How to Trap Crawfish
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.
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Things You'll Need
- Fish parts
- Empty milk jug or soda bottle
- Buoy
- Fishing string
- PVC pipe (optional)
- Flashlight
Instructions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Tips & Warnings
Check local fishing license requirements to see if you need a license to catch crawfish.
References
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Comments
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nicoleb126
Sep 09, 2010
Yes Arizona, obviously you are unaware of your regions and their wildlife. Arizona is very diverse, at lower elevations it is hot, but only in the summer. During the winter most of our northern country (Mountains, very high elevation and forest) is covered in many feet of snow. We have all four seasons here, and our northern country closely resembles that of colorado forest. We also have TONS of gorgeous lakes, ponds, and creeks spread out through our beautiful state. Maybe you should do your research. I have been catching crawdads since I was a kid fishing with my dad in the mountains. Arizona is not just desert 24/7 come on, you think we all wear cowboy boots and ride horses too?? lol. Again, do some research dear. -
daddio-1
May 02, 2010
Louisiana and Arizona? Arizona!!!?? Did you maybe mean Arkansas, because I don't think there are too many crawdads in ponds where the water is almost 100 degrees. And then I have to ask, just how do you get the crawdads out of these milk jug traps if you have glued the pieces together? Do you have to cut them open each time you use them? Did you really think this one through?
