Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member. ?

Crayfish Traps/Trapping


pikestabber

Recommended Posts

Anyone trap crayfish? How soon do you start (too early yet?)...what type of traps do you use...what do you bait with...how many crayfish do you typically yield per trap? Any information you could provide would be appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The trap it designed just for crawfish. You could a few how, just add a piece of fish,(fish heads & skeleton work good) you need to keep trap low enough that crawfish can't get under the trap. As for numbers, how big is your trap and were you trap is the key. Rocky areas are the best. (Follow DNR rules on use of crawfish, see page 70.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rustys are said to be good eating. The traps you can buy look like a box made out of hardware cloth with a ramp that they walk up and fall off. Look online for a picture.

If you search for posts on crawfish you will find instructions on purging them so they taste good when cooked.

I think maybe I will try to trap some this summer. Pinch tail and suck head as they say down in Cajun Country.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last year I used one of those Black wire mesh Minnow traps that you see at some of the sporting goods stores and bait shops. It worked ok but I think that the opening on it should have been a little bigger. I like the Idea posted above about the ramp that they fall off of. I got anywhere from none to 15 in my trap.I think the big thing is to check them early in the morning before they start looking for a way to get out?? I used dead minnows for bait. I'm sure there is a better bait than that though. Have fun!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Isn't there a big deal about some of them being an invasive? If you trap them you better check that out cause I think I saw something about some kind really screwing up the vegetation in a lake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes the rusty crayfish is invasive. You cannot take crayfish from one lake and use them for bait on a different lake. I think this post is about trapping them for din din though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mille Lacs is absoulutly stuffed with them in the rocks on the south east side. They are Rusty's so do not transport them for fishing, the DNR will give you a permit for consumption, and to answer the next question YES! they eat very well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a big plate of crawfish while in Spain a few years ago. They came free with a glass of wine I ordered. Man were those tasty. They came piled on a plate and were cooked in some sort of light tomato sauce.

Don't forget to suck the meat out of the head, thats were the good stuff is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The best way to catch them is with the wire minnow traps but you need to cut the opening just a little larger. then make sure that the bottom is set so they cant get under it. about 5-1 ft of water depth seems best. put your traps out in the evening and get check them early morning. I will run about 5 traps when in the bwca and can get about a two gallon pail full in a night.

they make a nice side with walleye. They seem to have a much sweeter taste then the ones u buy in the store.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you search for posts on crawfish you will find instructions on purging them so they taste good when cooked.

Yeah I guess the Purging is an important part of the process??? How do you do it. Don't you have to let them sit in a salt water salution for a while?? Is that what they call purging.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vermillion is filthy with them. My buddy has a rectangular trap about the size of a shoe-box (a bit bigger). We put a filleted walley in the trap (and caught a bunch of grief by people saying it's illegal) and then removed the carcus from the lake in the end. This thing was FULL in a matter of a few hours. We do that each time we're there and pull out as many as possible. We put them in a big vessel in water and put a heavy concentration of salt in it. We also exchanged the salt water a few times to remove the "stuff" from the water. Then we boiled them up, let 'em cool, melt some butter, pull 'em apart, dip in butter, eat, sip whiskey occasionally...yummy!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pickel, With the cold lakes up here about the most you have to do is soak them in distilled water (alive); the tap or salt water will kill them, they will still eat Okay but they look terrible. Bring the water to a boil drop em in when they turn red they are done approx 45sec-1min? I like a product called Crab Boil in the water and a product from August Schell in my hand. No cocktail sauce or butter neccesary in my opinion.

Burbot

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pickel, With the cold lakes up here about the most you have to do is soak them in distilled water (alive); the tap or salt water will kill them, they will still eat Okay but they look terrible. Bring the water to a boil drop em in when they turn red they are done approx 45sec-1min? I like a product called Crab Boil in the water and a product from August Schell in my hand. No cocktail sauce or butter neccesary in my opinion.

Burbot

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now ↓↓↓ or ask your question and then register. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.