How to Care for Bait Crawdads

Crawdads make great bait for catfish and pike.

Larger fish, such as catfish and pike, love crawdads. Crawdads can be used as bait dead or alive, and should be used as soon as possible to prevent them from rotting or dying. Bait shops sell crawdads, or you can catch your own. Crawdads like to hide under flat rocks in rivers and creeks.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Hot dogs, raw chicken or raw pork
• Hand sanitizer

Instructions

1. Fill the bucket half full with water from the river or creek you plan to catch crawdads from. If you buy them, fill the bucket half full with warm water. If the crawdads are dead, use ice cold water.

2. Pour the crawdads into the water.

3. Toss small pieces of hot dogs, chicken or pork into the bucket. If the crawdads are dead, skip this step.

4. Clean your hands with hand sanitizer to kill the germs. Wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you are able.

Tips & Warnings

• Crawfish and crayfish are other names for crawdads.

References

• Ohio Valley Fishing: Crayfish, Crawdads or Crawfish