10:03 GMT -6 Selvig said:

I've caught a crow in a coyote set before. You think my pan tension was a little light

Lol I thought only I did that! Same thing happened last year to me.

Yeah since then I have realized pan tension really does help keep skunk and possum out. At first i was worried I was going to miss a coyote or fox that had a light foot but believe me a trap with a nontarget doesn't catch much and takes time to reset.