Anyone know where to purchase woven wooden fish baskets?

I'm looking for 5 large woven wooden fish baskets to hang in our garden tree. I will put electric lights bulbs inside similar to what you see in the big trees in Chapala.

There's a local lady on the carretera near El Torito who sells them along with an assortment of baskets but they seem poorly made and expensive.

Tonila, Tlaquepaque, Jocotepec would not be too far to travel. Any ideas?

Tonila and Tonalá are two different places; both in Jalisco.

So helpful.

Yes, Joco. As you drive into town, just past the bypass turnoff on the right, keep your eyes peeled on the left. And a little farther up on the right before the first light. If you don't see them, ask around in that area.
I've always wanted to make lights out of them too.

BTW, all the things I've ever stopped to price on the carretera in Ajijic - from hammocks to brooms - have been ridiculously Ajijic priced. I never bother anymore.

There's also a place as you go through San Juan on the carretara.

You're right, Mike.
You mean in that place on the right, close to the light, that has baskets, hampers, unfinished pine furniture, etc?

That's the one. I bought a molcajete there last year.

Trailrunner wrote:Yes, Joco. As you drive into town, just past the bypass turnoff on the right, keep your eyes peeled on the left. And a little farther up on the right before the first light. If you don't see them, ask around in that area.

Drove down to Joco yesterday but couldn't find anyone selling fish baskets.  Stopped at 3 different businesses and asked but no one knew of any place in Joco. San Luis Soyatlan, El Chante, San Juan Cosala and Ajijic were the collective ideas of where to check.

Stopped at the basket/somberro shop in San Juan Cosala but they had only two small purpose made lamp shapes...

Hmm, that's too bad. How about going around asking the fishermen in different villages? Somebody makes them! We've become so gentrified perhaps there's no market for them anymore. Ask the fishermen.

Have you seen fisherman use those? I used to walk the bank of the lake when there was one and there is a fisherman's camp near Canancinta, I have never seen them use those traps.. Has anyone seen fishermen use them?

Not I.

No. I've never seen them use them either.

Go to the fish camps and ask around. Somebody might make them or know someone who does. End of La Cristina is a fish camp. End of Puerto Corona in Soyatlan is a big one. Ask in Mezcala down at the lake.

Aren't they made of reeds or bamboo, not wood? Maybe they can't get the raw materials anymore . . .

yes they are made of some type of reed ot bamboo.. the type that looks like wicker which I guess is a type of wood.. I think they could still get the material but these things are really bulky and maybe the nets work just as well. Do not know.. Or may be the type of fish they used to catch in those have disappeared.. who knows.. The fishermen would know..

I wouldn't ask anyone anything in Mezcala.

why? Not so friendly?.. They seem that way but I once broke down late in the day in San Pedro, past Mezcla and everyone help me for a propina of course but they did help me..

Nope, I find the place creepy and unwelcoming to strangers, particularly gringos. I have seen militia type guys with an assortment of weapons driving around in what looked like either a stolen old police truck or an abandoned one. Anyhow it's on my list of places to avoid. I always trust my gut and street sense.....and of course if you still choose to go down into the town you will be swarmed by little street rats looking for money or trying to pick your pockets. I dont mind San Pedro at all. Nice town with friendly people like most in Mexico.

The Mezcala people always had a very bad reputation.. I translate a text from the 18 or 19th century and already the person writing about the area who saying that the people from Mezcala were aggressive and difficult..so it is not from yesterday..I never had a bad experience there but they are very much like the indigenous from Chiapas, not open to strangers and they let you know that you are not particularly welcome..

Yep, they do. And for that reason I give them their space too.

I have a friend, and ex-co-worker, there and have had a few good times but I have never felt very comfy driving into or around town. Never had a problem tho.

Yes, same as I felt in rural Chiapas. I don't blame them.

brigitte wrote:Have you seen fisherman use those? I used to walk the bank of the lake when there was one and there is a fisherman's camp near Canancinta, I have never seen them use those traps.. Has anyone seen fishermen use them?

 


I have never heard of them being used by fishers either.  They used to be very popular as light coverers when there wasn´t any lighting or lamp stores in this area,  I think they were just decorative items used out of necessity and the decorators just called them fish traps for lack of a better word.  Lamp stores were a long way off over bad roads 30/40 years ago, so this is what was popular then. Now, with all the availability of lighting, I think their time has passed. There is probably someone in the area that could still make them if you knew where to look and that they would be inclined to do it but I don´t think it would be anyone of the younger generations.

Drove around the lake yesterday, past Joco, to San Pedro to meet Carlos Torres who's father made the real fish traps and, I was told, could make whatever size I wanted. Unfortunately his father had died more than 3 years ago. In the trees around his house hung brand new gill nets which are far more efficient than the old fish traps. Tonala next!

I'm admiring your perseverance, Cindy. Keep us posted on your search. Suerte.

Yay for The Hunt! There is nothing as satisfying as the pursuit and fulfillment of an idea.

If this is what you're looking for, then you now have a photo to show...

https://shop.nomasproductions.com/Basket-Lights_c_185.html

I am forever looking for artisans for the feria. One thing to do is ask the family who used to make it who else in the village or area may still make them.. That does not always work for various reason so it is good to ask older people you see on the street as well or city hall in small villages. Another place that may know is La casa de artesanía.. Someone in purchasing may have some record of where they are or were made..
The ones in the internet may be made in indonesia or somewhere in the far East..

Found exactly what I was looking for in Tonala!

These fish traps are fairly authentic.  With bait and stones to sink them they could catch tilapia in Lake Chapala.  There were many different sizes available up to 1 metre long.