How to catch minnows in a minnow trap? I’m not having much luck.

I live in Arkansas and there are some decent creeks and places that I think would have minnows. I have even seen them in places I set my trap. I have caught 3-4 at the most when I set my trap. I’ve used bread, crackers, corn flakes, cut up hotdogs, dry cat and dog food. I usually only catch small bream and tadpoles. Is it to cold to catch them this time of year? I figured mid May would be ideal but I cannot catch enough to fish with. I’ve tried setting the trap barley below the surface of the water and let it set on the bottom. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. Is there such thing as over baiting the trap? I notice when I set it in the water a lot bait particles drift out and have actually seen minnows feeding on the bait that flowed out of the trap. It’s aggravating to see the minnows eat the bait came out and won’t go in the trap. I’m using a cheap trap from Walmart that is shiny metal. Should I paint it? I see these guys on YouTube set their traps and have several dozen in a few hours. I leave mine out all afternoon and overnight and still only a few minnows and 2-3 small bream. I even put dry cat food in a plastic bag and crushed it and put small holes in the bag. Just to make sure they weren’t just eating through the mesh. I’m about to give up but I’ve seen others catch plenty of minnows in those cheap traps so I know it can be done. If anyone has any tips or ideas I would love to hear them and they will be greatly appreciated. Please help
I hate paying 3$ a dozen because I know the price of a pound of minnows at a fish farm cost 3$-5$ a pound. It’s just an hour drive to the closest fish farm and that’s one way so 2 hours round trip.

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I’m guessing your only problem is you are trapping where there are few minnows or at least no small minnows.Try setting in holes above and below road culverts,or under small bridges with holes of water under them.As far as using cheap minnow traps from Walmart,I’ve caught copious amounts of minnows from those them right off the shelf.
In a nutshell,dry dog food is about the best bait to use,bread balls work,but will break up faster than dog food.find some new places to trap ( holes rather than running creeks) and you should do better.

i Agree with taker. You are placing the trap in the wrong spot. Put the trap where there is some quiet water instead of in the current.

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Originally Posted by Yaker

I’m guessing your only problem is you are trapping where there are few minnows or at least no small minnows.Try setting in holes above and below road culverts,or under small bridges with holes of water under them.As far as using cheap minnow traps from Walmart,I’ve caught copious amounts of minnows from those them right off the shelf.
In a nutshell,dry dog food is about the best bait to use,bread balls work,but will break up faster than dog food.find some new places to trap ( holes rather than running creeks) and you should do better.

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Do those traps work in ponds?


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Sure they work in ponds,as long as there is a population of fish.Most of the time in ponds you will catch baby bluegill more than you will catch what I will call creek type minnows.If you are wanting to crappie fish with minnows you would be better off in creeks , remember toss your trap in pools in between shallow water.

Like real estate location location location

Is there a certain amount of time to leave the trap soak? I set it yesterday and I’m going to check it tomorrow. I used dry cat and dog food for bait. I put it in the bigger creek that the smaller creeks I’ve been trap feed into. I’m hoping their are more minnows in the bigger creek I set it on the bottom in a deep hole between 2 shallow spots. The water is running because all the rain but it was barely moving where I put the trap. I’ll post results. I’m determined to catch my own minnows. Only thing is I’m wondering if the minnows I’m after even live in these creeks in Arkansas. I see bunch’s of the flatheaded minnows and they would work but I’d really like to catch shinners


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In my experience, if your in a good location,you can catch minnows very quickly.I personally have watched minnows that were left in a trap over an extended period eventually find the hole they came,they simply swam in and out after that.When I set my traps,I bait with dry dog food,pitch the trap in a calm pool and check it after an hour, if your in a good spot,you may catch all you need quickly.
As far as types of minnows your catching,that depends on what species are in your waters.Do a google search or call your local fish and game,they should give you all the info you are after.

I had the same question and as usual the CDC guys came in with great suggestions. Thanks.

I figured out what I was doing wrong. I set the trap and checked it about 45 minutes to an hour later and there were several dozen in it. I watched them for a minute and watched several escape so I pulled the trap and got a bunch! It doesn’t take long for them to find the food. I was leaving the trap our way to long.


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Is it better to set traps in the day time or after sunset? I have tried at night and from 15 minutes to over an hour and not caught a one? Apparently my location is poorly picked? lol

We always trapped minnows during the day


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A good lesson is learned.

We used to use bread when I was a youngster trapping minnows from our farm ponds. Then found that sliced onions proved to be much better. We always set traps near dusk pitching one deep and another in close to the bank. Leaving them in overnight for the most part. Never tried to trap from streams.

We used to put a wire in the middle of our trap and thread a canned biscuit on the wire after putting the biscuit in the microwave for a few seconds to toughen it up. I have heard about the sliced onion trick but have never tried it.

I suspect daytime is better trapping,but don’t limit yourself,you can’t catch them if the traps in the truck!

I just use miner traps from Wal Mart and bait them with a chicken hot dog (buy an 8 pack from Family Dollar) for you guessed it 1 dollar. 1 hot dog works great and I usually get a basket full. I target bridges over creeks which usually have deep holes of water which produce for me. Good Luck!

Only thing I have caught in a minnow trap is a small black snake

Try peanut butter as bait in the trap smear it around the opening, it works great here in the rivers in south ms.

Never thought about peanut butter

Don’t over think it,dry dog food,or bread will do the trick,raw bacon strips will lure the crawdads.

Narrow the hole.

If its a store bought one that's probably the problem. Take a small plastic soda bottle cut the end off, poke 2 holes along the side, then use plastic cable ties and attach it to the inside of the trap. The small minnows can still get out this smaller hole but not as easy.

If your interested in making cheap traps here's what I did, 1 gallon water jug cost 98¢ and first time I used it I caught 20+
For more detailed info check my post #3 on this forum thread
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/live...rapping-baits/

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I bait with cattle cubes in my minnow traps and place them in my farm pond.

I would have never thought of using onions before I read this thread. So do you use onion slices or do you use chopped oninions?

Onions quartered or halved. Depending on the size of the onion.