Ice Fishing Trap Hardware

thingiverse

This is a hardware kit to craft your own heritage-style ice fishing traps, with details to be fleshed out in due course. I tested the design using a 1-inch piece of leftover finish board, and I believe a thinner material would require reinforcement in the spring pin area. The main pole was cut roughly square, while the supports were approximately half that size. M4 bolts were used throughout, but anything less than 3/16th inch should suffice. A 3/16th-inch bolt would be effective if the spool hole is drilled out slightly. A 36-inch piece of 3/32-inch welding wire was used for the trip pin and flag, leaving a small amount left over. Drilling out the pin holder with an 1/8th inch drill bit would also work, although thicker material may be harder to bend. Stainless steel wire is likely the best choice due to its resistance to corrosion in wet environments. The most affordable option for springs was screen door springs, which can be purchased for around $3-$4 and cut into 5 or 6 flags. However, they are challenging to cut and required a Dremel to achieve the desired result.