Evaluation Of A Wire Fish Trap As A Commercial Fishing Device In Large Impoundments

A modified wire fish trap is evaluated as a commercial fishing device for reservoirs. Details of construction and costs of the wire trap is presented along with a description of fishing methods. The wire trap was tested in three reservoirs with fish populations of varying ages to determine: (1) Efficiency of the trap in taking game species. (2) Efficiency of the trap for taking commercial species. (3) Size classes of commercial fish taken. (4) Extent of use of the wire trap by commercial fishermen. The results of these investigations were compared to similar data for widely accepted mesh sizes of gill, trammel and hoop nets to determine the relative acceptability of the wire trap for commercial use in freshwater impoundments.