When people first started using fish traps is difficult to ascertain, they were made of natural materials after all and would decompose relatively quickly. We do know that people the world over used them with great effect.
Here’re some photos showing how Nicola recently made a fish trap using willow wands. This particular type of fish trap has 2 separate parts, the main body and the entrance way.
Nicola started with the main body of the trap. To help secure the willow I drew a circle onto a piece of plywood, added some legs and drilled twelve 6mm diameter holes at approximately 30° intervals. I could have drilled the holes into a stump, or simply stuck the willow wands into the ground, but this method meant that the fish trap could be moved with ease.
Here’re some photos showing how Nicola recently made a fish trap using willow wands. This particular type of fish trap has 2 separate parts, the main body and the entrance way.
Nicola started with the main body of the trap. To help secure the willow I drew a circle onto a piece of plywood, added some legs and drilled twelve 6mm diameter holes at approximately 30° intervals. I could have drilled the holes into a stump, or simply stuck the willow wands into the ground, but this method meant that the fish trap could be moved with ease.
Nicola started the fish trap by using a 3 rod wale for 10 rows. This particular weave provides better strength compared to a simple pairing weave.
The following rows used a pairing weave.
A couple of times part way along Nicola changed to a different coloured willow purely for decorative effect.
Nicola then brought the neck of the fish trap inwards.
To make the entrance to the fish trap I drilled another twelve 6mm holes in the plywood, but this time I angled them so that the holes pointed towards the centre of the circle.
Nicola inserted a green hazel stem into each hole and used a 3 rod wale again.
Nicola inserted a green hazel stem into each hole and used a 3 rod wale again.
Then a second layer.
Then a third and fourth.
Then a third and fourth.
And both parts of the fish trap completed.
We don’t currently run a course showing you how to make a woven fish trap, but all the techniques required are taught on our 1 Day Basket Weaving Course. We also discuss and show a fish trap on our 5 Day IOL Bushcraft Competency Diploma course.
You can see loads of photos from that course, as well as all the rest of the fantastic courses that we run, on our Facebook page.
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