crawdads/crayfish?

[grundy53]

Also, pretty sure they are dormant in winter, at least I never figured out where they were  maybe real deep ?
 Spring, but look under tails for the eggs, and throw back females (not legal issue, just my attitude)
I have done real good spring, summer, and fall, used to throw a pot in anywhere I was, just to see.
Lost my best pot one year at Jameson, put it on tailgate, next to boat and drove off... (did not get any out of there, but caught some shrimp close to 1" long!)

Actually you are required to release females with eggs. Don't want anyone to get in trouble.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

And closed in winter, May-Oct season, guess it is good I never found any, and quit trying until spring..... 
Been catching them since I was a kid, never really paid attention, only one lake that I have been to has ever been close to catching limit, with 3 guys/traps.

[grundy53]

This is strait from the Fishing regs. so everyone gets a clear idea. Lol.

CrAYFISH (Crawfish)
ALL WATERS NATIVE SPECIES 1st Mon. in
May-Oct. 31
Min. size 3¼" from tip of rostrum (nose) to tip of tail. Daily limit 10 lbs in shell. All
females with eggs or young attached must be immediately returned to the water
unharmed. No Shellfi sh/Seaweed license is required. See gear rules on page 139.
NONNATIVE
SPECIES
1st Mon. in
May-Oct. 31
Must be kept in a separate container. Must be dead before being removed
from riparian area (immediate vicinity of water body). No daily limit, size, or sex
restrictions. No Shellfi sh/Seaweed license is required. See gear rules page 139.
There is only one native crayfi sh species in Washington – the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). This species can be identified by its uniform brownish coloration, white or light coloration of the claw joint ,and the smooth surface of its carapace and claws compared to that of nonnative species. Native crayfi sh are the only crayfi sh that may be removed from the vicinity of the waterbody alive. If you cannot positively identify your catch as a nonnative species, the daily limit and other restrictions listed above for native crayfish apply. How to humanely kill and preserve crayfish There are two important steps to killing a
crayfi sh quickly and humanely. The first is to chill them in ice or ice slurry for 20-30 minutes, and the second is to pierce their head with a knife.

[grundy53]

And closed in winter, May-Oct season, guess it is good I never found any, and quit trying until spring..... 
Been catching them since I was a kid, never really paid attention, only one lake that I have been to has ever been close to catching limit, with 3 guys/traps.

I was the same way. until someone brought it to my attention. i used to love catching crawdads when i was a kid... don't ever remember measuring them. oh well i didn't know any better.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I used the small ones for bait .. 

[Alchase]

How to humanely kill and preserve crayfish There are two important steps to killing a
crayfi sh quickly and humanely. The first is to chill them in ice or ice slurry for 20-30 minutes, and the second is to pierce their head with a knife.

Seriously? I have never seen anyone do this? We use to just tear the tails off and call it good. 

[grundy53]

How to humanely kill and preserve crayfish There are two important steps to killing a
crayfi sh quickly and humanely. The first is to chill them in ice or ice slurry for 20-30 minutes, and the second is to pierce their head with a knife.

Seriously? I have never seen anyone do this? We use to just tear the tails off and call it good. 

That's our new and improved tree hugging kinder gentler WDFW for you...

[Alchase]

Now we have to make them comfortable ice bath and sweat talk the crawdads......before we rip their tails off and throw them in the Jacuzzi of garlic butter and lemon, lol

[dscott]

We keep them (live) cool and in a wet burlap or similar sack until we're ready to boil them. Will last for several days

[FC]

We keep them (live) cool and in a wet burlap or similar sack until we're ready to boil them. Will last for several days

I've always kept them live till cooking time too and then just dumped them into a pot of boiling water.

[high country]

one buddy bought a bag of them via mail, he kept them in a fish pond in the front yard. not sure how many coons' it takes to eat 20lbs of dads, but he had at least that many there one night.

[dscott]

Gemini fish market in Issaquah brings in a large order of live crawfish in early summer. If anyone is interested, they start putting the order together in June if memory serves

[RAMSFAN]

Dang, you guys are bringing back memories. Used to catch them in the creek by our house when I lived in Oregon. We would catch them using whatever we could. Bologna, hot dogs...it all worked!

[quadrafire]

In Missouri, we used to sein (sp?) them from farm ponds. Keep the small ones for catfish trot-lines/bank-lines, and eat the big ones.
Some ponds were very productive.
It was kinda fun, you never new what you were gonna catch. Could be a load of crawdads, maybe a snapping turtle or two, those will make your heart race, as you are chest deep with them in the muddy water.
Oh' the memories.

[Machias]

In Missouri, we used to sein (sp?) them from farm ponds. Keep the small ones for catfish trot-lines/bank-lines, and eat the big ones.
Some ponds were very productive.
It was kinda fun, you never new what you were gonna catch. Could be a load of crawdads, maybe a snapping turtle or two, those will make your heart race, as you are chest deep with them in the muddy water.
Oh' the memories.

Fond fond memories!!!