Tum Pla Yon (Mun River Trap) — a Plain-Woven Bamboo Trap up to 8 m Long, a 6-Inch Bottom Funnel, Set Upright on 15 m Bamboo Stakes in the Mun River

"The funnel mouth is the heart of the trap, because the pla yon enter on this side, so it must be woven tight." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0)

Weave bamboo in plain weave, starting with the trap bottom, also called the funnel mouth (pak nga): a circle 6 inches across, woven tight. The bottom is large and woven curved like a chicken coop.

When the bottom and frame are done, hang the trap upright from a tree so it is easy to weave. Weave on into a long cone up to the trap mouth, 50 cm across and up to 8 metres long. It takes about a week.

Choose flowing water. Stake 5 bamboo poles, each 15 metres long, firmly into the bed, leaving room for the trap bottom. Bring the trap, tied to its crossbar, and stand it upright with the mouth about a hand-span above the water; tie the crossbar to the stakes. Dive to check the funnel, and keep the trap bottom 1-2 metres off the riverbed so the fish swim in easily. This means diving in a river with a current: never do it alone, and not when the water is high and the current strong.

Photos of weaving, carrying and setting a real tum pla yon, Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0).

Set the trap from June to August; the pla yon swim in through the funnel at the bottom. After that the water rises, the current is strong and the rain heavy, and the trap is not suitable.

Evidence of the tum pla yon appears in the rock paintings at Pha Taem, Khong Chiam. The pla yon is about 4 inches long, small-headed, plump and silver; it is sun-dried or made into soup, and is very rare today. This means diving in a river with a current: never do it alone, and not when the water is high and the current strong. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ตุ้มปลายอน", author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no strip width, no size for the trap bottom and no method for the crossbar.