Crawfish, also known as crawdads, are small, 10-legged crustaceans found in bodies of water across the U.S.A. and other countries.Fishing poles, special traps, or even your bare hands can be used to catch them.You can either make these mini-lobsters into a tasty meal or bring one home as a pinchy pet once you're done.It is legal to catch crawfish in certain areas.
Step 1: You can try string and bait.
A fun family activity is string and bait catching.You just need a fishing pole, rod or stick, some fishing line or string, and some bait.The bait can be attached to the string using a fishhook or a safety pin, which will prevent the crawfish from getting away.grubs are artificial lures that work well.When you feel a tug on the end of the string, lower the bait into the water.After moving the crawfish and bait as close to the shore as possible, gently pull it out of the water.Put the crawfish in a bucket.As soon as you reel in the crawfish, you can use a fishnet with a long handle to scoop them up.They will not be able to release the bait and get away.
Step 2: The traps should be open or closed.
With relatively little effort, traps are the best way to catch large quantities of crawfish.If you want to give your friends and family a feast, this is the way to go.There are two main types of traps, open and closed, both of which are collapsible nets that are open on one end.Square-shaped traps can catch rocks at the bottom of the water and become trapped or broken, so don't use them.The best traps are cylindrical, conical, and beehive-shaped.Crawfish traps should be small.bait the traps before you lower them into the water.Some traps have a hook in the center that you can use to attach bait, while others require the use of bait boxes or jars.If there is enough bait, open and closed traps can be left in the water for several hours at a time.The trap will be filled with crawfish if you pull it up again.You can catch up to 15 pounds of crawfish per trap.
Step 3: Crawfish can be caught by hand.
Crawfish can be caught by hand, as they are often found amongst the rocks in shallow pools and can easily be picked up.If you want to catch a crawfish by hand, you need a pond, creek, or lake that is well known for its population.Crawfish like to hide in the shallow parts of the water.To catch a crawfish, wade into the water and look for rocks that are hiding it.Slowly reach your hand into the water and lift up the rock.If you lift it too quickly it will cause the crawfish to startle and cause mud to be stirred up which will affect your vision.You should see a crawfish if you lift the rock correctly.You have two options.You can pick the crawfish up with your bare hands.You can cup it between your hands if it's small.You can pick it up using the thumb and forefinger of one hand, just behind the pinchers.A small bucket and stick is your second option.If you want to wave the stick in front of the bucket, place it behind the crawfish.Crawfish should swim directly into the bucket.Scoop the bucket out of the water once it's in there.If you thrust your hand into the water, you could get a nasty pinch.
Step 4: You need a fishing license.
A fishing license is required in many states.Once you have this license, you can catch as many crawfish as you want, every year.Family fishing licenses, which entitle any member of the family to fish, are available for purchase at your local state department for a fee of approximately $60.The license number must be engraved on or attached to the trap in order to use it.
Step 5: Crawing takes place between April and October.
During the warmer months of the year, the best time to fish for crawfish is between April and October.It is possible to catch crawfish during the cold months, but don't expect to find a lot.
Step 6: Crawfish can be found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and creek.
Crawfish can be found in many bodies of water in the US and around the world.Their homes are made in streams, ponds and lakes, as well as canals, reservoirs, springs, and bedrock pools.Crawfish prefer slow moving water with plenty of rocks and vegetation to provide cover.They are most likely to be found close to the bank or in a deep hole in the middle of a river.
Step 7: Crawfish at night.
Crawfish are most active at night in warmer waters or during the summer months.Many people will set out to catch crawfish at dusk or leave traps in the water overnight to collect them the next day.Attach a piece of string around a cork to keep traps out of the water.The string should be long enough to allow the cork to float on top of the water. This will allow you to find the traps easily in the light of day.Crawfish can still be caught during daylight hours, even if they are tempted by bait.You can go fishing at any time.Crawfishing expeditions can be a lot of fun at night.
Step 8: The bait should be the correct one.
The heads, tails, and guts of oily fish that are native to the local area are the best bait to use for crawfishing, according to most sources.The fish that work well as bait are salmon, herring, carp, perch, walleye, and trout.Chicken or pork are examples of raw meat options.Crawfish are attracted to pieces of hot dog and even fish-based cat food.Fresh meat is the most important thing when it comes to bait.Crawfish don't like old, spoiled, or smelly meat.
Step 9: The bait should be secured properly.
It is important that the bait is secured when you are using traps.The bait is hung from a hook in the center of the trap.If the traps are left underwater for too long, the crawfish will eat all of the bait and escape from the trap.Crawfish experts recommend using bait boxes, which allow the crawfish to feed and enable the smell of the bait to spread through the water, attracting more crawfish.Crawfish remain in the trap for longer because the bait is less accessible.The smell of the bait can be dispersed through the water, but it cannot be eaten by the crawfish.Once the crawfish realize that they can't feed themselves, they're less likely to stay in the trap.
Step 10: For your area, follow the laws regarding crawfish.
Some states don't allow people to take live crawfish away from their capture site.Crawfish must be killed at the site of capture in some states.If you want to bring a crawfish home for your pet, make sure to check your state's regulations.You don't want to release more crawfish into the water after you've caught them.Some states want to reduce their crawfish numbers because of the damage they've done to aquatic environments.You should either get rid of the crawfish as humanely as possible or give them to another person once you are done fishing.If they are from the same river, you can use them as bait.
Step 11: If you want, you can cook the crawfish.
Crawfish contain a delicious sweet white meat that can be eaten on its own or used in a variety of southern-style dishes.Crawfish can be used in most dishes.If you want to kill the crawfish, first you have to submerge them in ice or boiling water.Add some salt, black pepper, and cayenne to a pot of water and cook them.Clean the crawfish with water.If you want to remove the vein inside the crawfish before cooking, mix half a cup of salt or white vinegar with a bucket of clean water and leave it to soak for 30 minutes.They are ready to cook when the water becomes murky.Leave the whole crawfish in the pot of boiling water for approximately 5 minutes, or until the shells turn bright red.You can add additional ingredients to the water, such as seafood boil, onions, jalapenos, or cilantro.Crawfish can be eaten on their own, dipped in butter and lemon juice or covered in cocktail sauce.Corn on the cob and boiled potatoes are great for a post-fishing lunch or dinner.
Step 12: As an alternative, keep them as pets.
Crawfish are easy to care for and are fascinating for children to watch, so some people like to keep them as pets.Sometimes they can be brought to school and kept as a classroom pet.Crawfish should be kept somewhere cool and damp.Most species will die in stagnant water if they are placed in a bucket of water.Crawfish can survive out of water for several days if it is kept moist.If you keep the crawfish in an oxygenated aquarium, it will eat other fish.It can feed off any vegetation you place in the aquarium or you can use any of the bait described above.