Bullhead Traps are working!!

[SteveD]

The ice went out on my favorite bullhead pond on Friday so I put out 4 bullhead traps yesterday. I checked them this morning and two were empty but the other two caught five 5" bullheads. I've got the bait tank filled and it is now the welcome home for my first bullheads of the season. I'll keep the traps going for a while - with this warmer weather the baitfish activity will pick up as that water quickly warms. It was cold this morning - those bullies were pretty lethargic.

The St Croix is already starting to drop - it is almost down about a foot from the flood crest of 685.9' and this morning was at 685'. The forecast is for a steady drop as long as this dry weather holds. Water temp is coming up nicely too - 43 degrees this morning and this warm weather may turn on some channel cats. Hopefully I'll have enough bullheads ready when the bite turns on.

[Borch]

Steve,

How big are the bullheads that you get in you traps? Do they get much bigger than 5" with the small opening?

[SteveD]

I've got bigger ones, over 7" at times. This particular pond has mostly 5" to 7" bullheads. What seems to work best with the traps is when you start to catch some fatheads and crappie minnows then the bullheads really show up. They go in the traps after the minnows. In the spring, the bullheads really go after the minnows. You would be surprised how big a bullhead can get through a 1 1/2" opening.

[Borch]

What are you using for bait to get things rolling? I've used dog food with with minimal success last year. But I didn't run a trap until later in the summer.

[SteveD]

I've got some dog food in the traps now but I'm not sure it is much of a lure. One of the best baits if you can get it is fish remains. I also like to use some fatheads if I can get them. The bullies will go nuts trying to get those fatheads. If you are putting your traps in a river or a stream I would recommend running them parallel with the current. The current will carry the scent downstream and they will follow the scent right back upstream to your trap and swim right into the opening.

[cutter08]

This is the first year that i am going to try and trap bullheads and creek chubs. I don't think i will have any problems with the bullheads but I'm not to sure about the creek chubs. How do you guys get your chubs? Trap or rod and real? and what do you guys use as bait? Sorry to high jack the thred

[DTro]

I've always caught mine on rod and reel. Small ice jig and piece of worm or crawler. Make sure to keep a tight lid on em.

[cutter08]

How big of chubs do you use for bait?

[Gordie]

I've tried trapping creek chubs with a little success but have had way more luck catching them with a rod/reel and waxies on ice flyies .

trapping them is tough but can be done and My best luck is in moveing water just ahead of the pool that they are in.

[DTro]

The bigger the better

I've caught them up to maybe 10 or 11", but mostly 4-6".

I use them more for cut bait then anything, since they are kind of a pain to keep alive.

[Gordie]

How big of chubs do you use for bait?

Ive caught them from 2 to 10 inchers but I like them in the 6 inch range but have seen some really big cats caught on 3 inchers

[cutter08]

Thanks for the info guys. I will have to give it a shot with the good old ultra light

[Gordie]

I havent done it yet but I have heard of guys using fly rods and dry flies catching them as well but I'm no trout guy so I probally just stick with the UL for them

[Loose]

The big chubs can be fun to catch, I always pinch the barb down when catching them, lose a few here and there but dosent seem to be as hard on them.

[cutter08]

We have a 100 gallon bait tank and i am going to try and keep them alive. How long can you keep them in a tank?

[Loose]

The best I ever got out of chubs(big enough so the bullys wouldnt kill them) was 2 or 3 weeks, but them dying was my fault, didnt leave the city water sit long enough before I changed my water.

[mhines]

What type of traps are you guy using??

[blakeb]

I like to use the tube style, when i bought it was labled as a crawfish trap, never get them in it tho.

[Dennis Steele]

I used to trap them with decent success, before catching them got popular.

The key is using the largest trap allowed by law. The store bought traps are kinda small.

If you find a good spot, catching thme is a lot of fun. I find that bait isn't neccessary most times. They are so aggressive, they will hit anything from ice jigs, to small spinners and even Rapalas.

[DARK30]

With this weather, a guy might actually USE a bullhead soon.

[Gordie]

With this weather, a guy might actually USE a bullhead soon.

Thursday Dark, Thursday