Best Crab Traps?

[Billy Tillamook]

Hey all you crabbers-I'm tired of crab rings and am going to invest in some pots...taking a poll- what are your favorite style of crab pots?
Are the collapsible traps worth a darn?
Would appreciate your opinions before I make this investment!
Thanks, Billy

[Pitch Pocket]

I like the Danielsons. Do a search and find the many pages of discussion on this one.

[Beaver1]

About two months ago there were a few days of discussion on this it, seemed that Protoco were loved by the people who used them and the Danielson's (sp?) were also loved by the poeple who used them. I guess it depends of what $$$ you want to spend....

[Salmonator]

the big 4 door protoco's have out-crabbed anything I've ever used.

[Phil Layer]

I'm with Salmonator on this one.

I'd say my Protoco outfishes my Danielson's two to one.

[3527766]

Airport Crab Pots in Astoria without question.

They mostly build commercial pots and extra heavy duty consumer models. You'll never own another pot. The biggest models are very heavy, but they won't move around on the tide. The smaller ones are best if you're pulling your own pots (I have the passengers pull my big ones :grin: ).

[Fish4Fun]

Look at the Cushman Boats web site, they have a great pot called "Cushman Crab Keeper Pot". I have a couple of these and have fished them beside several others and every time my pots had the best load. The bait holder is huge, a couple of large king heads fit in them easily.

[El-Kabong]

I like the Danielsons personally. You can buy 4 of them for the price of one protoco. They are easy to store, when you lose one you don't feel so bad, and they are easy to pull.

I don't think that the type of pot catches more crab then another. that depends on your bait, placement and timing.

However if you are planning on crabbing the lower colubmia, then get the heavier pots, but for the bays the Danielsons work just fine.

EK

[sparse gray hackle]

What do the protoco look like ??

[grumman16]

I have 2 danielson and 2 protoco. From what I kind tell in just one year of using them, the protoco's are definately going to last longer. The danielsons are designed just like they are priced - cheap. That being said they do work. although you do have to do a little extra rigging to them. I put pencil lead on the trap doors to make sure they swing shut, a little rebar on the bottom so they always lay down nice when put in, and ziptied a bait cage on the inside. Once you put in the bait cage, then they are no longer collapsable (at least not all the way). I've found your better off not collapsing each time anyway (things loosen up too much). I have 3 of the sides ziptied to the top piece so they can't move, and I leave one side alone so I can pop the trap open. Make sure the bait cage door faces the side you plan on opening.

One trip out I thought the protoco were producing more, but that trend didn't continue. I think its more placement/bait than anything.

Make sure you make your floats look unique. The std yellow or orange will cause plenty of frustation.

-G16

[Buck50]

I use the round commercial style traps in high flow areas like the CR. The Danielsons are fine for the lower flow areas but they are light and can drift easily. Weighting the Danielsons will help. Both catch crab and you can't beat the price for the Danielsons.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I like the Danielsons. It doesn't hurt quite as bad when some jacka$$ steals them. I had a couple of the stainless commercial style,but sold both at a yard sale. IMHO they didn't work any better than the $15 Danielsons,and they weighed way to much to manhandle in my old boat (15' Smokercraft) I now know why my friend gave them to me.

[pearl]

I second the pots from Airport Crab Pots in Astoria / Warrenton. I own three and yes they are heavy but that provides alot of benefits. They will last a lifetime. They fish awsome!!!

[fishbait]

My Danialsons are over 20 years old and still fishing. A couple are getting kinda rugged, but should last 5+ more years. They are kinda light for lower columbia or T Bay channel if you have allot of water movement. My 0.02 worth...

[Freakwater]

If you like to throw pots and then go fishing, I recommend the more expensive pots like Protoco. If crabbing is the event for the day and you are going to tend your pots, Danielsons will give you the biggest bang for your buck. If you are not tending your pots regularly, the escapement from Danielsons will make you wish you had Protocos. For example, when crabbing in T-bay...check Danielsons every hour....lotsa crabs. Toss Danielsons and fish for the day......no crabs. I don't think the weighted doors solve the escapement either.

Freak

[bassin]

So where can you get these Airport Crab Pots? I could use two more pots.

[Skipper]

Originally posted by brshooter:
... Do use the arkansas road runners when they are on sale for 29 cents a pound...

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">brshooter,
You got me stumped. :whazzup:
Are you talking turkey?

Cheerio'
Skipper

[Stz ll]

I have several Protoco traps and one folding Danielsons. That stupid folding trap always has more crab in it when we pull the pots.

I can't figure out why but it just does.

If price is an issue I would suggest the Danielsons traps.

[ 01-14-2004, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: Stz ll ]

[Tilla]

I use the protoco and the Danielson's. Each type produces, just depends on the day. I added two more Danielson's because a year ago they were by far the better producers. This year it was a wash.
I put extra weight (5 lds steel flatbar) on the Danielson's to hold them down.
I would spend more for better performance but honestly, it's a wash.

[brshooter]

Skipper,
Arkansas Road Runners = southern grown fryers.

You can usually get the hindquarters on sale for about 29 cents a pound.

They are for bait only. Not for human consumption. My nephew works for a meat wholesaler. He advised me never to eat them Arkansas birds.

[Raven1]

I also purchased a crab pot from a guy in the Salem area. This guy made them for the old Larry's Sporting Goods store in OR City. They're 10 yrs old & going strong.
Might be the guy Salmon Stryker was talking about

[rags]

I bought two round pots from a fellow ifisher who lives in the Salem area last year and love them. He makes them at his home. I don't have his number but hope someone sees this thread and you can contact him.

[Salmon Stryker]

Rags,

I think you bought your pots from Gary K. (AuFish101). He makes round pots and they are a good, long lasting product. I've seen them and can't tell the difference between the ones in GI Joes or his homemade ones. Good prices too if I remember right. Billy Tillamook, you might do a search for AuFish101 and shoot him an e-mail.

[brshooter]

I have half a dozen of the danielson folding traps. I have had great luck with them. I don't fold them up anymore because I have bait chages wire tied in them. I have 5 pounds of weight in them and the doors have pencil lead on them to keep them closed if the current is ripping. Never had any problems with them. Never had them move in the current. Actually, I did have one problem, when I was pulling one up, one side opened up and dumped the crab out about 3 feet below the boat. I now keep them zip tied to prevent this from happening as Grumman16 described.

I like the fact that they are inexpensive. We always hear about traps getting ripped off. I wouldn't feel as bad if I lost one of these vs a $90 trap. Also, when we go out, the ladies can pull these traps just fine.

I have fished them next to the big pots and done just as well or better. I really think it is placement and bait more than anything.

I definately have the best luck at low slack and incoming tides. Shad is my prefered bait. Do use the arkansas road runners when they are on sale for 29 cents a pound. Also use fish carcasses. Never had a seal bother a trap.

[Sore Back]

At Bi-Mart's $20 a pot, It's the best bang for your buck. All you need is a bait container, rope and float ane you are in business. They bay fish as well as any trap I have ever used.

Danielsons are good for only two seasons of hard use but they are cheap. The doors tend to fall off and the coating if poor, causing them to rust out.

[rags]

Thanks Salmon Stryker, it is Gary K (Aufish101). I bought two pots from him and they are excellent. Very strong and worth the money. I think I will pickup a few more. If you need his phone number shoot me an e-mail.