Choose Your Wire:
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19ga — Standard weight. Lightweight, rigid, and rust-resistant. Great for casual and seasonal use.
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16ga Galvanized — Heavy duty. Thicker, stiffer frame built for frequent use and tough conditions.
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16ga Vinyl Coated — Premium. Same heavy frame with a vinyl coating for maximum rust and corrosion resistance. Best for long-term use and outdoor storage.
19ga — Standard
Lightweight 19-gauge galvanized-after-welding (GAW) wire with corrosion protection at every weld point. A solid everyday trap for ponds, lakes, and slow-moving freshwater. Best value for casual or seasonal use.
16ga Galvanized — Heavy Duty
Heavier 16-gauge galvanized wire means a stiffer, more durable frame that holds its shape through rocky bottoms, current, and repeated use. Built for anglers who trap regularly and need a trap that lasts season after season.
16ga Vinyl Coated — Premium
Same heavy 16-gauge frame as the galvanized version, wrapped in a protective vinyl coating that resists rust and corrosion. Ideal for rivers, muddy bottoms, and long-term outdoor storage between seasons. The longest-lasting option in the lineup.
Bullhead Trap — Built for Serious Catfish Anglers
Most bait traps are designed for baitfish. This one isn't. Known in the South as a polywog trap — built for the same bottom-hugging catfish, redesigned and hand-crafted in Missouri.
See the catch photo. That's a real haul. That's what this trap does.
Hexagonal Pyramid Funnel Entrances
The entry funnels aren't round. They aren't square. They're hexagonal pyramids — and that distinction matters.
Bullheads are thigmotactic, meaning they instinctively seek physical contact with their environment. They hug creek banks, push under rocks, and follow tight spaces. The hex funnel's six-sided taper narrows gradually as the fish moves forward, providing continuous lateral wall contact on multiple sides simultaneously. The fish doesn't hesitate — it keeps moving in because the tightening walls feel exactly like the natural cover it's looking for.
At the narrowest point, the geometry makes reversal disorienting. The fish can't easily realign to back out. It's in.
Enclosed Box Body
Once inside, a bullhead does what bullheads do — it finds the darkest corner and holds. The fully enclosed rectangular body mimics natural structure: a submerged log, a rock undercut, a drain pipe. The fish isn't frantically probing for an exit. It's hiding. That's your catch.
Bottom-Flush Design
Bullheads are benthic feeders — nose-down, tracking scent along the substrate. The trap sits low and flat, so the scent trail from your bait leads directly into the funnel entry at the fish's natural feeding angle. No raised opening to navigate over. No dead corners where scent pools but fish can't follow.
Hand-Built in Missouri. Wire that lasts.
Available in 19ga, 16ga galvanized, and 16ga vinyl coated. Each trap is hand-assembled and inspected before it ships.
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3-Piece Construction: One folded unibody tube plus two hexagonal pyramid funnel entrances — fish push through the tapered funnels and can't back out
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Stronger by Design: The unibody is folded from a single piece of wire for maximum strength and durability
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High Quality, Low Price: You won't find traps this strong and effective at a better price
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Want a bait box included? Just leave a note at checkout and we'll throw one in.
⚠️ 19-gauge handling note: 19-gauge wire is lightweight and flexible. Store flat or hang when not in use. Avoid heavy objects resting on the trap and protect from rough handling in boats or truck beds to maintain shape. Upgrade to 16ga for a more rigid, abuse-resistant build.
👉 Prefer a Z-funnel design with a built-in trap door? Check out our Bankpolefever Bullhead Z-Trap — Z-shaped funnels with a 2"x3" opening and trap door built in during construction.
🔨 Every trap is handcrafted to order by hand in Missouri — not mass produced. Learn about our build process and processing times →
⚠️ Cancellation Policy: All traps are handcrafted to order. Once production begins, orders are non-refundable. Please review your order carefully before purchasing.
⚠️ Safety Notice: Wire edges may be sharp. Handle with care. Keep out of reach of children. Adult supervision required during handling and deployment.
⚠️ Regulation Notice: Fishing trap regulations vary by state, county, and body of water. It is the buyer's responsibility to verify compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations before use.
