Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Carl on May 19, 2012, 10:51:25 PM

Title: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: Carl on May 19, 2012, 10:51:25 PM: I decided to try and catch these bugs, but 0 so-far. I had a trap (i made) in Lake Sammamish overnight. Nothing.

I'm not really going to count the 2 hours in the creek behind Red Hook Brewery (burger and beer). :-)

It's in Lake Washington right now. I'll grab it in the AM and report. I'm using fresh Salmon pieces as bait. Everything I've read said that's the way to go.

Is anyone having any luck? I'm thinking it might be a little early. But I have NO CLUE!

Carl
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 19, 2012, 11:00:28 PM: I always left some bacon out in the sun for few days and put a couple of chuncks of cheese with it. Worked great for me over the years.
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: sirfunkeybut on May 19, 2012, 11:47:48 PM: I always used KFC chicken leftovers And caught quit a few in my dads old creek :tup:
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: pips4bucks on May 20, 2012, 12:05:40 AM: Just put a couple o' pots out this evening. Will check in the morning....
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 20, 2012, 01:08:58 AM: Good Luck !!
Salmon parts is probably a good thing, but the three most important things are , Location, Location, and Location.
I used to throw a pot in every body of water I came across, but very few ever produced enough to consider eating, they usually became bait...
But occasionally I was surprised...
This time of year they are in open water, and are moving towards shore to mate, the femail will burrow in the mud near shore until the eggs hatch, so make sure to look under tails.
Pick an area that has access to deeper water, and is somewhere near moving water.
if you do not have a boat, try fishing the evening off a dock, throw your trap and plan on fishing early in the morning...
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: Carl on May 20, 2012, 11:06:05 AM: I picked up my trap this morning and I’m sorry to say , my streak continues :bash:

Zero crayfish, 3 small fish. I had it in Lake Washington, off the pier at Clyde Beach Park, at about 15’ depth. Used good looking salmon parts again. There was some moss on the cage, so I’m guessing it wasn’t the best bottom.

No boat and running out of ideas…

Carl
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: FC on May 20, 2012, 11:16:56 AM: Do you have any decent shore access where you can lob your trap out a little ways? I've always done great just using chicken for bait provided the trap was very near good cover. Very near means 2 feet or less distance, less is better. Under docks, logs, rocks, next to bridge pillars.

Water depth never seemed to be all that important really although I usually had the trap in 10 or less feet, often less than 5.
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: pips4bucks on May 20, 2012, 11:57:01 PM: Pulled pots this afternoon... nothing but 5 perch. Me thinks it's still too cold for mudbugs. Last year we put the pots in the first part of July and slayed 'em. I think I'll wait at least 3 weeks to drop 'em again, unless I hear otherwise.

Oh, cooking them in Zataraine's crab boil is Yummy!
Title: Re: Crayfish - anyone getting them?
Post by: Alchase on May 21, 2012, 09:20:10 AM: How long are you soaking the pots? Do you have bait left over?
If you run out of bait, they will find the exit hole, lol. Overnight we found is way to long. A few hours seemed to be the magic number for numbers, providing you still have bait they are interested in.
What I find works the best is something local (trout or fish common to the area) and a can of oily cat food.
If you do not have a boat, there are a couple spots we use to get them on lake washington. Chism park, and Maydon-bower bay park. If the rocky areas.
We use to sit on the rocks and jig them with a piece of hotdog on a hook. They would grab on and you haul them up.