How to Build a Crayfish Trap

Build your own crayfish trap and enjoy.

Crayfish are a staple of Creole cooking, but you don't have to live in Louisiana to catch your own crayfish. Build your own crayfish trap and use your catch for fishing bait or to eat. You can catch hundreds of crayfish in one night using a trap.

Things You'll Need

• 3 wire clothes hangers
• Burlap
• Packing string
• 3-inch by 6-inch block of wood
• Old broom stick
• Ceiling hook
• Duct tape
• Pliers
• Electric drill

Instructions

1. Unwind and straighten three wire clothes hangers. Wear leather gloves to protect your hands and give you a better grip. Connect the clothes hangar wire at the ends by twisting the ends together. You should have formed a rough circle of wire by connecting the two loose ends. Use pliers to make your twists neat and tight. This forms the frame of your crayfish trap.

2. Cut a piece of burlap to fit over the frame of the crayfish trap. Allow about 3 or 4 inches to fold over the clothes hanger wire. The burlap is the actual trap.

3. Use the string to loosely attach the burlap to the crayfish trap frame. Use a needle to push the string through the burlap and up over the frame. Make two stitches, then tie off the string. You should use separate pieces of string for each couple stitches. Make sure the tie off knots are secure. The crayfish trap should look like a large Frisbee.

4. Cut three pieces of string that are 24 to 30 inches long. Tie each string to the wire equal distances apart. Laying the trap flat, pull the three strings up and tie them together at the ends.

5. Depending on the depth of water where you are using the crayfish trap, you will need to cut another length of string to tie to the three strings. At the end of the single string, tie the block of wood. You might want to drill a hole through the wood for extra security and thread the string through the hole, then tie. This is your floater. In the bottom of the trap, tie a fish carcass for bait. You don't want to use bait that can easily be dragged off by the crayfish.

6. Toss your crayfish trap into the water and let it sink. You should be able to see the wood floater. Retrieve your crayfish trap by duct taping or screwing a ceiling hook into the end of an old wooden broom stick. Extend your hook out to the trap and hook just under the wooden block. Pull it in. You should leave your trap out for a few hours before checking it, or if the water is clear, you can shine a flashlight to see how many crayfish are sitting on the trap.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not stretch the burlap taut over the wire. Leave some give so it's easier to catch the crayfish.

• Make sure you have all the necessary permits and licenses for crayfish trapping from your state natural resources department.

References

• Cajun Crawfish Pie: How to Catch Crawfish