FISH HOUSE HANDYMAN

[Guest]

Let's have some fun here. I own a fish trap guide and would love to here all of your remedies for gear storage, transport and fishability. I'm sure there are plenty of magyvers out there. Thanx S21

[Steve Foss]

Hey Steve:

I've got a Fish Trap II. The only thing fastened to it that didn't come factory is a pair of old downhill skis mounted on the bottom. Just got that done. Looking forward to the new improved glide.

As for gear, my rods go in the soft-sided pile-lined black cases, the ones with stiff plastic inserts on the rod end and a zipper-up close. I have two of those, and in a pinch they'll hold three rods/reels each. They keep my rods from getting beat up.

Everything else goes in plastic containers. That includes small plastic tackle boxes, maps, odds and ends, tip-ups, etc. Disposable propane cylinders go in their own container. The Vexilar stays free in its zip-up blue case. The propane lantern, if I bring one, is wrapped in a towel, which doubles as, well, a towel to dry my hands. Minnows go in a plastic ice cream bucket stowed inside.

Auger goes on top of the traveling cover, strapped on with bungies if I'm towing it.

I do all this partly because the Trap stays down the basement between trips (very little garage space). Since I've got to haul it up each time, I leave the containers and gear out of it, haul it up to the pickup, then bring the gear and auger after. If I had a platform set up in a garage that I could simply back up to to load/unload the Trap, I'd stow my gear differently.

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Steve ([email protected])

[Guest]

I added a new seating system to my Fish Trap II. I built it out of wood and it can be taken out for easy transport. I added carpet to the top for comfort too.

I added some rod holders that also come out when not needed. I'm in the process of building rod storage as well.

I bought some products to put up my own lighting system but haven't got around to it yet.

This summer I built a mount for my Vexilar that attaches to the bench so that it isn't on the ice but I can still look at the hole and the Vexilar at the same time.

I like to play around with the portable whenever I have some spare time.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[Guest]

This post isn't just for fish trap owners, it's for all portable owners. Thanks for the ideas, keep'em coming.

[Guest]

I just got done with a project. Although I doesn't effect the portable directly its still neat. I rigged up a pulley system in my garage to hoist it up flush with the ceiling. Somebody said they lacked garage space, thats my issue too. I have an otter cabin. I have four eye bolts on each corner of the sled for strapping things on top of the house such as another house. I used the four eye bolts to hook it up to the pulley system. Works very nicely and its completely out of the way. Its a good way to keep the mice out.

[chunkytrout]

Now that is an awesome idea! Where's that rope i had?

[Guest]

What an excellent idea! I already have the thingy-mic-jobber that I hoist my deer with, I think this weekend I will rig it up to store my trap. Thanks for the great tip!!!

[This message has been edited by chiro (edited 10-30-2002).]

[Guest]

Good idea Bigguns3, I'll see what I have at home and see what I can do. Did the materials cost you a lot? What did you use?

Good Fishin, Matt.

[Fish On! Guide Service]

I'm tired of trashing my hands pulling my trap so i've decided to attach insulation foam used for 1/2 copper tubing to the rope. Hopefully this eleviates the pain. Anyone have experience with doing this?

Fish On!

Stephen

[Steve Foss]

Great pulley idea!

Fish On!: Best thing I can tell you for pulling the Trap by hand is to trash the nylon rope the Traps come with and put on your own longer rope. It needs to be long enough so you can put it over your head and against your chest, and long enough so your feet don't kick the Trap as you walk. The insulation trick should work just fine. With the rope against your chest, you'll find it's a lot easier to pull through snow and over distance, and so much easier on the arms and shoulders. Just ask a sled dog. Ever see one of them dragging a dogsled with their front paws?

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 10-31-2002).]

[IcePro]

I agree with stfcfish

To improve on the idea put some eyebolts on the sled and on the end of the rope use some large metal snaps. This will allow you to have an emergancy rope when needed.

[Guest]

Fish on , Try a chunk of heavy duty rubber garden hose. Works good for deer drags too.

[Guest]

The materials were not too expensive. The most expensive parts were the pulleys. Some of them were 3 bucks a piece. Just make sure that if you have a heavy house, that you use more than one pulley on the ceiling. Trust me it does not work well. Its very hard on the hands to pull the rope this way. I was just board one weekend and got on a creative splurge. If you do try this make sure you plan it out piece by piece. I just jumped right into it, and ended up re doing it a few times. It works great, I just back my truck under it and drop it in.

[Uncle Grump]

I have a home made portable (or should I say "luggable") that I bought 3-4 years ago - the kind w/ the hard ends that fold down.

These aren't genius type things, but they make using the house a bit more comfortable.

1) Bought some hinges and lightweight chain, made a fold down shelf on each end - use for the Vexilar or other use/gear.

2) Mounted some coat hooks on some 1x2 blocks, and attached the blocks to the frame via hinges - these fold in to the frame work when the house is collapsed, as do the shelves. The hooks get your coat etc off the floor and the inevitable wet.

3) Some tea/coffee cup hooks. I put these on the end walls (over a hole) at about knee height - use them to hang rattle reels, and with a loop of sash cord or similar light weight rope, they make good rod holders for when you step out of the house. Loop the rope around the "stem" of the reel (assuming spinning reels), then attach it to the cup hook. If a fish hits and starts to run, it will take line against the drag, but won't take your rod thru the hole. Two close calls was enough to teach me this one.

4) I've stapled up rulers and sound cone charts for the Vex as well - the ruler is handy for checking slot lengths.

5) The previous owner wired it for 12V lights (one on each end) using the cigarette lighter taps to hook in to his truck. I added a receptacle I found at Fleet Farm which has the female lighter socket and a set of alligator clips - now I can attach to any battery.

6) This last one isn't so much a "handyman" type item, but sure is useful. Take a partial roll of TP with you, and a couple of the plastic shopping bags you get at Wal-Mart, etc. When the call of nature hits, drop a bag into a 5 gal pail, and you have a throne - where its warm and private. Let the contents freeze solid, and dispose of accordingly w/ your other trash when you leave. Ladies also find this one more "user freindly".

We got any ice yet?

UG

[Duffman]

For pulling my trap out on the ice, I use an old backpack frame with aluminum poles that attach to my trap with carabiners. The reason I use poles is because this is the same unit I use for pulling my sled winter camping and the poles prevent the sled from smacking you in the back of the legs when going downhill. The poles are covered with that insulating foam for quietness and warmth. Just strap yourself in and lean forward, got both the hip belt and shoulder straps to help with the pulling effort. But I'm a little wary strapping myself in on first ice.

[Ishmel]

bump

[Coldfeet]

I have a 4x8 portable with a canvas covering. I got the thing for free because it had fallen off of a trailer and tumbled down the road, creating about 20 - 30 yards worth of tears in the canvas. I bought three bottles of Tear Mender, found an old pair of jeans which I used for patching material, and went to work. After about two weeks worth of putting 1 -2 hours of labor into it each day after work I was finally done. That Tear Mender stuff works great! While fixing it up I took some belt loops from the jeans and glued them to the roof. I also took the rear pockets from the jeans and glued them to the inside of the doors. I use the belt loops for hanging my lantern and scooper. I arranged the pockets so that they wouldn't be too tight on the doors and I use them as beer holders.

[dickie]

I have a rig in my garage stall where I park the pickup truck to take my cap off by myself. With a little modification it could be used for ice shanties.
I cut 2- 2x4's that span the width of the truck bed plus about 6 " overhang on each side.
Screw in an eye bolt on each end of the 2x's . Slide one of the 2x's across each end of the bed between the cap and the sides of the truck.
Locate an eyebolt to the garage rafters directly above the ones on the ends of the 2x4's.
Tie a piece of rope to each eyebolt on the 2x's and make a loop knot in the rope about 1ft.above the eyebolt.
Run the tag end of the rope up thru the eyebolt above it on the rafter and bring the end back down and thru the loop knot, pull up the slack and raise the cap about 6" on each corner securing the end of the rope with a slip knot.
I also run a piece of rope from the ends of the 2x's on one side and over the cap to the other side to prevent the 2x's from pulling out from under the cap.
I put an old blanket between the cap and the cab to keep the truck from being scratched when pulling out from under the cap.
When not in use ,pull the 2x's up to the rafters and tie them off till next time.
Good fishing....

[Guest]

I also made a pulley system for hoisting my fishtrap up to the rafters. I put it on a 4X6 wooden deck I got at Menards, and crank her up with a boat winch. Total cost <50$. Tricky part is getting the pulley system to be self balancing. If anyone wants a diagram send me an email: [email protected]

[bigmouth]

For a light system in a Trap I took a 30"x1 1/2" piece of PVC or (ABS which ever you prefer) clued a 90deg elbow on each end. Inside the open end of each of the elbows I glued in a 12v 20w halogen light bulb (40 watts total)(something you would use in a track light system) wired them up with alligator clips so you can hook them up to a battery. Then used 18" Velcro cinch straps to hold it to the middle pole in the shack.
These things are really bright and don’t use a lot of juice.