Minnow traps or cast nets or both for catching bait.

Will be moving to Texas in the late summer, early fall if my wife has her way so it is time to learn a lot of things.
To catch minnows from the bank, what is the best option: Traps, cast nets or both at times?
For both, what are the best ones to look at to buy?
I have to use a wheelchair a lot, especially while out on the water so size of a cast net may be limited for me to be able to throw it. Although it would be comical to see me throw a cast net standing up trying not to take a dip and fall on my face.
Do black coated wire fish traps work better?

I wish I knew someone that was gonna be close to where we're looking to move so I could be a bum and earn some trips on a boat. Only I know of down there is
Snake River but he's gonna be a long trip away from Palestine area.

Pretty much cast net only in these parts , some trap tiny bream and crawdads in fish traps for catfish trotline bait though

If you use a cast net, you're gonna want to have a 1/4" mesh and no more than 6' in diameter. But, I'm not sure what specie of "minnow" you're expecting to catch, or what size ??

I started out with a 3/8" mesh 6' diameter cast net with the intention of catching Shad to use for Crappie .... 4" Shad could almost get thru the mesh, so I ended up using it to catch Shad for fishing for Hybrid Striped Bass. Got a 1/4" mesh 6' diameter cast net and was able to catch 2-3" Shad. This was done from a boat, in a standing position, by hand (no throwing device used).

Only thing I ever caught in a minnow trap was a few crawdads and small water snakes ... :Rofl

If I was moving to TX I would ask Ketchin for some help teaching me how to use jigs and not use minnows. He is a proven ketcherman not a fisherman!!!!!

Shiners, fathead, shad, whatever works when nothing else will. Gonna need some bait for catfish too since I know I'll get to eat them when no one in my family will but me.

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Originally Posted by fish_4_any

Shiners, fathead, shad, whatever works when nothing else will. Gonna need some bait for catfish too since I know I'll get to eat them when no one in my family will but me.

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Then you'll need to know which of those species are in that particular lake, and what the potential is for them to be around the banks. Just check on the Texas cast net rules for what you can keep, other than those species ... I'm referring to "non-gamefish" species.

One place I know of that usually holds a lot of small fishes is a concrete boat ramp, and you won't be subject to hanging the net up on rocks or brush ... which you do have to consider when cast netting from the bank.

Oh, yeah ... rule #1 in cast netting : wrap the line loop around your wrist BEFORE you even think about doing anything else !!
(case in point - buddy of mine bought a cast net, threw it at a school of Shad some distance away, and stood & watched it sink into 50+fow because he forgot to attach the loop end to his wrist. :Doh: )

(Note: small Green Sunfish are :Fire for Flathead Catfish bait, and they can be caught around most any rocky shoreline on just about any small lure)

That gives me a start, gonna be a very new world of fishing for this 52 year old boy. Haven't had to depend on fishing alone for a long time.
Hopefully there is a big enough lake close enough to where we move to for me to enjoy it. Just need to buy a beat up truck, hide it a couple blocks away so I can drive to some spots when I can drive.
(Have to hide it because my wife and daughter won't let me drive)

I fish with a buddy in TX that uses minnows sometimes. He says the Game Wardens are real picky about where you get them from. Like they have to come from the same body of water ( don’t transport caught minnows)
Be sure to read the regulations, if you buy them keep the receipt if you get checked so you have proof.
They are trying to keep invasive fish out of the lakes.



Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

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Originally Posted by tnduxcaller

If I was moving to TX I would ask Ketchin for some help teaching me how to use jigs and not use minnows. He is a proven ketcherman not a fisherman!!!!!

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thanks bro , one thing for certain , my pocket is my tackle box , 3 or 4 jigs ,a few floats,and a bottle of nibbles is all it takes to hammer fish , the rest of the things everyone carries, and use are just a burden to me ......
and to be very sure , keeping live bait alive and fresh is a for sure burden ....:highfive

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Originally Posted by GreenLine

I fish with a buddy in TX that uses minnows sometimes. He says the Game Wardens are real picky about where you get them from. Like they have to come from the same body of water ( don’t transport caught minnows)
Be sure to read the regulations, if you buy them keep the receipt if you get checked so you have proof.
They are trying to keep invasive fish out of the lakes.



Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

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FACTS , you can't legally just use minnows from anywhere in any lake at anytime in this State

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Originally Posted by fish_4_any

That gives me a start, gonna be a very new world of fishing for this 52 year old boy. Haven't had to depend on fishing alone for a long time.
Hopefully there is a big enough lake close enough to where we move to for me to enjoy it. Just need to buy a beat up truck, hide it a couple blocks away so I can drive to some spots when I can drive.
(Have to hide it because my wife and daughter won't let me drive)

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get you a lake house with a dock .....no need to drive bro ....just saying
plus I will likely want to take the drive over there just to get on that dock ....:Rofl

IF I can find a house on a lake I can afford I will definitely be getting it. Cheaper than houses here for lake houses by about 50% but still mostly out of my budget. And those HOA's........ ugh