How to Make Square Crawfish Traps
Craw fish traps are smaller versions of lobster pots. Craw fish enter at the upstream end of the trap through a wire cone or cloth tube held open by the force of the upstream water. The opening is just large enough for the crayfish to enter the trap and just flexible enough to collapse when it tries to grab the opening to exit. Traps can be made in any shape. Many cray fish harvesters favor square traps, which they do not roll. The trap in this article uses a recycled bird cage and a few household items, and will catch craw fish as effectively as any commercial trap available, for a far lower cost.
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Things You'll Need
- Old square top wire bird cage Kitchen string Chicken livers Sections of old pantie hose Tube sock Needle, waxed dental floss Needle nose pliers Wire cutters
Instructions
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Remove the bird cage door using needle nose pliers or wire cutters. Save the cage door for scrap metal to be recycled.
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Cut the foot from the tube sock and lay it aside. Attach the tube sock to the bird cage doorway by whip-stitching it all the way around the door using waxed dental floss for your thread. Dental floss is stronger than ordinary thread and will last longer in the water than ordinary cotton thread.
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Wrap chicken livers in pantie hose and tie with kitchen twine. Tie them to the top of the cage, so that they hang close to the floor.
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Place the trap on the pond or creek bottom, with the entrance facing upstream. Crayfish will crawl through the tube sock, fall into the cage trying to reach the chicken livers, and will not be able to get back out.
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Check trap several times daily. Release any undersized craw fish and any curious catfish that may have gotten into your trap. Crayfish should be between 4 and 6 inches long.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are trapping in an area where otters are present, add a spring-loaded escape door weak enough that a young otter can push it open with its head. This will prevent catching and injuring young otters, whose curiosity will bring them to your traps.
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Comments
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Jane Smith
Jul 21, 2009
The word "which," in this sentence was originally "because." The sentence has been changed since publication: "Many cray fish harvesters favor square traps, which they do not roll." -
Jane Smith
May 20, 2009
"Panty" was changed to "pantie" by the content editor. The spell check program is responsible for the hash of the words "crawfish" and "crayfish." It is really frustrating to submit articles that are grammatically correct, then find that they have been published with such ridiculous errors. I'm assuming the drive by "one star" had something to do with those problems.
