Pesky turtles are destroying my minnow traps !

[Samuel Watkins]

Anyone else ever have alligator snapping turtles tearing up your minnow traps? I had checked my trap today and what I assume was a turtle had nearly torn the door off the bait compartment on my cloverleaf minnow trap. I built the trap out of wire mesh a couple of weeks back. This is the second time a turtle has tried to get into the bait. I'm gonna try to find a heavier gauge of mesh for the bait compartment door, possibly by scrounging something up from the thrift store. I'm thinking something like one of those stainless steel fry baskets used in fry daddys ,cut up with an angle grinder or cut off wheel. What do you guys think? any suggestions? Anyone run into this problem as well,and if so, and what was your solution?

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[BDC2]

You might try a different bait.....I've heard of guys using pieces of styrofoam, or a blob of spray foam. Not sure where I saw it, but there is guy who sells cloverleafs who used foam in one of his selling videos..reel texas outdoors I think.

[Samuel Watkins]

I'd heard about using Styrofoam as bait, but I had to reject that option on moral and ethical grounds. In my opinion, it just seems environmentally irresponsible to put a non-biodegradable chemical product in the water column to be nipped at by baitfish. Little pieces of the foam are bound to be tore off and end up in the environment. Whether that would cause harm or not, I don't know. It seems to be the same as littering either way. I know that I hate going to the local waterhole and seeing litter and I'm not going to add any to it. As for ethical objections, these are going to be bait for big fish,as such I'm condemning them to death,and it only seems fair that they get a nice last meal . Call it a gentleman's agreement between me and the minnows. I also find that using table scraps in my minnow trap makes feel like I'm recycling, and it gives me the warm fuzzies. Plus I'm saving money cause I'm turning what would be wasted food into bait to catch more food. It's a win/win situation.

[D_Weezy]

When is turtle season?

[Samuel Watkins]

When is turtle season?

I don't believe we have a turtle season per se here in Oklahoma. Our fishing license allows us to hunt so many turtles per day. However , Alligator Snapping turtles are protected here in Oklahoma and aren't allowed to be harvested. I'm pretty sure the culprit is of the Alligator variety ,as the one hanging by the dock where my trap is located had the tell tale raised ridges on the carapace. My only option is gonna be reinforcing my traps with a heavier gauge of mesh.

[JERMSQUIRM]

illinois is everyday too. 4 per day 8 posession. alligators protected. and they is yummy.
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