How to Go Fishing With Kids for Crawfish With a Kid-Made Old Fashioned Bamboo Pole -- (group & family activities series)

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By Amy Rose
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Go Fishing With Kids for Crawfish With a Kid-Made Old Fashioned Bamboo Pole -- (group & family activities series)

Spring fishing season is almost upon us, and even if you're not into fishing, here's a humane spring and summer activity that brings kids close to nature. Outdoor activities for kids in any season that include nature are sought out today more than ever. And Huck Finn would have loved this form of crawdad fishing.

When I’ve gone crawdad fishing with kids this way, they squeal with delight. Your kids can participate from making the bamboo pole all the way to making the catch. Whether you call them crawfish, crayfish, or crawdads, this method allows you to toss the crawfish back unharmed, or keep it short term as a home science project pet (see Tips).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A fishing pole-length bamboo pole from a garden center. Exact length doesn’t matter. Garden centers usually sell them singly for trellising.
String about the length of the pole.
Duct tape
A can of tuna fish
A tightly lidded plastic tub for the drained tuna
Cheese cloth
Extra string and scissors
Access to the edge of a freshwater lake or pond. Crawfish usually come to the shallow edges and live in freshwater that offers shelter in the form of rocks or water vegetation.

Step 1

Have your child choose a long fishing pole sized bamboo pole from a garden store.
Step 2

Have your child measure and cut a piece of string about the length of the bamboo pole.
Step 3

Have your child tie one end to the top of the pole
Step 4

You reinforce it very snuggly with duct tape. Length of string doesn’t have to be exact, but string has to be very well attached at the top, so have an adult do this. You now have a pole.
Step 5

Help your child cut little squares of cheese cloth about four inches by four inches (you don’t have to be exact)
Step 6

Pack up the bamboo fishing pole, the pieces of cheese cloth, extra string and scissors, and a tightly sealed tub of freshly opened drained tuna fish, then head for a lake or pond where you know there’s a crawfish population.
Step 7

At the fishing hole, help your child make a little bag of tuna with the cheese cloth, and tie it to the free end of the string.
Step 8

While standing at the edge of the water, have her drop the tuna end of the string into shallow water and wait for a crawfish to come near it.
Step 9

Have him keep it relatively still, but it can also be moved slightly to tempt the crawfish.
Step 10

Once the crawfish has its claw on the tuna bag, have the child pull it away just slightly as though the tuna bag is trying to “escape.” That will make the crawfish hold on tighter, and usually at that point it won’t let go for the world.
Step 11

Now, have your child lift the clinging crawdad out of the water, and your crawfish is caught. You may have to do the next part. Gently take hold of its middle, not close to its eyes or tail so it can’t pinch you. At this point, the crawfish will usually try to reach back to pinch you… which it can’t do, and that will free it from the tuna bag. Reuse this bag until not much seems left of it, then cut off and tie on a fresh one.