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How To

How to Trap Crawfish

Contributor
By Paul Bright
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Crawfish (or crayfish) resemble small lobsters. Crawfish are found in freshwater bodies like ponds and lakes, particularly in Louisiana and Arizona. They make for a delicious snack and are even sold at franchise restaurants like Popeye's. If you want to catch them yourself, you can explore the waters with bait and a homemade trap.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Fish parts
  • Empty milk jug or soda bottle
  • Buoy
  • Fishing string
  • PVC pipe (optional)
  • Flashlight
  1. Step 1

    Create crawfish bait by using fresh, leftover fish parts. Using frozen bait is not as effective, especially during colder weather when water temperatures drop. Cut the bait into palm-sized pieces that can fit into your trap. The more bait you have, the more crawfish you can potentially catch.

  2. Step 2

    To make your own trap, use a milk jug or soda bottle. The basic premise is to make a trap that the crawfish can get into but not out of. Cut the bottle in two, about one third of the way from the top. Place the bait inside the larger piece. Line glue around the inner edge of the larger piece. Take the cap off the top piece, and then invert it into the larger piece, forming what looks like a funnel. Put the bait inside the trap.

  3. Step 3

    Look for crawfish hiding places, such as around rocks and plant roots in ponds and lakes. The rocks and plants provide algae for crawfish to eat. Place your crawfish trap there during the nighttime, when crawfish do their main feeding. Mark your trap location with a floating buoy and fishing string tied to the trap. You can even use a section of PVC pipe sticking out of the water.

  4. Step 4

    Check your trap every hour, because once crawfish finish eating all the bait they will try to escape. Use a flashlight by your trap to draw more attention to the area. When the trap is full of crawfish, pull it up and completely empty it except for any leftover bait. Put more bait in and reset the trap.

Tips & Warnings
  • Check local fishing license requirements to see if you need a license to catch crawfish.
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