Rigging ropes for crab pots

[TinyWonder]

I spent most of the day Friday at the sportsman show and had a great time.

It was good to talk to Jennie and other Ifish persons that were there as well.

Now on to the real question. While at the show I purchased 2 crab ( yes, he meant crab )pot floats and ropes in a package, the price seemed good to me. But when I got home and looked at them I realized that they were not pre rigged and I have never done it before. Help me please a picture or an explanation of how to rig these up or a link to a web page that has a step by step plan of how it is done would be great.

Thanks to all who respond.

[ 02-08-2004, 06:11 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

[Fshklr]

[ 02-07-2004, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[Boat Monkey]

Hope this helps, this is the Astoria "more than hope floats" rig...

[ 02-07-2004, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

[Fshklr]

[ 02-07-2004, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[crabbait]

Boat Monkey - Funny graphic, but we don't do potty humor.

Come on guys, let's answer the question and lay off the typo.

[ 02-07-2004, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

[Old Coot]

Assuming you also got some rings, traps or pots to tie your ropes and floats to:

Almost every rig I have ever seen has had three short sections of rope tied to the ring/trap/pot at equitable distances around the upper rim. These three lines are brought together and tied off over the top center of the ring/trap/pot. The finished product looks not unlike a teepee reaching maybe 24" above the top rim.

The haul rope is then tied to the top of the teepee. Next, I tie a big hurking knot about three feet from the remaining free end of the rope, thread on my floats, and tie a big overhand loop behind the floats. These knots keep the float from sliding down the rope, and from sliding off the rope.

Use quality knots or splices. For what it's worth most of my friends and I put a few "insurance" zip ties on the knots and splices.

If your floats are a common color, it doesn't hurt to put some custom trim on yours so you can tell them from the rest of the herd's floats. A name and phone number may result in a returned trap if the current sucks your floats down or bounces your trap off to a new and distant location.

Good luck! (This warranty specifically excludes any claims arising from damages or debacles incurred as a result of following my advice.) :grin:

Crabby,
Put the picture back, I thought it was great. Help is on the way via email.

[crabbait]

Uh...no.

[blubeast]

TinyWonder, here are a couple of other suggestions to go with those from Old Coot. Put a loop say of 12" or so ontop of the floats. This is for grabbing the trap with a hook or by hand, but also for tying on extra floats (such as empty milk jugs) if they start to torpedo below the surface due to strong currents.

Also if the line floats, insert some lead inside the rope every 10 ft or so, so that it sinks, thus less likely you'll wrap it around your prop.

good luck.

[Aufish101]

TW,

If you have pots, I like to tie the main pull rope on the side, less resistance when pulling the pot. I also use the three ropes as O.C. said and attach a small float there, acts as a parachute to make shure the pot lands upright on the bottom.

Aufish101

[roadsend]

I also like the main pull rope on the upper portion of the side near a crab door. This puts the pot in position for the current to carry the crab to the door, not away from it.
I like sinking line rather than lead weights which are rough on pully blocks if you use a davitt to pull the pots.

[Green Willie]

If I were you, I'd go to Fisherman's and look at their prerigged pots. Also, they carry the little plastic doohickies (sorry, don't know what they're called) that allow you to splice a loop in the rope. I'll bet they'll even show you how if you ask.

JN

Fid

[Tagster]

Keta - Fid?

Tag

Tag,

Fid=little plastic doohickies

[Tagster]

Keta, is that the scientific term? :smile:

Kind of like a "whachamacallit"?

Tag

[Green Willie]

It's my fault. I couldn't remember that the tool for splicing the line was called a "fid". I called it a "doohickie", knowing someone would know. Keta knew the real name, I used the "scientific" synonym.

JN

[DownTime]

Blubeast I am pretty sure it is illegal to use milk jugs as floats for crab or shrimp pots in Oregon and Washington.It is also illegal to use floating line for your pots.If you ever suck one up in your prop or jet you'll know why! :shocked: I use a two point harness on my pots.If you don't have a davit it makes it a lot easier to bring them in over the gunnel or bow. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] my .02

JB

[Small Fry]

TinyWonder you beat to this same question. Thank you!

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Ok so how much mainline rope between the trap and your floats? Does anyone use the floats with the flags? Do they last? I like the idea but I just don't see them lasting. Someone wrote awhile back they painted their floats with fluorescent paint for crabbing at night. Do I need a special type of paint. ( I know I need waterproof paint).

Aufish101 I will be ordering a couple of pot s very soon.

[blubeast]

Downtime... I've been checked many times here in Oregon. Regarding the line and milk jugs... never been questioned... so doubt it's illegal. Cannot speak to Washington Regs... do not crab there.

I use the milk jugs as an add'l floats in add'n to the regular floats when the tide starts rippn.

As I say, been checked by both ODFW and various county folks for keeper compliance... not once has anyone questioned the use of the milk jugs or the line. I use the lead inside the line so it does NOT float. For my own boat's safety as well as other boats.

These are merely a couple of suggestions as to how I've modified my crab setup to make it better for me.

[ 02-08-2004, 05:47 PM: Message edited by: blubeast ]

[DownTime]

blubeast you are right about Oregon, I broke down and read your regs.In the Washington regs on page 128 which is Statewide Gear Rules-Crab,Shrimp,and Crawfish it states"Buoys must be constructed of durable material(no bleach,antifreeze,or detergent bottles,paint cans,etc."So since our two states rules seem to be reciprical I'll bet now that you have to have a license for crab like Washingtonians it is only a matter of time until you get the same regulation!

JB

[Dave Vedder]

I think they are bobbers!

[TinyWonder]

Small Fry,

You are welcome. I would think that the length of rope that you need depends on the depth of water and tide that you plan on putting you traps into.

The Inlaws usually crab in about 20' of water so they use 40' ropes but if you crab at Crab Harbor (Tillamook Bay) 40' ropes are not quite long enough.

I am sure that someone will have something else to say about it.

My pot lines are all 25' sinking groundline with a clip on one end and an eye on the other so I can clip two together (some don't have clips and I tie them together using a double sheet bend. I can adjust for depth in 25' section.

My floats are on short lines with clips. I like to use two of the bullet shaped floats and two or three gillnet corks.

Dave V, BIG bobbers.

Tag, Yup

[TinyWonder]

Thanks to everyone for all of the replies.

I knew about using a float above the three lines attached directly to the trap/pot. And I have seen and herd of using a fid to weave the rope back onto itself but was more interested in knowing what kind of knots to tie bowline etc. to make sure that they don't come undone. I had forgotten about looking at FMS to see how they are done.

I guess I must of had a typo on my original post I usually preview it before I post it but clicked on the wrong box. Thanks for your patience.