Trap Nets

Trap net facts:

• Long lead net that diverts fish into an enclosure (heart) and through a tunnel into a pot (Whitefish naturally lead into pot).
• The net has a 1000 foot 14 inch stretched mesh lead.
• Submerged closed-top hearts and pots supported by floats, frames, and anchors.
• Trap nets have wing nets leading into a V-shaped heart and box-shaped pot.
• Trap Nets typically fish in water shallower than 90 feet.
• Shallow water trap net-lead averages 15 ft or less in depth; and the pot 2 -15 ft in depth and 6-15 ft in length.
• Deep water trap net-lead averages 35 ft or more in depth; and the pot averages 20-40 ft in depth and length.
• Trap Nets often have a flag marker buoy or float at the lead end toward shore and the main anchor end lakeward.
• The pot always has a flag marker buoy.
• Floats may also be present at the ends of the wings.

All trap nets are required to be marked by the permitted fishers. Each trap net must be marked with a 4-foot staff buoy with a red or orange flag bearing the license number of the fisher. In addition, the king anchor and lead end of the net must be marked with a red or orange float that is at least 1 gallon in size.