How to catch crayfish with a rod? We have invasive crayfish in my country, and it finally has been cleared up that with a normal fishing license we are allowed to catch them. More...

FS Digest

We have invasive crayfish in my country, and it finally has been cleared up that with a normal fishing license we are allowed to catch them.

More importantly unlike fish we are allowed to keep as many as we want. (Fish have restrictions to keep the populations high.)

Unfortunately we can not use traps, so how to catch them with a fishing rod and bait?

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by Aeonir

FS Digest

Are you guys allowed to use those things? Don't know the english term, but you just need a long stable bar (an old rod might do the trick, often you can also buy a specialized one) and this basket with a bit bait to catch them in the deeper, steady areas.

Depending on the depth, try to clean the place from woods and sharp objects that might damage your basket. I f you fixate a small steel-grid box in the basket, you can catch many crayfish without them getting to much of the bait.

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by Cantonarita

FS Digest

Unfortunately those aren't allowed, not sure on the English term either, cross nets would be a literal translation from dutch

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by Aeonir

FS Digest

Dayum, are you supposed to ask the crayfish out on a date, then maybe a movie? After 1 to 2 month, you're invited to meet the crayfishs parents and her dad asks it if you treat it allright. On a beautifull midsummer night, you took the crayfish to a fancy french restaurant, you kneel down and askit the important question: "Do you want to be my catch?" It cries happy tears and you take it in your arms. You have a happy live with many little Crayfish kids. She dies a peacefull death. NOW you can eat her.

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by Cantonarita

FS Digest

Fishing rod with bait or lure, unless you get a professional fishing license, which is only available for professional fishermen...

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by Aeonir

FS Digest

Instead of a hook use a safety pin. Raw Bacon works really well as a bait ot is faiy solid wont tear off. And a slinky weight to get you to the bottom.

Do a swivel with a clip for the weight, 6" leader the safety pin, another 6-12" leader and another pin repeat as long as you want it rathter a long as you can cast.

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by MarsOG13

FS Digest

I should have some swivels and safety pins laying around somewhere.

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by Aeonir

FS Digest

Use a “crab snare” you can buy em at Walmart or online, you tie it to your line, and put bait in the cage. The little loops tighten around the claws when you reel in. I’m pretty sure they make small ones too.

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by czwik93

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

FS Digest wrote:

We have invasive crayfish in my country, and it finally has been cleared up that with a normal fishing license we are allowed to catch them.

More importantly unlike fish we are allowed to keep as many as we want. (Fish have restrictions to keep the populations high.)

Unfortunately we can not use traps, so how to catch them with a fishing rod and bait?

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by Aeonir

Chunk of beef melt they grab ahold few let go.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

FS Digest wrote:

We have invasive crayfish in my country, and it finally has been cleared up that with a normal fishing license we are allowed to catch them.

More importantly unlike fish we are allowed to keep as many as we want. (Fish have restrictions to keep the populations high.)

Unfortunately we can not use traps, so how to catch them with a fishing rod and bait?

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by Aeonir

Put some bait in a piece of cheese cloth, tie it shut, cast it out where those crawdads are hanging around, have a fine mesh net handy. With luck they’ll get a little tangled in the bait bag. Reel in slow and get ready with the net.

Suzie

As a kid I would catch plenty , using a kite string and a piece of bacon on the end. They'd smell and pinch right onto the bacon. I'd lift them up and put them into my coffee can. Use same way with rod / reel. Tie the bacon on...

bucky buckner Loc: murrells inlet SC

how about a minnow trap, works great for me

bucky buckner Loc: murrells inlet SC

sorry bout that forgot u can't use traps

boatmaster53 Loc: Baker Fla.

As a kid we did the same thing with earth worms just like Suzie. We'd let them get a bite then slowly pull them up on the bank. But I can see where bacon would work much better. It's a lot tougher than an earth worm.

Blackjack4295

FS Digest wrote:

We have invasive crayfish in my country, and it finally has been cleared up that with a normal fishing license we are allowed to catch them.

More importantly unlike fish we are allowed to keep as many as we want. (Fish have restrictions to keep the populations high.)

Unfortunately we can not use traps, so how to catch them with a fishing rod and bait?

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by Aeonir

When we were kids we took an old coffee can and drilled holes all over it. We ran fishline and hooks all over the can inside and out. we would tie a rope to it put dead minnows on the hooks and lower it into the water. wait 15 minutes and pull up a dozen or more crawdads. Anyway a hook and dead minnow will work. they grab it and hope they don't let go.