One of the easiest and most-effective fish traps to use along river and stream banks, as well as some lakes, involves digging a hole at the shoreline, connecting the hole to the water with some tubing, and inserting some good bait to attract fish. Most of these types of traps are made with large-diameter PVC pipe or some modified plastic bottles, but bamboo makes for a fantastic alternative as well. Let’s take a look at how to make this trap specifically with bamboo if other material may not be available at the time.
Getting Started
The first step is to cut down a long bamboo shoot and break it into smaller segments. The easiest way to do this is to cut the segments just above or below the joints. Each segment is hollow except in areas near the joints, and these need to be removed in order to create a tube without caps on the ends. The next step is to start digging a hole in the ground next to the edge of the water, but it’s important to make sure that the tubes are long enough to span the gap. Use the shortest tube you have as a ruler to ensure that one end will remain submerged in the water while the other rests above the hole.
Make the hole around 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep before carefully flattening the edge that is next to the water so that it almost flush with the surface. Keep lowering the edge until small amounts of water flow into the hole and start filling it up until it reaches the halfway point.
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Inserting the Bamboo
Next, position 4-5 bamboo segments on the edge so they fan out slightly into the water, and space each one about 2-3 inches apart. This will create a wide area where fish can congregate without causing a lot of congestion that can deter fish from approaching the trap. It’s also a good idea to try and remove some excess grass, debris or sediment around the bamboo entrances to give the fish more room to swim around as well.
The next step is to place some bricks or rocks on the edge to act as spacers between the bamboo segments. This will also help them to remain in place for longer periods of time. Next, create a berm by mounding some moist dirt or clay atop the bamboo and bricks or rocks that will protect the trap from being eroded by water slapping against the shore. This will also prevent water from flooding the hole to the point where fish can escape when you’re not looking.
Baiting and Waiting
All you need to do now is apply some stinky, gooey bait to either end of the bamboo segments and wait for the fish to come and feed. You can also add some bait to the water inside of the trap to create more of an incentive for fish to swim through the tubes. Some people prefer to cover the trap with some leafy branches or other forms of vegetation to make it less-conspicuous, but this isn’t absolutely necessary as fish probably won’t notice the trap on the other side of the tubing anyway.
This is a great way to procure a good supply of food while expending minimal time and effort, and the only thing you need to worry about is making sure that the trap is sufficiently-baited. Try this for yourself, and you’ll be surprised at how many fish, crustaceans, water snakes and even eels can be attracted to the trap.
