I am wanting to trap some crawdads throughout the summer and cure them for bait . My question is do any of you know of a good way to cure them. I have been able to find many differnt methods for minnows, roe,shrimp and the sort, but I cant help but think that a crawdad would be more difficult due to its hard shell. Any info would be great. Thanks
I wonder if catching them in the spring when they molt and have a very soft shell would make a difference
That ain’t gona work for them critters as bait.[:p]
That’s a hard one. I would definately use borax and salt to try to keep them fresh, and then freeze them. Even then it will be a crap shoot. Momma is not going to like those rock bugs in the freezer!
Let us know how it goes!
I’m pretty new to this concept of crawdads, I just dont know much about them. When they molt in the spring are they a differnt color? I want to mainly use them for ice fishing. Salt and borax seems to be the ingredients an all of the cures that I have found, has anyone had any luck with any of the ready made cure’s, such as Pro Cure if so do you think it would work with crawdads. Luckily I have a pretty level minded wife and I have been slowly training her, first nightcrawlers, then minnows, the random suckers and hopefully crawdads. And as for you Pack Fan, I think that shiny Crestliner of yours needs broke in proper by a bunch of drunk cowboys. Whaddya say[crazy][crazy]
[;)]
where do you trap crawdads at… I used to do it back home in MN to use for smallmouth but didn’t even know they were here in UT. Shows how much I know…[crazy]
Crawdads are crustaceans…just like shrimp. You can freeze them in their shells…whole…or pull off the tails and freeze the tails in just enough water to remove all the air…to prevent freezer burn. No need to add any chemicals to “cure them”.
Better yet, just go buy some cheap shrimp parts before a trip. Shrimp works great for ice fishing. And they don’t get you in trouble with other members of the family who might not like having ugly mudbugs in the freezer.
Best be careful and stay legal. First you have to harvest them and that means killing them before you leave the water where they are taken, and then have to remember that using crawdads are only legal (in Utah) if used in the same water as harvested in unless its a commercial bait.
Have you looked at the Utah regulation?
Best be careful and stay legal. First you have to harvest them and that means killing them before you leave the water where they are taken, and then have to remember that using crawdads are only legal (in Utah) if used in the same water as harvested in unless its a commercial bait.
Have you looked at the Utah regulation?
Have YOU looked at the proclamation? You can use dead crawdads anywhere…but LIVE ones only in the water from which they were taken. Here is a cut and paste from the proclamation.
Use of live crayfish for bait is legal only on • the water where the crayfish is captured. It is unlawful to transport live crayfish away from the water where they were captured.
You guys let me know a time and a place, I got a season fishing license when I drew the WY. elk tag. Wouldn’t mind trying where you guys took me ice fishing. Turkey hunt is just around the corner for the wife and I so I’ll be tied up a bit with that. I’m sending a PM. Have agreat day and say hi to “8 Ball” hope he’s doing OK.[fishin]
Burbot are mainly what I am targeting with crawdads, and I would really like to use them whole. I have tried just freezing them but they become very brittle,and you end up with a big bag of cradad crumbs (you know kinda like at the bottom of a bag of chips). I was just hoping to be able to cure them to help keep them a little more flexible and durable. Mabey I’m better off to just use one of the imitations that are out there, I know that there are some that are very realistic. But it seems as though nothing takes the place of the real thing
Burbot do feed heavily on crawdads, but they are not all that selective. They will eat anything that doesn’t eat them first.
Rather than go to all the hassle of trying to hoard a bunch of crawdads, lay in a good supply of carp meat, sucker meat and big chubs. I have heard it from someone who is pretty successful with the slimyuglies (burbot) that carp meat doused with crawdad oil works better than crawdads.
Can I find crawdad oil, or do you mean just one of the many scents that are available, If so which do you feel is the best
I have tried several different products. All seem to work fairly well. If you can find one with REAL crawdad oil in it you will not like the smell but the fish do.
PS…I often put a couple of drops of crawdad scent on the pieces of crawlers I use to tip my jigs. I have been told that the odors of crawlers and crawdads are similar…to the fish. There have been a lot of times that my first cast after “sweetening” my jigs has produced strikes…after many casts without any action.
The stuff I use the most is Fish Formula Crawdad. 8 oz. is only $6.49 at Bass Pro. But the Real Scent stuff is great too.
This highly effective Fish Formula Fish Attractant was created by a Tennessee doctor after many years of scientific research, prototype formulations, and final product field testing. Although Fish Formula Fish Attractant is highly imitated, no other fish-catching scent has managed to duplicate the precise formulation of this product! Spray this Fish Formula Fish Attractant scent on any lure for outstanding results.
when i was trapping i used glycerine to preserve them you can get it at the drug store its similar to mineral oil.
They can molt any time of year, they molt when they out grow the outer skin or shell…