Perhaps you do not want to trap your minnows, but do want some device you can carry with you to catch the little fellows whenever you want them. You can have your fish traps close to home where you can watch them; but if you are away in the woods for a day you will need some way of replenishing your supply of bait, or of getting bait if you have none at all.
The scoop net shown herewith may be made from a piece of fly screen and a length of heavy wire. The first thing to do is to bend the wire to the shape
shown in
Fig. 1. The best way to do this is to determine what size you are going to make the frame and drive four spikes into a plank about half-way. The spikes should be spaced just as you wish the finished frame, say 36 x 18 inches. A good way to straighten the kinky wire is to draw it through a small hole or between two rows of nails which are one-eighth inch apart. Now bend it around your four spikes to form the rectangle needed for the bottom, then once more for the back, and a larger one for the front. With the aid of the diagram you can easily get the desired shape. A pair of pliers will be needed to make the two rings in the rear and to make a twist joint where the wire runs out. Cover the frame with wire cloth. The fastening is done by ripping strands of fine wire from the screen and using it as thread to sew the rest in place. A broomstick will do for the handle. Stick it in and tighten the rings with your pliers.
The net is used by dragging it through the water and lifting it up suddenly at the right moment. It will take you a couple of hours to make it neat and strong, but apart from the expenditure of time its cost is practically nothing. If your town is near fishing waters or near a summer resort you can do a thriving business selling minnows to visitors. Between traps and net you should be able to keep constantly a good supply on hand.