Crab Snares

If anyone has had success using crab snares please say what kind you used.

go to U tube there is a lot there on them

DIY version from the SF beaches. Although I haven't done it as frequently in the past year as before. Check out pacifica pier and you could buy some off of the locals as a starter.

Are you using braid or mono?

Danielson's $5 from fisherman's warehouse, home made from model on the internet, some home made ones I bought from a guy on CL out of San Jose. All worked although my home made ones, not so great. The trick is making nooses that close easily. I used weed whip mono, and electrical ring terminals... and it was too rough.. got hung up without closing reliably. 
Have dropped a lot of crabs when hoisting these out of the water, so recommend a net handy. Hoist the snare and then put net under as soon as you get out of the water if you can.
Also always ad ozs of weight to snare to keep it on the bottom.

They work!

go to PFIC message board
http://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/

"Sofa King" snares are very good

go to PFIC message board
http://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/

"Sofa King" snares are very good

Ill second the Sofa King snares, These things are deadly to crabs

DIY version from the SF beaches. Although I haven't done it as frequently in the past year as before. Check out pacifica pier and you could buy some off of the locals as a starter.

Are you using braid or mono?

I'm using braid.  Why?

Sofa King, lol.

When I used to snare for crabs, I used to buy the ones from the guys on the pier and then replace the blue trimmer lines with hard mono instead.  The hard mono lines work better and hold its shape longer than the blue trimmer lines. 

Also, I hot glued the loops in place so they don't move around and tangle with other loops.

I have tried the Danielson (tangled too easily), the Pacifica Pier Guys (worked well) , and the modified Crab Hawk (had to install escape rings for it to be legal, worked well, but a seal got the best of it).  The crab hawk was a pain to get out there, overall bang for the buck would be the Peir Guy's home made ones.

I'm using braid.  Why?

Make sure that you wrap the finger holding the line or use a glove. Otherwise, it'll cut into your flesh when the snare is loading up on the rod.

Thanks for all of the input.  I ordered one of the Sofa King snares.  I also found references to a DIY snare that can be cast farther.  It uses a wire mesh grip (used in electrical work) to hold the bait but they are quite expensive.  Instead I ordered a length of plastic tubular mesh; I'm going to use it to build a snare and see if it can hold up to crab claws.

I have one that used a lead weight that has a hook on it to hold the bait. And they used plastic coated wire cable for the snares. I have never used it before but after checking this out I think I will. My wife bought it for me a few years back for X-mas.

I got a couple of these at the fle me and the boy will try.....