Live baits are the best kind of baits you can use to catch your desired fish. And if you are an experienced angler, you already know that minnows are the best kind of live baits. They are easy to catch, convenient to hook, and their movement lures prey like no other baits can.
Having a minnow trap means you can catch your own baits quickly without needing to drive to the bait shop to buy minnows every time.
In this article, we are going to recommend to you the best traps money can buy you today and the most important factors to check when picking one for yourself. To assist you in catching healthy, wild minnows, we will also be talking about the best baits you can use for minnows.
If you have some experience buying fishing equipment, you’d know that they all come with their unique strengths in different fields. So be sure to have a glimpse at them all to find the one that fits your needs the best.
Let’s get right down to it.
Best Minnow Traps: At a Glance
Best Minnow Traps: Comparison Table
| IMAGE | PRODUCTS | FEATURES | SHOPS |
|---|---|---|---|
editor’s choice  
|
|
at Amazon |
|
 
|
|
at Amazon |
|
 
|
|
at Amazon |
|
best overall  
|
|
at Amazon |
|
 
|
|
at Amazon |
|
value for money  
|
|
at Amazon |
1. Frabill Minnow Trap 1268 – Professional’s Choice
Compared to the average minnow trap in the market, this Frabill trap is more of a premium trap with robust construction.
It is a hard-sided trap made with black vinyl-dipped steel wires. That makes it great for rough usage. Although its non-foldable design makes it a little less portable, the variation shouldn’t be a problem for professional users who have the required real estate on their boats.
From calm water to rapid water, saltwater to freshwater, this trap can handle pretty much anything. Making it the perfect choice for professionals.
Pros
- Highly efficient at catching minnows.
- Heavy-duty design.
- Works well in both saltwater & freshwater.
- Black camouflage helps adjust to nature.
- Sliding doors for easy access inside.
Cons
- Non-foldable design.
- The size is a little small for some users.
2. Eagle Claw Minnow Trap
Coming at an affordable cost with a series of interesting features is the Eagle Claw Minnow Trap. Built with excellent quality, this trap can be a great addition to your fishing equipment.
The trap has ends of 7″ diameter which is followed by cone-shaped entrances of 3.5″ diameter. It easily separates into two separate parts that are connected with a clip, making bait placement an easy task.
The Eagle Claws lightweight design makes it favorable for traveling. You can stack its two-sections over one another to save space. It’s just an overall affordable trap that will give you reliable performance for years.
Pros
- Good for beginners
- Black color for camouflage
- Easy storage.
- Lightweight construction.
Cons
- The two halves sometimes do not meet perfectly.
- The holes in the net are too big for some customers’ preferences.
3. Goture Portable Folded Fishing Net
The Goture Portable Fishing net is for people who want to maximize efficiency without their net taking up too much space.
It’s an automatic trap that opens by itself when you pull a string at the top. It is designed for a wide range of applications., targeting other fish such as crawfish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters etc.
What’s special about this minnow trap is that it has 6 entrance holes and 12 chambers while being very lightweight and foldable. That means you can take it with you on a trip and have the confidence that it will be catching a lot of live bait at once.
Pros
- 360° design.
- Catches a lot of fish at once.
- Nylon net design for easy portability and storage.
- Wide range of applications.
- Zipper design provides easy opening.
Cons
- Not great for rough use.
- Longer preparation time.
4. Gees Feets G-40 Minnow Trap – Best Overall
Now we have this USA-made, double entrance, torpedo-shaped trap. Which is none other than the Gees Feets G-40.
It ensures it will be up for any challenge, and you can just leave it in a variety of water bodies with peace of mind. The ¼ inch Galvanized Steel body provides this trap with durability. And it conforms with the law and regulations of the states, coming with the dimensions of 16.5″L x 7.5″ D.
The two-piece design of this trap makes the process of placing the bait inside and taking out the prey a piece of cake. The clipping system is also simple enough for anyone to figure out in no time, making it a trap recommendable for everyone – from beginners to professionals.
Pros
- Semi-collapsible design for easy storage.
- Galvanized steel material to prevent corrosion.
- Abides by state laws for entrance hole size and dimensions.
- Easy to operate.
- Good for all water conditions.
Cons
- The clip may rarely come off when throwing into the water. Nothing unfixable with a pair of pliers.
5. ieasky Fishing Trap
The last but not least, we have the ieasky Fishing trap. In spite of being a slightly less popular brand, the ieasky minnow trap has caught the eyes of many experienced anglers.
The ieasky Fishing trap has a Nylon Mesh construction. It is frustrating to have a trap that is not suitable for traveling. The ieasky fishing trap gets rid of this problem by folding into just the size of a cowboy hat.
One thing we love about the ieasky Fishing trap is its own bait pouch. It is conveniently placed on the inner wall of the trap for easy placement of the bait. It is very easy to learn for beginners and easy to operate for experienced anglers.
Pros
- Extremely portable.
- Steel wire support provides rigidity.
- Has its own pouch for placing bait inside.
- Zipper for easy access to prey.
Cons
- Users have complained about the durability in saltwater.
- The bait pouch might be a little small for some anglers.
6. Frabill Minnow Trap 1272 – Value for Money
The Frabill Minnow Trap 1272 is the least expensive minnow trap in our selection today. But don’t let that price tag mislead you.
This torpedo-shaped trap with funnel openings is designed to provide durability on a budget. It separates into two sides giving you easy access to your prey. Which also makes it convenient to fold and store in a small space.
It’s made out of vinyl-dipped steel that provides longevity in all water conditions. The black color also helps it mix into nature, working as a camouflage. If you are on a budget but you do not want to sacrifice quality, this trap might be just perfect for you.
Pros
- Ease of use.
- Separates into two parts.
- Black color provides camouflage.
- Performs well in both still and rapid water.
- Saltwater tested.
Cons
- The entrance hole is a little too big.
How to Pick the Best Minnow Trap? The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
When purchasing a minnow trap, there are some crucial features you should look out for. A good minnow trap should help you catch good baits without much trouble. But how do you know which one’s right for you?
Keep the following factors in mind and you’ll be good:
Durable Construction
Having a minnow trap that won’t hold up with rough usage and frequent transport is frustrating. Not only is it a waste of money, but you will also be forced to buy minnows at the bait shop again. Therefore, we recommend you check for durability when purchasing commercial traps.
Hard-sided minnow traps should be made of anti-corrosive steel to survive for long durations underwater. Mesh types of traps that are made from strong nylon material are also quite robust. However, they usually don’t perform very well in strong water currents. It might be a good choice if you are only fishing in calm water.
Versatility
While most minnow traps are made solely to catch minnows, you might be interested in catching crawfish, shrimp, and other species used for bait. Or you might just be interested in slightly bigger fish.
Therefore it’s important to pick a trap with the right application. If you are only aiming to catch small fish, you can simply go for minnow traps with small meshes. The ones with larger mesh and wider openings can help you catch crabs, crawfish, shrimps, etc. However, traps that are focused on multiple species can get quite complicated to use.
That brings us to the next factor you need to check.
Usability
You might think setting up a trap for minnows is quite a simple task. But without the right conditions, it can get quite difficult. Some overly complicated traps make the job even harder, especially for beginners.
So it’s important that you choose an easy-to-use trap for the job. Models with a built-in bait box can be quite useful. Traps with a sliding door or spring clip make the task of taking out your minnows easier. If you need something portable, be sure to look for a lightweight and foldable trap. Lightweight traps are also easy to set up and pull out of the water.
The Best Baits for Catching Minnows
Minnows are mostly very small in size. While some minnows can grow much bigger, you only need to put a very small amount of food as bait in your minnow traps. You probably have minnow trap bait lying right around your house without even knowing it. Here are some of the best baits you can use:
- Breadcrumbs: This is an ideal bait because it’s readily available and cheap. They also spread around in the water – making it easily visible to minnows.
- Dog food: If you are a dog owner, don’t look further. Just put some of your dog’s pet food inside the trap and let it do its magic!
- Cat food: Similar to dog food, cat food works great for catching minnows.
- Hot dogs: Something as simple as hot dogs can work as an excellent bait.
- Shellfish: If you are fishing in saltwater, shellfish works like a charm at attracting minnows.
Finding cheap bait at home isn’t too hard after all, is it? Additionally, you can put some live minnows in your trap. Seeing other minnows in the trap helps attract more minnows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to catch minnows in a trap?
While it depends on things like location, type of trap, water current, etc. somewhere around fifteen-twenty minutes would be good enough in most cases.
Where is the best place to put a minnow trap?
Minnows like to live close to the shore around rocks, tree roots, and other hiding surfaces. Try to place your trap close to the shore and point its entrance towards the current. Using a glow stick is a common trick many anglers use to attract minnows better.
Can a minnow trap catch other types of fish?
Yes, Minnow traps can sometimes end up catching other types of fish. It’s a good idea to check the trap’s specifications and pick the right trap for your purpose.
Can you use a minnow trap in the ocean?
While some traps are okay to use in the ocean, make sure to secure them with a strong rope. Opt for a robust trap designed to last in saltwater with the current.
Final Words
All the minnow traps featured above have special features to make it easy for you to catch minnows. Having the wrong tool for your work can be quite frustrating. So it’s important to research these traps before buying to help you in the long term.
We hope our comprehensive review gave you a good idea on picking the right minnow trap for yourself.
Happy Minnow Fishing!