Push Trawl

Description

Push trawl example
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Push trawls are nets located off the bow or side and pushed forward by a boat. Push trawls are surface trawls that are primarily used for shallow-water sampling. Trawling can run in contact with the bottom using Otter trawls or sample the water column using Frame nets (e.g., “Dozer Trawl”, “Shad Net”, and “Paupier Boat” [shrimp skimmer]). A frame net is composed of netting attached to a frame, rectangular or circular in shape, which in turn is attached to the hull. Push trawls can be electrified or not. Also refer to the Introduction to Trawls, Electrified Benthic Otter Trawl, Electrified Dozer Trawl, and Electrified Side (Abeam) Trawl modules.

TypeActive, surface trawl, push trawl 
Habitat deployedMedium to larger rivers, backwaters, flooded tributaries, open water, and lakes. Shallow water (1-3 foot depth), near shore by low or steep banks, slow or swift current, soft or hard bottom, submerged sandbars. Considered a surface trawl.
Target speciesSmaller bodied fishes or younger age classes, shallow water species or age classes, species associated with submerged sandbars or nearshore or in shallow open water areas. Small to intermediate-sized fishes include juvenile Asian carp, Gar (Lepisosteidae), Suckers (Catostomidae), Sunfish and Black basses (Centrarchidae), Shads (Clupeidae), Minnows and Shiners (Cyprinidae), and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio). “Shad” nets can be used for collecting Asian carps. Push trawls can be modified to work in smaller cobble bottom streams for collecting minnows, shiners, and darters in the harder to sample mid-zones of the stream.

Definitions

Deterring rope: used to help move fish down to cod and hinder fish escape when the cod is being pulled into the boat.

Frame net: a trawl net attached to a rigid frame which is in turn attached to a boat.  The frame net does not need floats or weights since the frame positions and holds the netting.

Lazy line: used to pull cod end of net into the boat

Push trawl: a surface trawl that often is built with a frame net but may have an otter trawl configuration. The trawl is pushed ahead by the boat, instead of being towed.

Push Trawl Anatomy (Otter Trawl Configuration)

This Push trawl is comprised of an otter trawl with mechanical booms.
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This Push trawl is comprised of an otter trawl with mechanical booms.

Intro to Otter Board Push Trawl
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Intro to Otter Board Push Trawl

Introduction to and overview of otter board equipped push trawls.

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/_Y5xuGIzvyM

Push Trawls for Cobble Streams
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Push Trawl Mods for Cobble Streams

Sampling smaller cobble bottomed streams

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/8xQVv3mNXJc/a>

“Rock Roller” trawl for sampling smaller streams with small cobble substrates
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“Rock Roller” trawl for sampling smaller streams with small cobble substrates. The chains and rings make the trawl heavier for increase bottom contact and interact with cobbles, causing fish to rise off the bottom and enter the trawl.

Push Trawl Anatomy (Shad Net Configuration)

This Push trawl uses a Shad net, a type of frame trawl.
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This Push trawl uses a Shad net, a type of frame trawl.

Intro to Shad Net
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Intro to Shad Net Push Trawl

Introduction to round shaped Shad net:

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/2Tea61tPd6Y

Shad Net Design
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Shad Net Design

Anatomy of a Shad net:

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/Hg7bwdE6tyo

Shad net example
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Push Trawl Anatomy (Frame Net Dozer Trawl Configuration)

Push trawl (“Dozer Trawl”) showing superstructure and trawl netting
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Push trawl (“Dozer Trawl”) showing superstructure and trawl netting in non-sampling, raised position.

Drawing of a non-electrified Dozer Trawl
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Drawing of a non-electrified Dozer Trawl hardware set-up in sampling position. Netting is attached to the 7’ x 3’ rectangular frame and is suspended under the boat hull.

Drawing of a non-electrified Dozer Trawl hardware set-up with netting attached to frame.
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Drawing of a non-electrified Dozer Trawl hardware set-up with netting attached to frame. Trawl is in the raised, non-sampling position.

Dyneema Frame Trawl Nets
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Overview of Frame Trawl Nets Dyneema

Overview of frame trawl nets (Dynema and K-less Polyethylene)

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/Oq8hM236PPY

Frame Trawl K Less
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Overview of Frame Trawl Nets K-Less

Anatomy and materials of a frame trawl net (K-less)

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/4RfKzM-DF-k

Muddy Bottom Modifications
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Frame Net Mods for Muddy Bottoms

Modifications to toe line for sampling over muddy bottoms.

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/SkkzayjSNvg

Dozer Trawl
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Intro to Frame Trawl Dozer Trawl

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/MNwee-1Jgj8

Field Methods

Otter Trawl Configuration

Otter Board Push Sampling 1
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Otter Board Push Trawl Sampling 1

VIDEO LINKS: https://youtu.be/owB_2iQnbuE

Otter Board Samling 2
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Otter Board Push Trawl Sampling 2

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/SA1v4ufM_6A 

Deploying the trawl. Tossing the net into the water.
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Deploying the trawl. Tossing the net into the water.

Deploying the trawl. Lowering the otter boards into the water.
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Deploying the trawl. Lowering the otter boards into the water.

The push trawl is fully deployed, and the sampling pass has begun.
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The push trawl is fully deployed, and the sampling pass has begun.

The sampling pass continues.
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The sampling pass continues.

The sampling pass has been completed.
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The sampling pass has been completed. The trawl is being raised for retrieval.

The trawl is nearly fully raised for retrieval
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The trawl is nearly fully raised for retrieval. The otter boards and netting are visible.

The trawl has been fully retrieved.
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The trawl has been fully retrieved.

Frame Net (Shad Net) type

Shad Net Push Trawl Sampling
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Shad Net Push Trawl Sampling

Push trawl using round shad trawl configuration.

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/iwxTJtPGsmQ/a

A round shad net push trawl rigged for deployment.
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A round shad net push trawl rigged for deployment.

Push trawl (Shad Net Configuration) actively sampling.
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Push trawl (Shad Net Configuration) actively sampling.

Push trawl being hauled-in to empty catch.
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Push trawl being hauled-in to empty catch.

Frame Net (Dozer Trawl) type

Drawing of non-electrified Dozer Trawl in sampling operation
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Drawing of non-electrified Dozer Trawl in sampling operation. View from above.

Drawing of non-electrified Dozer Trawl in sampling operation
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Drawing of non-electrified Dozer Trawl in sampling operation. View from below.

Drawing of non-electrified Dozer Trawl in sampling operation
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Drawing of non-electrified Dozer Trawl in sampling operation. View from side.

At the conclusion of the pass, the trawl is lifted, retrieved, and the catch processed.
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At the conclusion of the pass, the trawl is lifted, retrieved, and the catch processed.