Crab Trap Question

Ben, I was planning to ziptie some rebar to my traps. But it sounds like Timojam has some good advice. How do we coat/dip the rebar? Maybe just wrap it with that rubber-tape stuff they use on the big commercial-style traps?

that would probably work, as would plasti-dip i imagine.  i did not weight mine last weekend but we were shallow and there was not that much current. 

without weight they prolong the agony as they slowly sink when you forget to attach the float...sorry Ben I had to!

  eric, that is absolutely correct, although i didn't realize it was not attached until after it sank out of view!

ben did you lose it or were you able to retrieve it? cameron

cameron, i paid the stupid tax on it.

bummer ben, by the way thanks for the swag you mailed me, cameron

Ive never used extra weight on the promar 102's. Possibly in bad conditions.

I have not tried this but does make sense. I heard that you can use 2" PVC pipes. One side glued and the other side with a cap you can pull off. Before you launch, fill them up with sand or gravel, or what ever is at the launch site. when you're done, uncap and lighten the load on the incoming. I'll give it a try and post my results.

jack kwonsoo kim

looking foward to your report kwonsoo, sounds like it would work, cameron

Ben -

I use four 10 oz lead weights, one in each of the corners. Chuck and Sharky don't use any weight but if you are in shallow water with large swells, I think it helps with the "walking" or even worse "tumbling". In Monterey you will probably be dropping in 120-300 fOW and I probably wouldn't weight the trap because pulling it that distance is hard enough. Here are some pics of how I rig the 102 and line management system I use which I got from Sandman.

Scott

scott, where did you get the plastic snap hooks for the bridle?  i have been looking for those but can't figure out where to get them.

edit: or does anyone else know where to get them?  i know cabelas sells the bridles but trying not to spend $4.99 each + shipping if i can avoid it.

thanks

Not sure why you guys are tying the bridals in an X, or using clips to attach it to the trap.  For mine I rigged two loops, right and left, on the corners using a cinch knot.   The loops come together in the middle and attach to a 2$ stainless clip I have on my main line. When you disconnect the clip, the bridal is out of the way to open the trap and measure your crab.   I figured less hardware the better... and the less $$ spent to rig them the better too. 

scott, where did you get the plastic snap hooks for the bridle?  i have been looking for those but can't figure out where to get them.

edit: or does anyone else know where to get them?  i know cabelas sells the bridles but trying not to spend $4.99 each + shipping if i can avoid it.

thanks

Hook 1 has them.  Scotty clips.  They're not as big/strong as the ones in the promar harness kit.

Not sure why you guys are tying the bridals in an X, or using clips to attach it to the trap.  For mine I rigged two loops, right and left, on the corners using a cinch knot.   The loops come together in the middle and attach to a 2$ stainless clip I have on my main line. When you disconnect the clip, the bridal is out of the way to open the trap and measure your crab.   I figured less hardware the better... and the less $$ spent to rig them the better too. 

Al, i did that last time at HMB for one of my traps...it did not do as well as the one in the X and i thought it might be leaking crab on the way up.

I agree with Al that if I weren't trying to personally stimulate the American economy,:-)  I would cut 2 ropes and make my own harnass. Use a bowline knot at each corner and a surgeons loop in the middle. The clips aren't really necessary since I leave them attached. BTW Chuck doesn't use a harnass, he just attaches a rope to the harnass that comes with the 102. On a different note the new 102's have a welded design which is is more likely to break (which mine did), IMO. 
 
Scott