Trap inventor C.D. Palmer, was a bait fisherman by trade, using a traditional seine to catch minnows. One day in 1948, while eating lunch next to the lake, he observed minnows swimming up to, and then around the circumference of obstructions. As he watched, more minnows swam up and started following their brethren. As he observed this, an idea came to him, “Why not use this behavior to my advantage?” 

Thus was born “Palmer’s Original Bait-less Clover-Leaf trap for minnows and other small fish.” This design, patented (US patent # 2,533,617) in 1950, is employed still today, by originator C.D. Palmer’s grandson, Jeff Palmer.

Jeff began building these traps for his father as a youngster, employing the same techniques his grandfather perfected. 25 years after starting, Jeff continues to build and use these traps to run his own minnow business, Palmer Minnows.