crawdadin

[jeepster]

its that time of year again!!! got my pots rigged and ready to go out for another soak... had em sittin in the lake over night, got nothing... tried a few days earlier....3 crawdads, and a catfish...

i figure im using the wrong bait/pots...

ive been using the standard round 2 piece wire mesh pots, and those havent produced, so i tried a larger round pot, then i tried a pot with a ramp and doors vs tunnels.... nothing, plastic mesh vs wire, nothing.... i bought a wood 2 tunnel pot that i was told should produce (like how lobster only like wood pots) and i havent tried that....

as far as bait, ive tried chicken, bacon, herring, *censored*nboots, salmon heads, mackeral, fresh fish, prawn pellets, even chicken feed... ive gotten like 5 crawdads in 3 outtings.... im gonna try a new lake too....

i think i just havent found the "right spot" ive been puttin my pots on a rockpile and i can see TONS of the buggers down there but they just wont go in the pots, they will climb on them, but....


  im getting bested by pissant crustaceans

[quadrafire]

Man that doesn't sound right. I think your choices of bait are right on. Keep at it. If you are seeing them, they gotta eat sometime.
Maybe try a hot-dog???

[jeepster]

im willing to try anything...

im really thinking its the pots.... ive seen 5 or 6 big ones milling around my metal round pots, eating the stuff that falls thru, climbing on the pot, and going half way into the tunnel before backing out.... in all honnesty im thinking that the 'dads are poking thier head in the door, taking a look around and simply sayin its not thier kind of place.... im gonna try the wood pot out tonight and see if that makes a differance. i know with lobster, they will only go in wood pots because of how dark it is inside, and the texture of the pot is more natural.... who knows ill post results tomorrow

[rb2506]

we used to put a can of cat food in the pot

[FC]

Are you dropping your pot on the rock pile? If you are you might try dropping it at the base of the rocks or on some large flat rock. Your bait should be good!

[quadrafire]

Jeez, I have seen folks pull them in on strips of bacon, with no trap at all. I don't understand it.
Bad Karma???

[teanawayslayer]

water may still be a bit cold.  I started crawdading last year and did awesome in august.  Filled a 50 quart cooler in about 2 hours.

[jechicdr]

Anyone try for Crawdads around spokane here?

[quadrafire]

Anyone try for Crawdads around spokane here?

I have caught some monsters in the spokane river. They look like small lobsters. Don't think I would eat them out of the river. But fun to catch.
I will try em in Bead lake this weekend and let you know.

[jechicdr]

Anyone try for Crawdads around spokane here?

I have caught some monsters in the spokane river. They look like small lobsters. Don't think I would eat them out of the river. But fun to catch.
I will try em in Bead lake this weekend and let you know.

Have seen them in the river, also would not think of eating them the their pollution problems.

[buckhorn2]

With crab pots if they get on top and crawl around but won;t go in it;s electrolosis the steel is putting out a positive charge try wireing a little zinc ball to the pot and see if it works.

[fast60eddie]

Keep posting and when you score put up a picture. I once got a bunch out of twin lakes in CA. and made a pot of jambalia it was a lot of work but worth every bite. I hope to find a spot to get some in King county.

[dscubame]

Anyone try for Crawdads around Spokane here?

Spokane River arm of Lake Roosevelt.  Excellent for crawdads and safe to eat.  Above the narrows.

[chongo469]

Your bait seems to be great choices but something that may not be normal but we used to do when we were kids.....instead of weighting the pot with lead, try using rocks or fill a black sock with sand from the lake you are at.....each piece of water has its own scent and if you are using something that is a little more familliar to them , they may be more inclined to enter.....

[HornHoarder]

Ok heres my trick... I have had very little luck with the traps also. I take a couple cans of tuna fish in OIL. Dont use tuna fish in water. poke several small holes in the can. Set the cans near rocky areas near the shoreline within reach of a fishing pole. When the crawdads smell the oil they come in like gangbusters. Now take your fishing pole rigged up with a leadhead jig and nice big nightcrawler. When you see the crawdads coming towards the can, dangle your worm in front of them. 90 % of the time they will latch on to it and you can ease them right out of the water. It takes more time and effort than dropping off a couple pots, but it sure is fun. Its not unusuall for me to get over 100 in an afternoon. Good Luck if you try this.