How do I construct a Crayfish trap?

Answer 1

Get some 3/8 inch wire mesh, build a box with one end hinged. (Use wire to make the hinges just twist a small piece around the edge of the box and the edge of the end)

Attach a bolt through the side of the box so the end with the hinge will not fall out ward, but will fall inward. Just stick the bolt from the outside through one of the openings on the mesh next to the edge of it. Use large washers to keep the bolt and nut from falling out of the mesh. The threaded end sticking through the mesh will stop the end from falling outward when you pull it out of the water.

Attach a second bolt half way down the side so the hinged side / door will stop half open and form a ramp into the box.

Attach your rope to the box so you can retrieve it from the lake bottom. Tie a short string to the rope and door so that when you pick up on the rope, the string closes the hinged end / entry ramp.

Throw some type of smelly bait in the trap. (Fish Offal or Water Mellon Rind works best), Drop it off the dock, old log sticking out in the water, etc. Leave it over night, and pull up a trap full of Crawdads the next morning.

The Dads walk up the ramp to get the bait, settle on the bottom of the trap and can't figure out how to get back to the top of the ramp to escape.

Or, you could go down to a sporting goods store and purchase a ready made trap for about $20

Answer 2

Try using a colander, they work great. Or you can cut the top half off of a milk jug, (make sure you leave the handle) and then poke holes in the bottom so the water runs out. You could also use one of those little strawberry baskets. I prefer catching them with my hands but most people don't. =P I've been catching this things since I was about 9, this is very important; When you use a bucket keep them in do NOT put water in it! Hardly anyone listens to me when I tell them that and they end up with a bunch of dead crayfish. They're not fish, they don't need that. They can be on dry land or they can be in running water but you can't stuck them in a bucket of water. They die. Also, (you probably already know this) they swim backwards so keep that in mind when you're trying to catch them.

Answer 3

See the links listed below for some trap designs.

Answer 4

Links below, 1st is the fabricating and 2nd is purchasing one. I use ta' crawdad, and found it was better ta' buy them (traps) ie., cost and time. Many a times my homemaders were stolen and the D _ _ n thing bout' it ~ they were loaded with "Craws" aka Crayfish, sooooo made the decision ta' just buy them!!x%!*!x!. Hope this helps ;)...

Construction :
http://wut2c.com/Activities/Survival%20Trips/Food/Collection/Crayfish/crawdad%20trap.htm

Cabela's crawfish traps :
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=IHYMBNNUARFFHLAQBBICCNVMCAEFCIWE?id=0002258014322a&type=product&cmCat=perf&rid=0180101070502&xpid=k17401&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Affiliate%2Dclick&cm_pla=Nextag&cm_ite=DDI%20Link&afsrc=1&_requestid=33055