DIY Crayfish Trap

D

Diligence

Joined
Jan 18, 2000
Messages
275
Well, I was on vacation at my little cabin last week and decided to create a woven crayfish trap out of willow shoots and bark.

Here is the result. I used a dead mouse for bait one night, with no results. The next night I used a tail from a rotting, dead fish I found. Super results. The smaller crayfish just crawled out through the holes, but the big guys couldn't get out.

Thought I would share a couple of photos. (hope this works, I had to get a friend to upload them)

http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view.php?VEID=36703_sDvmxm1153882403GRukuc&mesg=1

First I made two rings of willow to start with. Then I inserted split sections of branch. Then I wove halfs and quarter rounds in. To seal the holes I inserted smaller pieces. The small basket just gets pushed into the large basket and the result is a little ramp the crayfish crawl up, fall into the trap, then can't get out.

I weighted it down with rocks tied on with willow bark strips. All in all, I think that a couple of these would easily provide several crayfish a night. Of interest is that the only thing to actually like the dead mouse, was leeches which might be a great source of bait for other traps.

I also made a bunch of cordage for the first time, but I did it differently than is commonly shown. I stripped bits of Willow bark, removed all the pulp to leave the little ribbons of inner bark (looks like mini plastic ribbon the consistency of cassette tape). Then I rolled/twisted two pieces of ribbon together to make a strand. Then I wove 3 strands together. When I needed to splice new pieces in, I simply tied overhand knots and kept on weaving.

I think I should have just twisted the strands together like everyone else suggests, as weaving takes more time, but I did manage to make a pretty strong cord from the willow.

How do you all preserve your cordage?

Cheers,
D
 
Well - I didn't cook them this time. Just let them go...I guess I need to take before and after pictures.

But trust me - they were there. Keep in mind that the crayfish in northern Saskatchewan are nothing like the crayfish from Louisiana. In fact, getting a crayfish with a 2" tail section is a major accomplishment. The water is just sooooo cold, they don't grow very fast.

D
 
Hey Diligence...

Very cool....
A trap like this would be Very useful in catching bait, which can be used to catch larger fish..
Pike,, Bass would be highly attracted to crayfish....

In fact, actually the dead mouse could also be used.Possibly with even better results that the craws...

Hook a dead mouse on a tremble hook, maybe inject a little air into it and drag it across the top of the water around lilly pads,, and I'd bet you get some strikes on it...

A better way yet with mice to to use them while they are still alive..Hooke them through the skin on their backs and toss them out,,let them swim..Gotta make the rig real light or they drown quickly...

Sorry for heading this OT...

In the right area,, a crayfish trap could produce a fairly good yield..
Nice job on that trap..Looks like it took some time to make...

Thanks

Eric...
 
Thanks Normark.

I had thought about the mouse on the water surface as well. I have a couple of Pike lures for fly fishing that look like a mouse and the pike to definately hit it hard. Live frogs work exactly the same way.

To make the trap it took me a full afternoon. Spent an hour or so thinking about it while enjoying a few refreshments, then 15 minutes of willow cutting, followed by a few failed attempts at making the trap. I realized that without some soaking, the green willow was still breaking and I was too lazy to split them small enough - so I soaked the whole lot of shoots overnight. Took 2 hrs from start to finish the next day to weave, reweave, swear, reweave, drink some more refreshments and then figure out how to reweave the little reverse cone ramp. I ended up using the tops of the willow shoots (very flexible) and tied a clove hitch with the shoot, directly to the interior ring. Then I wove in new pieces and wrapped the ends with willow bark lashing. Total elapsed time, including soak time - 18 hrs.

A fun day.

On a side note, my 15 yr old nephew thought the trap was pretty "cool", but he figured he had a better idea - and since all teenagers know more than I do, I challenged him to prove it. So...get this...he took a little 500ml pop bottle, cut off the top part way down the neck, cut off the threaded cap area, turned the top of the bottle back down into the main body of the bottle, added two strips of duct tape and a chicken bone, shoved the whole contraption vertically into a crack between two rocks with the top of the trap about 2" from the water surface. ---- his results over night ----two large crayfish, one minnow and two leaches....go figure. Total elapsed time to make the trap, 9 minutes.

I guess teenagers really do know everything ;)
 
I love it. As a cajun I approve of your finding the crawfish. Hellyes, they make good bait, or use these awful sounding leeches and eat the crawfish. I'm partial to eating the crawfish. LOL.

If you're able to watch the trap you could just make a triangular flat weave, put some risers off the corners that attach above the water, and tie bait to the center. Pull it up quickly with a long stick and dump your catch. Then immediately return to the same spot. You can run several of these checking them every 15 or so minutes. That is much like its done in Louisianna.
 
aproy1101 said:
I love it. As a cajun I approve of your finding the crawfish. Hellyes, they make good bait, or use these awful sounding leeches and eat the crawfish. I'm partial to eating the crawfish. LOL.

If you're able to watch the trap you could just make a triangular flat weave, put some risers off the corners that attach above the water, and tie bait to the center. Pull it up quickly with a long stick and dump your catch. Then immediately return to the same spot. You can run several of these checking them every 15 or so minutes. That is much like its done in Louisianna.
Click to expand...

Hey Andy,

I guess I'm just a bit thick, but I can't picture this. Any chance of a diagram?

Doc
 
The bottom triangle forms the trap floor. Three triangles atached (hinged) to the three sides lift to form a closed pyramid of walls. Really simple and efficient.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
The bottom triangle forms the trap floor. Three triangles atached (hinged) to the three sides lift to form a closed pyramid of walls. Really simple and efficient.

Codger
Click to expand...

Got it. Thank you.

What are they usually made of? Wicker style material? Anybody have a picture?

Doc
 
Meh sher (pronounced shaa) dey usually made o wire, yea. Wit de string net between it. Mah family an eye use to take about ten nets each to de rice fields and come home wit a sac full. You gotta know de rice farmer doh. He gon shoot yo butt otherwise. (I've attached a VERY rough word drawing sketch.)

Even moh fun den dat was crabbin doh. All you gotta have is some strang, chicken necks, or melt (whatever the hell dat is, actually the stomach lining of a cow), and a dip net. Dem crabs are so greedy de'll let you slowly pull em to de top an netem. MMMMM... Watch out for snakes an gators. Brang alotsa beer too.
 
Hey swampman that looks like fun . I seem to remember a crab trap that worked much the same . Just a steel cage . The four sides flop down when the cage is on the bottom . When you think its been long enough you just pull on the cord , the four cage sides raise up and Voila , crab surprise .

I think your lots of beer advice is crucial . If someone is not sure it is good advice they should talk it over while drinking lots of beer .

I hope one day to share in a big mess of boiled crayfish . It always looks like such a hoot .
 
I'd love to show you how to clean em out fast as hell bro. I used to be able to suckem down so fast you wouldn't believe it.
 
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