How to Catch & Prepare Crawdads

Crawdads are like small lobsters.

Crawdads, or crayfish, threaten the ecosystem of their environment because they consume the native vegetation. For this reason, many states don't limit the number of crawdads you can catch. Once you trap them, cook the shellfish similarly to lobsters. The meat will be most sweet and fresh if you boil them the crawdads live, though some states outlaw live transport. According to Nordic Recipe Archive, the crayfish die after a few seconds of being dropped into boiling water.

Things You'll Need

• Crawdad trap
• Minnows
• Sardines
• Anchovies
• Hot dogs
• Pork
• Chicken
• Chicken livers
• 1 pack crab boil
• 1 cup favorite spices
• 3 large onions
• 2 lemons
• 3 chucks of corn
• 2 pounds of sausage
• 3 pounds of red potatoes
• Strainer
• Large pot or large outdoor cooker

Instructions

Catching Crawdads

1. Place fresh minnows, sardines, anchovies, hot dogs, pork, chicken or chicken livers in the middle of a crawdad trap. Secure it with fishing line, a twist tie or a fish hook.

2. Place the trap into the water just offshore of a lake, canal, stream, bedrock pool, spring, pond or reservoir. Tie the string of the trap to a secure location and let it sit overnight. Crayfish are most active at night.

3. Pull the trap up. Place your catch into a cooler for safe storage while you it home. Make sure the crawdads are clean before you transport them.

Preparing Crawdads

1. Soak 6 pounds of crawdads in saltwater to purge them of any debris they might have collected. Rinse them well.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place into the water three onions, one pack of crab boil, 1 cup of spices, three chucks of corn, 2 lbs. of sausage, 3 lbs of potatoes and two lemons into the pot. This will create a broth and give you a side dish at the same time.

3. Scoop out the vegetables with a strainer and place them in a sealed container, such as a pot or lidded bowl. This will keep them hot.

4. Place the crawdads in the pot and cook for approximately 10 minutes. Strain the crawdads, mix with the vegetables, and serve.

References

• State of Arizona: Crayfish Catching 101
• The Daily Puppy: How to Catch Crayfish and Crawdads; Kathryn Hatter
• Nordic Recipe Archive: Crayfish Party Recipes
• Crayfishman: Cooking Live Crayfish