If you put a screen around it it would most likely clog up with fine trash.
Putting it in a bucket would be better in shallow water because you don’t want to be sucking up a bunch of sand. If your in deeper water, just hang it from the dredge with a peice of rope so it’s not on the bottom. Check it for trash if you loose suction pressure

Thanks... My concern was loosing suction because of the screen. I saw on Youtube where guys put big screens around the foot valve to reduce the size of the stones that it would pick up

 

Depending on the state your in, you may be required to add screen due to size openings.
Either Oregon or Washington state (not sure which one) has a minimum opening size according to their req book
Do your due diligence research to stay on the right side of Johnny Law.

Bill

I think Jim Shannon has this one correct. A bucket in shallower water and hanging if in deeper water.

Russ Wiley

I decided that most things are worth a try. I bought furnace screen that comes in a square green pad. Kind of like the ones you use to scrub stuff but much thicker and less dense. I put velcro on it so it can be removed and cleaned. Of coarse... I will have to wait until spring to test it out. Sure hate waiting...lol