Primitive Survival Fish Trap - Build, Catch and Cook

This week we're going primitive! Fen and I are building a primitive survival fish trap from natural materials native to NW Florida. These fish traps are a lot of work to build but once they're done and fishing, they're well worth the time investment because they're catching fish while you can turn your attention to some other survival matter.

Through experimenting with several different combination trap construction methods and native materials I found that smaller grape vines make excellent weaving materials. River cane (native bamboo) is perfect for the stays (longitudinal pieces), and the aerial roots of grape vines make good bindings.

We're using a pretty basic over, under basket weaving method for the most part. The fish trap we made is big and you certainly don't have to build one as large as this. In addition to the small bluegill we caught, there are some larger catfish in this pond, but we didn't catch any of those. To bait the trap, I split a piece of cane and inserted a couple of worms into the split. The tension of the cane kept the bait in place when we set the trap. In total it took us about 4 hours to build both the main basket of the trap and the funnel.

After catching some fish, just let a fire burn down to coals and throw them on the coals, scales and all. The skin and scales will help protect the meat from burning. It just peels off when it’s done. This is about as primitive as it gets in cooking! We’ll probably do a few more catch and cook vids in the future as well.

When it comes to bushcraft, primitive skills, survival, or whatever you want to call it, a theoretical knowledge is just the start. You need to get out there and practice those skills to truly learn them. The materials you have access to may not be the same as what I’ve used so you may need to modify the methods to work with your local materials. But this is something you won’t know until you actually try it.

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[iiiyfzd]

Your boys are truely blessed to have such a father. So few children get to learn such fundamental skills and build an understanding and love of nature, and how we get the food that sustains us, especially outside of the poisoning, sick, crashing global monoculture supply chain most depend on. Hold fast in these dark days and gratitude for sharing these cherished moments with us. Take care! Xxx

[Soviless]

dude i wish my dad did that with me 😢 youre an awesome dad im so glad i discovered your channel while looking up bow construction videos!!! peace and lookin forward to browsing your channel!

[globyois]

What an adorably cite little boy. You’re blessed by God.

[FTFreedom]

People who have access to land are the royalty. Great video.

[fredflintstone]

Been busy crafting forty years like your program

[JacobvsRex]

Raising those kids right! I love seeing them involved in all you’re doing. My kids are about the same age and they eat these kinds of projects up. Been live trapping squirrels lately just to teAch them the methods involved

[donniewillis]

That was amazing. I really enjoyed the educational aspect but also the interaction between you and your son!!!

[tbutman]

Excellent work with primitive materials... the proof is in the pudding.

[bowbailey]

That is inSANE!!! All this time I have been struggling to make my funnel traps just on the ground, with a lot more staves. Such a headache. I have never seen this method before. THANK YOU!!

[AdisiTaliWaya]

Weeping willow branches soaked in water work great for the horizontal weaving part of the trap.
If your located here in the Northeast honeysuckle vines that are soaked in a bucket will also work great.
The honeysuckle vines will give it a tight beautiful look and they can also be used for making small traps for catching small bait fish or minnows.
If you want to waterproof your traps brush over the traps with melted beeswax.

[bradcement]

Well made trap. You should have your own primitive survival school.

[mjones]

A hell of a lot of work but it’s an excellent survival tool that should last a long time!

[gregknight]

If more parents had raised their kids in this old time manner like you are, this nation would still be strong with good values. You are building a life - long bond with your son that he will never forget. Great primitive skills in your trap and your archery gear too. Much respect !

[barnaclebill]

Now THIS is a father son project!! 👍👍😁🇺🇸

[dooleyfussle]

Love it: son, barefoot. Dad, shoes, and socks! ;=#) Appilachticola area is my fave area of Florida.

[benleavelle]

Good Lord! thank you for an actual materials list at the beginning! thank you so much

[geoffreybudge]

The trailers from Japanese Kudzu is like spruce root but so easy to pull up as it runs along the ground . The bark by itself in a dandy material as well, prepare the trailer like watap 😊

[josephcade]

Nice trap but i would have put the bait in a container filled with holes to allow the scent of the bait the permeate the whole trap and that way any fish caught inside the Trap can't eat debate and so the bait continues to work for you feeling the trap with more and more and more fish if you noticed when you pull the trap out of the water the bait was gone

[ILhamKambaa]

Good trap, i have like it in my house

[visitor]

Интересная тема, но не до конца раскрыта.
Прказан олин кадр как жарится рыба 🐟 и всё.
Хотелось больше видеть результаты работы, насколько аппетитно это получилось