Steel hog rings used for trap vents

[steveinak]

For you guys with traps out, how long do the steel hog rings last on the vents before you have to change them or how long before they are gone??
I was talking with one of the shrimp biologists and mentioned the steel rings for vents, he never heard of them, rings and "whats a vent" on traps, we have to tie in the escape panel in the shrimp pots with cotton twine and i've got 5 year old pots that the cotton is still good on so i'm thinking of submitting a proposal to the board of fish to be able to use the steel hog rings instead of cotton twine.

 

[F/V First Team]

I have a lot of fresh water mixed in with my area so they last a couple of seasons. I've heard that some need to replace them every year or halfway though the season

 

[traditions]

Steve,some of it depends on where the hog rings are used.We have a bunch of diffrent ways to use them.The most common are on the escape vent or on a 3 mesh x 3 mesh panel.They last longer on the panel because there is no activity around it,where in the escape vent the lobsters are chewing and passing thru the vent.Some hogrings last 2 or 3 years and some are gone half way thru the season.We put new ones on at the start of the season regardless of thier condition.The steel rings we get now are from China like every thing else,so there is no consistancy in the steel.Its not a big deal to renew the rings every season.Most people put on 2 or 3 new ones at the start.Years back when we started with bio panels,I used the cotton twine,and it lasted for years.I was putting steel hog rings on the panels and the twine was still there for years.Bio panels do work well and are a must.I think ours should be a bit larger though.When I snarl up old gear it usually has big lobsters in the trap that cant get out the 3x3 opening.

 

[unclefish]

steve ours last just over a year we put traps in last year in jan pulled in sept sat on dock till may of this year and i noticed most of them were shot touch them and they break off. doesn't air help them rott quicker to, leaving them out of the water

 

[steveinak]

Thanks guys i thought the steel rings would last about a year. I'd think where we shrimp mostly in 85 fathoms and deeper there isn't much of a freshwater mix. I've got some and will test fish them this year although since most of the folks only fish the pots on weekends then bring them home with them maybe being exposed to the air the steel rings will rust away faster than if they just sat in the water? Don't ya need oxygen to make rust? I still think the steel will go away faster than the cotton.
Trad try giving WA Machine in Pownal a call i buy all my hog rings, hoops and trap clips from them and i know they are made right there in Maine, i did get some steel rings to try out from them, talk with Cheryl she'll take good care of you. They also repair clip guns and they make the hand held hog ringers. The owner Bob is a very interesting guy its just amazes me seeing all those machines he's made to make all that stuff, that place is always on my must visit list when i get to maine.

 

[Savage Pirate]

Problem solved!!

We get stainless steel hog rings up here in Canada...they last the life of the trap;

 

[duxbait]

We get stainless steel hog rings up here in Canada...they last the life of the trap;

They are talking about rings for the escape hatches... they want them to corrode

 

[BillD]

Two seasons for me.

4 months in the water.

8 months in the back yard.

Then they "kinda rust off"

 

[Curmudgeon]

8 months in the water for the traps. Iron hog rings don't always make the whole season. The thinner galvanized almost always make the whole season.

 

[lobstercatcher]

4 months and they need can go after a shake up. So you don't catch anything when you were hoping to have a nice catch after the time off.

 

[Lucky Ticket]

6 months in water replace before setting back in in april some are rotted some not cheap money just to leave old ones on and add two more.

 

[Roy-c]

Steve,
Are the traps that you are talking about made with stainless steel wire like a Dungeness crab trap? We played with a few of those that a friend sent out from Washington state several years ago and found that the steel hog rings would rust out overnight if they were in contact with the stainless.

 

[steveinak]

Steve,
Are the traps that you are talking about made with stainless steel wire like a Dungeness crab trap? We played with a few of those that a friend sent out from Washington state several years ago and found that the steel hog rings would rust out overnight if they were in contact with the stainless.

No they are made of lobster trap wire.