2023 crayfish: Let’s talk crayfish/mud bugs

[carpsniperg2]

Never put much thought into them but think the kids would enjoy catching some. I know there are a few hardcore guys on here that get after them.

Trying to decide to buy a few or make a few. To go cylinder or square.
I have some 1/2”x1” wire mesh. Will this work or is that to big?

How about bait? Just fish carcasses? I caught a few when I was a kid on bacon and cheese.

[KFhunter]

let's just make this the annual crawfish thread, can you put 2023 in the title?      

[KFhunter]

To the OP

spend money here:
https://www.procrayster.com/

[Jake Dogfish]

I love the crayster guys, but their gear is pricey.
For bait trout or salmon parts for signal crawfish, anything will work for other species.

[TripleB]

Chicken thighs as worked well for me as well as salmon or shad parts. I’ve got plenty in cylinder traps and the square ones. I prefer square ones. I need to go do it again.

https://www.amazon.com/Protoco-CT24-9-Inch-Crawfish-Trap/dp/B003F0PHQY/ref=asc_df_B003F0PHQY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312134190667&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8395480019447764548&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033589&hvtargid=pla-570093127410&psc=1

That is a link for a similar one to the ones I’ve used. 40 bucks is way better than 100 or more dollars for something like those craysters stuff. They do the exact same thing and they are 60 bucks cheaper. Even cheaper if you can find some at a local sporting goods store since no shipping.

[carpsniperg2]

You got it KF.

Good info guys. I build my own cage traps so a crayfish trap shouldn't be too crazy to do!

I plan on smashing some shad! So might have to put that against some stocker trout carcasses.

[Jake Dogfish]

You got it KF.

Good info guys. I build my own cage traps so a crayfish trap shouldn't be too crazy to do!

I plan on smashing some shad! So might have to put that against some stocker trout carcasses.

I forgot to mention shad is also very good. 

[KFhunter]

I kept a lot of perch from last winter, didn't have too much luck with it last summer but I'm going to mix in attractant from craysters and run it through a big hand grinder

[KFhunter]

You got it KF.

Good info guys. I build my own cage traps so a crayfish trap shouldn't be too crazy to do!

I plan on smashing some shad! So might have to put that against some stocker trout carcasses.

Carp makin crayfish bait in the near future 

[carpsniperg2]

  Pretty slick setup

[Jake Dogfish]

You got it KF.

Good info guys. I build my own cage traps so a crayfish trap shouldn't be too crazy to do!

I plan on smashing some shad! So might have to put that against some stocker trout carcasses.

Carp makin crayfish bait in the near future 

What is that? A wood chipper?

[KFhunter]

ya, 100 bux on Amazon 

[Jake Dogfish]

ya, 100 bux on Amazon 

Right on 

[Blacklab]

Poke a few holes in a can of tuna in oil let it rip

[Ridgeratt]

I kept a lot of perch from last winter, didn't have too much luck with it last summer but I'm going to mix in attractant from craysters and run it through a big hand grinder

Using the wife's food processor on the kitchen counter might not be the recommended method either.

[MeepDog]

I heard you want to steer clear of smallmouth for bait because they avoid the smell. Cat food cans with holes poked in worked very well for me when I used to trap the stream by Perry tech. The round trap worked well there.

[Shrimper]

Fresh fish for bait is key, preferably the fish from the body of water you are after crawdads in.  Other bait works but fresh fish usually out produces all others.

All traps work some better than others, Terry Bullard style are great and square shrimp pot style with the 1/2" mesh work great too. 

The number one thing you can do regardless of the trap style, this is probably of 90% importance over all else, is to add a bait box and suspend it in the trap so the crawdads have to get into the trap to get the bait.  If the crawdad's can get at the bait from the outside of the trap they will never be trapped.

[pickardjw]

I also have some carcasses, kokanee though. Might have to try some of that attractant...need to try some new spots this year. I stayed close to the boat launch for the convenience factor and got my butt kicked last summer.

[Evil_EdwardO]

I have both cylinder and square (actually rectangle) traps and I get more out of the square. For bait, salmon heads from the grocery store worked the best for me. The store used to sell them to me for a $1.

[Angry Perch]

I kept a lot of perch from last winter, didn't have too much luck with it last summer but I'm going to mix in attractant from craysters and run it through a big hand grinder

Using the wife's food processor on the kitchen counter might not be the recommended method either.

 
Definitely use her food processor in the garage!
Seriously though, I bought a food processer at Goodwill for making shrimp bait. Works like a charm..

[mcrawfordaf]

I have both cylinder and square (actually rectangle) traps and I get more out of the square. For bait, salmon heads from the grocery store worked the best for me. The store used to sell them to me for a $1.

We also did well with salmon heads.

[pickardjw]

Fresh fish for bait is key, preferably the fish from the body of water you are after crawdads in.  Other bait works but fresh fish usually out produces all others.

All traps work some better than others, Terry Bullard style are great and square shrimp pot style with the 1/2" mesh work great too. 

The number one thing you can do regardless of the trap style, this is probably of 90% importance over all else, is to add a bait box and suspend it in the trap so the crawdads have to get into the trap to get the bait.  If the crawdad's can get at the bait from the outside of the trap they will never be trapped.

Bait box/bag is something I'm adding this year. Thinking about starting with a mesh bag like these. Used to use bigger ones chumming in the Gulf, seems like it will work.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MCW1GM2/ref=ewc_pr_img_3?smid=AEO4M9C91FN3D&psc=1

[KFhunter]

That’s what I’m doing, got a bunch and freeze them

[Blacklab]

Some times you just need to kiss it. Keep it simple ?

[carpsniperg2]

Great info y'all. I am going to try to do some building next couple days.

If I remember, I will get some pics.

[carpsniperg2]

Do you guys think a 1.5" fixed opening is big enough to let all crayfish in? Or does it need to be bigger?

Trying to decide if I should do a pivoting door like the crayster, or just a fixed opening.

[Southpole]

I kept a lot of perch from last winter, didn't have too much luck with it last summer but I'm going to mix in attractant from craysters and run it through a big hand grinder

Using the wife's food processor on the kitchen counter might not be the recommended method either.

[KFhunter]

Great info y'all. I am going to try to do some building next couple days.

If I remember, I will get some pics.

They recently did a rule change that requires an escape if the gear is lost

Might wanna dig around to see all the requirements

[pickardjw]

Yep, just ordered some rot cord myself. Here's the 22-23 regs sheet.

[carpsniperg2]

Yeah I saw that as well. I ordered some jute cord and some pot floats the other day.

[KFhunter]

I made it so my lids open with rot cord hinges and ties

[Shrimper]

Do you guys think a 1.5" fixed opening is big enough to let all crayfish in? Or does it need to be bigger?

Trying to decide if I should do a pivoting door like the crayster, or just a fixed opening.

All my traps have 3" openings, the biggest crawdads we catch would not fit in a 1.5" door.

[carpsniperg2]

Good deal. I built one today with a little down time between projects.

It has a 1.5” opening but flap doors like the crayster guys square traps.
They open to around 4” if needed then drop back down.

Going to give a cylinder trap a go next.

[dilleytech]

The crayster guys gear is really easy and cheap to make. The key is the barbs on the entry points that keep them from crawling out. This is What makes them so much better then the minis traps you can buy.

[dilleytech]

I heard you want to steer clear of smallmouth for bait because they avoid the smell. Cat food cans with holes poked in worked very well for me when I used to trap the stream by Perry tech. The round trap worked well there.

The only time I ever put out craw traps without getting some was with smallmouth carcs. But I did catch some catfish.. salmon and shad is probably the best. Canned food works but not very well.

[dilleytech]

Do you guys think a 1.5" fixed opening is big enough to let all crayfish in? Or does it need to be bigger?

Trying to decide if I should do a pivoting door like the crayster, or just a fixed opening.

Our craws get huge I don’t think that’s big enough. More like 2.5”

[carpsniperg2]

I played with the design a little and got it pretty dang good "I think" with a 1.5" opening that has the flap doors with barbs.That will open to 4" if bigger ones need to push in.

I got about 75% done with 2 cylinder traps today. Spent some time coming up with a bait container that is suspended in the middle so the little thieves can't eat without going in. Like shrimper was talking about.

[carpsniperg2]

Pics

[Norman89]

Gotta be some boils going on by now....

[pickardjw]

Still haven't got my pots out yet. Going to try a different area than Lake Wa, just need the right week where I'm not so busy and have some evenings to set and check pots!

[Norman89]

[Jake Dogfish]

Cool vid!