2023 crayfish: Let’s talk crayfish/mud bugs

[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.