Description of a Floating Trap Net for Sampling Crappies

Abstract

We developed a floating trap net suitable for sampling populations of crappies Pomoxis spp. This trap net consisted of two 8 × 8-ft front frames spaced 3 ft apart, followed by four 4 × 4-ft frames spaced 2.7 ft apart. All meshes were 0.5 in square. Each frame was fit with polyvinyl chloride floats. A 200 × 8-ft lead net was attached to center braces on the 8-ft frames. In trial net sets in Mississippi lakes (N = 98 net-nights) the net caught an average 54.4 crappies/net-night (range 0–134). Total lengths of crappies caught by the floating trap nets ranged from 1 to 16 in. Although the floating net is bigger than standard trap nets and more cumbersome to fish, we submit that the net's ability to yield large catches outweighs any inconveniences caused by its size.