HISTORY OF THE FLEX FOLD TRAP

In the summer of 2004, I and some good buddies were looking to buy crab traps in the quaint seaside town of Sidney, British Columbia. We had three criteria. We all lived on our sail boats and were looking for a collapsing trap, as space is a premium, made of stainless steel so it wouldn't bleed rust onto our decks; and, above all, it had to fish well.

There were ten stores in the small town that sold crab traps. Not one had what we were looking for. The traps were either too big to store, too small or rectangular in shape. It is well known fact in the crabbing community that the bigger the better and crabs don't do square. Just look at a commercial trap; they are not designed that way for economy of production or storage.

Stymied, I immediately set about building a better crab trap. Within days I had a prototype that I splashed into the waters off Sidney Spit, a local crabbing hot spot. I pulled the pot after a couple of hours and there they were- our dinner, 3 large crabs, the first catch of the Flex Fold Trap.

It worked so well that I applied for and was granted patent pending status. I have converted my partner Nadine's basement into a micro-factory. Nadine is a keen supporter of the project, and sells the traps faster than I can make them.

I wanted the trap to be packaged in a way that exemplified quality. I therefore designed a durable carrying case and a bridle with stainless steel fittings.

Last winter I took the trap over to friend and veteran fishing celebrity, Charlie White. He literally wrote the book(s) on sport fishing in the Northwest. He thought the trap was pretty clever and is looking forward to giving it a go. The trap's design is in keeping with his conclusions on what to look for in a crab trap- size, shape and number of gates. He goes into detail of what to look for in his book 'How to Catch Crabs.' Buy this book if you want to learn all about crabbing, it is the best resource going and is available at most marine and book stores.

I hope that you enjoy the trap. I have had a lot of fun designing it and of course we can't help but enjoy the rewards of testing it's fishing capabilities.

Enjoy!
Mark Philbrook

Note Regarding Prawn Conversion.

I have been trying to design a net to convert the crab trap into a prawn trap. All I have been able to create is a bad prawn trap. As I am not one to compromise, I am designing a separate prawn trap that has the same folding characteristics as the crab trap. It should be in the stores by the fall of 2008.

FEATURES

- All Stainless Steel (304) construction
- Superior round design
- Three entrances for super fast fishing
- Heavy gates
- Deep set/fast current capable
- Assembles larger than non-collapsing traps
- Collapses smaller than all other traps
- Durable carry bag included ($15 value)
- Bridle with SS fittings included ($15 value)
- Laminated instruction sheet (a must read)
- Cinch strap for ease of collapsing
- Heavy (#96) durable nylon netting
- Meets BC/WA/OR/CA fishing regulations
- One year warranty

HOW ARE FLEX FOLD TRAPS MADE?

Each trap is individually handcrafted to ensure that the highest standards are met. Based on discussion with the experts, the trap is made of 304 stainless steel.

It is ruggedly built so that it can withstand the rigors of deep ocean sets. Heavy lead weights can be attached to the bottom of the frames so that the traps will not move in heavy currents.

For easy access, I have designed gates that are heavy and swing easily. There is one modification I suggest that is covered in the FAQ section. It is the addition of a purse string to the top netting to make it easier to get the crabs out.

I use black knotted nylon mesh for the netting. Commercial traps use stainless steel wire for the mesh because they endure years of constant abuse. The nylon mesh will certainly stand up to anything a sport fishing enthusiast will throw at it in several seasons and allows for the trap to collapse into its compact size. Replacement netting will be available.

I have made the trap to meet fishing standards but before deploying the trap make sure it complies with fishing regulations in your area. Make sure you have a current fishing license as well.

Fish responsibly!

DIMENSIONS

Assembled...... width - 32" / height - 13"
Collapsed........ width - 17" / height - 2"

PRICING

The Flex Fold Crab Traps are sold with the bridle and carry bag. Please inquire at the dealer of your choice for pricing. Follow this link to find a dealer near you. If there is not a dealer near you, please contact us directly.