How Does a Crayfish Trap Work?

The Trap

Crayfish (sometimes called crawfish or crawdads) are a tasty freshwater shellfish. A good crayfish trap will catch more than enough crayfish to make a meal out of with some to spare. There are many different crayfish trap designs but they all have two things in common. Each has an entry that allows the crayfish in but not out, and an area large enough to hold a group of crayfish captive until the trap is emptied.

The Trapping Mechanism

Crayfish traps work because of the design of the entry. A crayfish trap entry is basically a funnel with the large part of the opening on the outside of the trap and the small part on the inside. The narrowing aspect of the funnel-shaped entry guides the crayfish right into the trap and once they are in the trap they usually can't locate the small part of the entry. Crayfish traps also work because crayfish are not very coordinated and are not capable of maneuvering their bodies back through the small part of the entryway even if they do locate it.

The Bait

Crayfish must also be lured into the trap in order for the trap to work. To attract crayfish to the trap bait is placed inside the trap before the trap is set in the water. Most fishermen claim the best bait for catching crayfish is any type of fresh fish that is found in the same water as the crayfish. Other baits that can be used are chicken pieces, hot dogs, cat food and dog food. It may take some experimenting with bait to determine which bait will work best for each location.

Resources

• All About Crayfish