While Visayans, Suluese, and others who depend heavily on fishing for their livelihoods make the most use of nets for fishing, the time-honored method among the Luzon Cordillerans and other streamfishing groups involves the use of basketry fish traps.

Fish traps are designed so that fish can swim in but find it difficult to escape; the open (bottom) end is aligned with the incoming current and often fishermen "herd" schools of fish into them.