Rookie Baiting Questions

[fishingtom]

The reason I prefer springs....

I can be pulling up a trap and notice that the bait is all chewed down.
With my free hand, I can grab a fresh neck, pull out the old one, and replace it in just a matter of a few seconds.
Drop it back down and still keep my traps spaced apart nicely.

Also, I learned on this site that if you have some 1/2" x 1/2" wire mesh under the spring area, you won't lose as much bait.
The mesh also assists in the removing of the old bait. One-handed bait removal really helps when its time to collect your gear and go home.

But if you crab in the vicinity of turtles, they can and will take bait from under a spring.

[KALknowsRAE]

I guess there aint many turtles where I crab. But thanks for the heads up. I might lose a bait or 2. [dang] turtles.

[crabman1969]

I guess there aint many turtles where I crab. But thanks for the heads up. I might lose a bait or 2. [dang] turtles.

  dont forget they make snoods just for traps but the springs are convenient.  I zip tie 2 or 3 necks together and wedge them into the spring and rarely loose bait.  Some think that is to much bait that crabs prefer a small piece of neck.  From what i here they eat drumsticks!  And a clam bag is even a little bigger then a drumstick. 

[chef]

Never had a problem with turtles last year in the Pax or at my spot in DE. Rays were another story though....seemed like whenever they were around all the crabs stopped biting for a while.

Got some springs from home depot, restrung all the traps with 50lb Zebco braid, and got 5lbs of necks from Mars, so I should be all ready to go for this weekend in DE.

I'll probably replace the springs with snoods in a month or two...

[KI Crabber]

Good luck! Let us know how you make out!

[chef]

Thanks to all for the advice!

I'll be careful not to break my camera for the next couple days.... 

[stuff]

heres my 2 cents   i bought some metal board joiners, the plates that have all those little teeth on them,  cut into strips and zip tie to the bottom of the trap, the spring holds the neck in the teeth so no more lost bait, this year i added a second one to the trap to doubble my luck,

[Deckworks1]

My girls caught a mess of perch. I froze them for my traps. Good idea? They tasted good to me. I would think the crabs would like them.

[rvnprpl111]

For me the best bait to use is razor clams early in the season and late season "oct" Now my wife got a couple cheap cheap packs of womans
hair ties and twist  them as tight as she can and has worked wonderfully! not a lot of loss on bait
 

[flounderpounder]

I guess there aint many turtles where I crab. But thanks for the heads up. I might lose a bait or 2. [dang] turtles.

no...there arent .... but when you go somewhere with cats....better not be using just springs or you will be rebaiting after the first run.. lol

[Jeff_The_Hokie]

Instead of freezing my necks, I got a 50# bag of salt from a feed store and packed the case of necks in the salt. About a year later the necks are still good and still catching crabs.

They don't spoil because the salt kills the germs by osmosis.

[Benny Mac]

I was also wondering where I can buy a reasonable amount of chicken necks. I've been to several supermarkets around my area and none of them sell them except for Weis. Unfortunately they only sell 40# boxes of necks. This is not an option as my wife would shoot me if she came home to a freezer full of chicken necks. Are there any supermarkets that sell 2-5# packs of necks within 30 miles of northwest Baltimore county?

There is a Mars Supermarket in Ellicott City.  That's where I go, and they are usually stocked in season.  But, definitely call first.  If they don't have any available they'll tell the butcher to package some for you and then set them aside.  I have gotten as few as 2 pounds and as much as about 15 pounds at a time.

Hope this helps, and good luck!