---

Any one ever make a prop stick for blue crabbing with a trotline to fit their classic 16? I'm making a trotline and looking for ideas for the prop stick. I want one that detaches easily but is inexpensive to make. I'm thinking of using PVC. If anyone has any pictures or ideas to help with design, style and position on the boat that would be great.
Thanks
Tom

---

I have no idea, but it sounds interesting. I always use traps. How do you make a trot line for crabs, and what is a propstick??

---

Check out this link http://www.bluecrab.info/crabbing/tro...tline.html also do a youtube search and checkout some video. I've never done it before, it's a bit of work to get setup, but looks like you can rake in a lot of crabs pretty quick. Started making the line and changing the nylon on my net to chicken wire. Also picked up about 90 chicken necks for bait. Just interested to see what others may have done for the propstick on their Whaler, It's the part that sticks out the side of the boat that the line runs over while you drive the boat.

Here's a quick video on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOTkZA...OTkZA8_LZ8

---

Tom,
Same dilemma here. There is a gentleman with a Mako, 2 slips down from me that built one using a 2x4 that stretches across the boat and has the appropriate “U” prop lift hanging over the side. The prop lift is made out of 1.5 pvc and attached to the board which slips over the gunnels since he does not have aft railings. The board has “stops” inside and out to keep it from sliding or slipping. I would like to fashion one just like his, but attach it to one of the vertical aft railing suports. The design of the prop lift is pretty straight forward, just not sure of the best way to attach it to the support that would facilitate easy installation/removal.

---

awayland,

I have always wanted to do that with my Montauk, since trotlines are a legal method of take here in CT as long as they are attended. That was actually the article that gave me the idea a while back.

I still haven't tried it yet, but my original thought was some sort of clamp that mounts to the rail or to the gunwale, with some sort of arm and a trailer roller end. It doesn't have to be fancy, maybe even a PVC pipe mounted in a sideways clamp on rod holder would get the job done.

Something easily removable and that wouldn't damage the boat is ideal. I even thought of a "breakaway" version where if you snagged the rope the arm would disconnect and float, to minimize the chances of damage.

Let us know what you try.

Brian

---

Ok- think I might have come up with a solution using my current rigging. I have a perko clamp-on rod holder on each of my aft railings (Tom looks like you have them as well). The diameter of these are just over 1.5. My thought is to buy 1.5 PVC to come out/up of the rod holder then transition 90 degrees into the prop stick U. Also thought about capping the end of the vertical portion that will sit in the holder with an internal cap and filling it with play sand to give it some weight and strength – I would put another internal cap at the first 90 degree joint to keep the sand from moving around into the rest of the rig. So a couple of feet of 1.5, and 4 90 degree joints may just do it. I like the idea about using the rod holders because it will allow me to easily move the rig to either side of the boat, etc. Thoughts ?. Is 1.5 going to be strong enough or does it need to transition to 2.5 PVC?

---

Thanks Brian, Good idea with the Clamp on rod holder. I might try that tonight, drill a hole through it and the PVC to make a locking pin with a bolt and wing nut, This way it won't touch the hull, just clamp it to one of the vertical side rails as close to the gunwale as you can. You can adjust those rod holders to get the perfect angle. It will come off easily and you can still move around the boat when in use!
Thanks

Tom

---

I'm hoping the 1.5 will do because it won't need to be very long. Should be cheap enough to give it a try. 3, 90 degree angles, one cap, and one piece of 1.5 should do it.

---

Someone on this sight came up with a PVC ladder to hang off the gunwale for entering the boat. It is constructed using the pipe and a number of 90s and a couple Ts. You could certainly use that concept to make up one of the prop sticks. Maybe I'll see you running your line. I'm planning on setting a trap or two this weekend and checking in between fishing. Suppose to be a lot of crabs out there this year. Good luck.

---

Damn, I love crabs, shrimp and lobster but I haven't eaten them in many years since I found I was allergic to shellfish and it could kill me. If I ever come down with an incurable fatal disease, I`m going to say screw it, and go out while eating a feast of crab, shrimp, and lobster. LOL Not a bad way to die.

---

Binkie, That sucks I hope your not allergic to cold beer or porterhouse steaks too!!
Besides it's cheaper to just buy seafood at the store I've got a bushel worth of crabs invested in this trotline already!

I had to use 2 inch to fit over the outside of the rod holder and mount it with the bottom end out, sliding pvc over the bottom end of the rod holder. The 1.5 will not fit inside the rod holder, with pvc the size is the inside diameter. Also cut a notch in the pvc to fit around the rod holder bracket to get more pvc over it for tighter fit to ad more support. Then drilled a hole for a bolt and wingnut to secure it and for easy removal. Hope to give it a try this weekend, this heat should have the crabs moving!

---

This is going to be more involved than what you want to do, but here’s what I did.

I used 5/8” SST half round material and welded a “T”. From the intersection of the “ T” I welded a 5/8” SST round rod that was bent into a question mark. “?” Rotated of course. Now welded together and complete, I mount the “T” against the vertical and horizontal intersection of the boat rails and secure it with hose clamps at each end. I leave the hose clamps (3) on the rails at all times and just tighten them up when not in use.. Couple of things I will pass along. On the outside, “top” of your “U” bend or weld and piece in toward your “U”. This will prevent the line from lifting out if the net catches the line. Been using this for about 10 years now.

---

Tom - please post a picture of your rig...

---

I can't wait to see this in action when it is done. I'd love to see a picture or two of your completed rig.

Brian

---

I put a few pics of the rig on my personal page. I'll try to get a few or even a video of it in action this weekend.

---

Tom,
The prop stick looks great... How was the crabbing?

Don.

---

Very nice, it looks stable and reliable. Have you tried it yet?

I am wondering how far above the surface is ideal to bring the line. Do you know how far above the flat section of your arm sits?

Brian

---

Yes, Tried it this weekend, I ended up raising the rod holder all the way up and added another "T" with a pipe going down resting on the outside edge of the gunwale. To help minimize twisting stress on the rail that the rod holder is clamped to. I ground down the stops on the inside of the T so I could slide it over the pipe so I didn't have cut it and glued it in place for added strength. I'll have to update my pics. Worked out very well, Setting up the line is quite a bit of work. As for proper height, I think it's a matter of how tight you set your line to get the proper angle for you and your boat.We had to make some adjustments after the 1st run. It's going to take some practice to get it down, There's some nice crabs out there right now our 1st time out we ran the line 5 or 6 times and only managed a dozen keepers. I also don't keep any females.

---

Nice work. That sound's pretty good for your first time using it. We'd love to see pictures of the modified rig.

I am pricing parts to make a line myself and will be building an arm in the near future.

Brian

---

Yes please post updated pic. I was told by a local waterman that the angle the line should exit the water is about 30 to 40 degrees.

---

Theres a few updated pics of the rig on my personal page.
And here's a short video of our 2nd run. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Eld1...2Eld104oTo

---

Pretty wild. The voices aren't high pitched so I have to assume that is actual speed. I'd say if that's the recommended speed it would certainly take some practice to get it down to a science.

---

Myboat moves a bit quick at idle for this. I plan on adding a trolling motor for this and sneaking up on them in the shallows just scooping them on site. I've also read that sometimes people deploy a sea anchor to slow the boat.

---

Locating your prop stick depends on where you plan to net the crabs in your boat. Typically the crabs get netted before the line comes out of the water, about 1’ down or so. They can be boat shy. Which means your prop stick may need to be farther back. Different depths means different angles, but typically 3-9’ depths is typical around here. Anything deeper the line comes up more vertical, leaving you less time to spot and net the crab.

If your prop stick is too high off the water the line starts to lift out of the water to soon. This is something you will have to adjust, but keep in mind there’s normally someone with you watching the line come up making the boat list to that side. Adjusting the line tension is another thing you will have to experiment with. Too loose the line doesn’t go over the prop stick very well. Too tight multiple things happen, one a lot of tension gets put on your prop stick, two the line angle is too shallow, and three the line may not lay on the bottom and follow the contour. Hope this helps.

Don.

---

That looks great. Excellent work.

I imagine it would be even easier if you were moving at a slower speed. A trolling motor would be ideal as there is less noise to scare the crabs. If you don't get a trolling motor, towing a drift sock or even a bucket might help slow you down a bit.

I noticed you went with the wire net like the article suggested. Less drag in the water and less of a chance the crabs get tangled up in it.

Brian

---

Make sure your net is wire or you'll never get them out quick. Also big diameter, strong, thin, light hoop. There's a lot of resistance from the water. I'm going to make a new net. A big learning curve on this project.

Tom

---

I have a 17' 1989 Montauk. Years ago was a commercial crabber with wood boat but now with a more elegant boat :-) my 3rd Whaler I have an excellent PVC setup that is easy to setup and take down. I can send a pix

---

hello everyone, I have a Montauk 190 and looking for some pictures of the trot line prop sticks and specifications? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks