Crawfish

Everything seems to be geared to stocking ponds but I don't see why stocking a ditch wouldn't work in a smaller scale.

http://www.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/RedDrumPolyculture.htm

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chowan/pubs/.../Stocking.html

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_...ogy++Stocking/

Rick, the suggestions in that second link would require a permitting process that would take years to complete - in Mass, anyway.

Crawfish Virus

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_...a+Crawfish.htm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ken

Crawfish Virus

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_...a+Crawfish.htm

---

At least it ain't Swine Flu.

well i have heard of folks stocking swimming pools with fish, but i am sure that would violate your limit on fish, probably would be the same with crawfish. the only logistical problem i see with stocking a ditch is population density, how many do you need to eat for a meal and how many can that area of ditch sustain

Don't restock with this one.

http://www.protectyourwaters.net/hit...y_crayfish.php

Good article on crawfish production: http://aqua.ucdavis.edu/dbweb/outreach/aqua/UG9453.PDF

Here's the law in each state:

http://marmorkrebs.org/crayfish_laws.html

Thanks Ken,

Lots of interesting links! I hadn't really questioned the legality of stocking the ditch. I am not sure that the critters do not already exist in said ditch. I think I will drop a trap in and see! In fact I am on the way with the trap now!

got me thinking cowboy (wierd to type that as it was once my nickname) and a great poem by cody lambert. But any how i wonder about stocking my indoor tanks i have several 100 gallon tanks full of fish(gold fish are a respectable size bigger than most perch) and my turtles are large also, maybe i should try to cpature a few crawfish and see if they will live in my tanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wareagle69

got me thinking cowboy (wierd to type that as it was once my nickname) and a great poem by cody lambert. But any how i wonder about stocking my indoor tanks i have several 100 gallon tanks full of fish(gold fish are a respectable size bigger than most perch) and my turtles are large also, maybe i should try to cpature a few crawfish and see if they will live in my tanks

---

From what I have read they feed on decaying fauna, actually I had told my little girl she could get one for her aquarium. The trap is set and we shall see what is in the ditch. I baited it with both herring and bread balls. The trap will catch most anything that will fit in the door. Will be checking it in 4 hrs. Here are some pics.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...c/AUT_0191.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...AUT_0192-1.jpg

...who's to say that Crawfish (or, as they call them in this part of the country: Crawdaddys, don't know why.) didn't just find there way into your ditch. BTW, any where you have "standing water" you have a breeding ground for mosquitos & run the risk of "West Nile Virus". Is there any way you can "move the water", like making it into a flowing brook? :cool2:

BTW, I once lived next to a "babbling brook" but had to move as I got tired of listening to all of that incessent babbling!:innocent:

It moves, just slow. It was dry all winter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by COWBOYSURVIVAL

It moves, just slow. It was dry all winter.

---

That, if it happens regularly may not bode well for stocking it.

Good point Crash. Thing is we were considered drought status for sometime. The status was recently lifted. It is actually an irrigation ditch for the 50 acre field next door. Another thing is this, part of crawfish farming in my understanding is first stocking adults males and females 50/50 in a flooded pond 18 to 24 in. deep. Allowing breeding then draining which allows the crawfish to burrow where the young are laid in the burrows then reflooding to allow the young to mature then harvest. Crawfish are abundant in many ditches here.

Well curiosity was killing me so I checked the trap at approx. 2 hrs. When I walked up I saw a huge snapping turtle inspecting my trap. I said to myself well I could survive on turtle! I then pulled the trap and my wife like to freaked out it was packed with crawfish. I released the small ones. Looks like I am having a cajun crawfish boil for dinner! One thing to note my trap is really a minnow trap and only has a 1" entry door. I suspect I can catch more bigger ones with a new trap and it just so happens I have the wire to make one. Headin' out to re-bait the old one and make a new one! I'll post the new trap design!

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...c/AUT_0201.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...c/AUT_0202.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...c/AUT_0203.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...c/AUT_0206.jpg

It seems like that ditch is ALREADY well-stocked!:sneaky2::cool2:

Help me.....Please help me......

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q...ne/crawdad.jpg

I have set the trap again. Started a new design in my mind and am contemplating. Should I cordon them off with wire fence and start feeding them? Give me your ideas I sure didn't know I already had them here!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sarge47

...who's to say that Crawfish (or, as they call them in this part of the country: Crawdaddys, don't know why.) didn't just find there way into your ditch. BTW, any where you have "standing water" you have a breeding ground for mosquitos & run the risk of "West Nile Virus". Is there any way you can "move the water", like making it into a flowing brook? :cool2:

BTW, I once lived next to a "babbling brook" but had to move as I got tired of listening to all of that incessent babbling!:innocent:

---

I call them CrawDaddy's too! I was trying to show my smarts!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ken

Interesting thought. Let me check on the legality of this.

---

Ok QC is it legal?

Why wire them off? It looks like they are well fed. I doubt they are going anywhere. I'd harvest on occasion just to track the numbers. If they begin to drop then try feeding them. As long as there is food there and water they should not only stay put but increase reproduction. Animal reproduction is generally tied to the food source.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rick

Why wire them off? It looks like they are well fed. I doubt they are going anywhere. I'd harvest on occasion just to track the numbers. If they begin to drop then try feeding them. As long as there is food there and water they should not only stay put but increase reproduction. Animal reproduction is generally tied to the food source.

---

I agree! If it ain't broke don't fix it, right. The only thought I had was maybe I could grow'em bigger you know like a lobster size!

Here are some links to some other threads on crawfish. It might give you some ideas on the trap.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...=crawfish+trap

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...=crawfish+trap

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by catfish10101

Hello people, I am from Louisiana. Born here and will die here. Crawfish are a main food source here when they are in season. Here are a few pointers for catching them.
1. First and foremost, CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS ON TRAPS AND LIMITS.
2. They can be caught in traps, or with crawfish nets, or (if you must) a small jug or bucket. The best way to catch them is traps. Vinyl coated traps work better because they will not feel the metal of the wire. Down here, there are 2 main types of traps that work very well. Read this study by LSU AG Center.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_...aps+Needed.htm
3. The best bait for traps is FRESH fish (preferably oily fish or fish heads and guts) but beef melt (cow pancreaus) is used by most recreational crawfishermen.
Most recreational crawfishermen use crawfish nets because it requires more attention and is more fun. See here>
http://www.memphisnet.net/product/5059/nets_crawfish
The nets are much easier to pack and in a survival situation, one or two nets would probably be suficent for 1 or 2 people.
4. To cook them at home....
30 lbs of Live Crawfish (1 sack)
2 bags of Onions
2 bags Small Potatoes
12 Ears of Corn (cut in half)
3 packs of hotdogs
3 pounds of smoke sausage (cut 3 inches long)
12 whole cloves Fresh Garlic
2 packs Fresh Mushrooms
8 Lemons
8 oranges
3 lbs Seafood Boil Powder (Zateran's is best)
1 big bottle of liquid Seafood Boil (Zateran's is best)
about a dozen fresh bay leaves (if available)
12 Pack of Cold Beer (at least)

Directions:
1. If you have not already done so, drink a cold beer.
2. After your beer, you would normally purge the crawfish. This is done by placing them in a container (or ice chest), filling it with water and adding a container of salt, wait about 5 minutes and rinse until clear water comes out.
3. Drink another beer. Give one to a friend.
4. Fill the large pot half full with fresh water, place on outdoor propane cooker, and start the fire. Place the lid on the pot and bring water to a boil.
5. Add Liquid Seafood Boil, bay leaves, and 2 pounds powder (save rest for later) to water (Zateran's is the best). Let the boiling water mix it well for a minute or so.
6. Time to drink another beer. Send sober friend to store for more beer.
7. Drop in the onions (halved), the potatoes and fresh garlic. Let this cook, keeping an eye on the potatoes. (Check for doneness by stabbing with a sharp knife or fork. If it goes in easy, it is cooked. Hint; Do not over cook potatoes, slightly under cook them because they will continue to steam and cook in ice chest. You don't want to end up with mashed potatoes.) When the potatoes are almost done, add the hot dogs, sausage, corn and mushrooms. After they have cooked, lower the fire on the burner and remove the basket. Place them in a small clean ice chest - don't close the lid - just place foil on top. Time to drink another beer.
8. Turn the heat up on the burner. Add more spice to the water. (About 1/2 lbs., save rest of spice for later.) Take the lemons and oranges (halved) and squeeze the juice in the water. Then add the lemons and oranges to the water. When the water comes to a real good boil place the crawfish into the basket and put the basket in the pot. (Be careful - it's very hot!) Put the lid on the pot and enjoy another beer.
9. When the water comes back to a boil - keep a very close eye on this part - let it boil for 4 minutes and turn off the fire. Let it soak for another 3 minutes and then remove. Kill the boil when you turn it off by adding cold water or ice, not much is needed maybe a gallon or so (Tip- have some 2 liter bottles almost full of water and frozen, use these instead of loose ice so that you do not dilute your water for the next batch). Then let the crawfish soak. They will sink to the bottom and fill with spicy water (JUICES).
10. Get an old table and place old newspapers on top. Dump the basket of crawfish on top of the newspaper and sprinkle with leftover spice.
11. Dump the onions, potatoes, corn and garlic on top of the crawfish. Now it's time to really drink beer and eat. The vegetables are for those guests who cannot figure out how to peel the crawfish (we call them Yankees, LOL). At least they won't starve.

Use leftover spice to experiment. You can always add more to the ice chest. Sprinkle it on, stir it up and let it steam in chest for 10 minutes. Then test again.


Tips:
1. To hold hot crawfish for a short time (1-2 hours), you can use a styrofoam ice chest. Most plastic chests will melt or warp.
2. Use leftover spice to experiment. You can always add more to the ice chest. Sprinkle it on, stir it up and let it steam in chest for 10 minutes. Then test again.

In a survival situation, they are a great food because even if you want to cook them, they cook quickly and easily, though they will not have much flavor, they are a good food source found in many places.

---

Thanks Rick! I enjoyed this post! Almost time for my second haul!

Thanks Rick,

Those links did help! I especially liked this post, Originally Posted by catfish10101
Hello people, I am from Louisiana. Born here and will die here. Crawfish are a main food source here when they are in season. Here are a few pointers for catching them.
1. First and foremost, CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS ON TRAPS AND LIMITS.
2. They can be caught in traps, or with crawfish nets, or (if you must) a small jug or bucket. The best way to catch them is traps. Vinyl coated traps work better because they will not feel the metal of the wire. Down here, there are 2 main types of traps that work very well. Read this study by LSU AG Center.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_...aps+Needed.htm
3. The best bait for traps is FRESH fish (preferably oily fish or fish heads and guts) but beef melt (cow pancreaus) is used by most recreational crawfishermen.
Most recreational crawfishermen use crawfish nets because it requires more attention and is more fun. See here>
http://www.memphisnet.net/product/5059/nets_crawfish
The nets are much easier to pack and in a survival situation, one or two nets would probably be suficent for 1 or 2 people.
4. To cook them at home....
30 lbs of Live Crawfish (1 sack)
2 bags of Onions
2 bags Small Potatoes
12 Ears of Corn (cut in half)
3 packs of hotdogs
3 pounds of smoke sausage (cut 3 inches long)
12 whole cloves Fresh Garlic
2 packs Fresh Mushrooms
8 Lemons
8 oranges
3 lbs Seafood Boil Powder (Zateran's is best)
1 big bottle of liquid Seafood Boil (Zateran's is best)
about a dozen fresh bay leaves (if available)
12 Pack of Cold Beer (at least)

Directions:
1. If you have not already done so, drink a cold beer.
2. After your beer, you would normally purge the crawfish. This is done by placing them in a container (or ice chest), filling it with water and adding a container of salt, wait about 5 minutes and rinse until clear water comes out.
3. Drink another beer. Give one to a friend.
4. Fill the large pot half full with fresh water, place on outdoor propane cooker, and start the fire. Place the lid on the pot and bring water to a boil.
5. Add Liquid Seafood Boil, bay leaves, and 2 pounds powder (save rest for later) to water (Zateran's is the best). Let the boiling water mix it well for a minute or so.
6. Time to drink another beer. Send sober friend to store for more beer.
7. Drop in the onions (halved), the potatoes and fresh garlic. Let this cook, keeping an eye on the potatoes. (Check for doneness by stabbing with a sharp knife or fork. If it goes in easy, it is cooked. Hint; Do not over cook potatoes, slightly under cook them because they will continue to steam and cook in ice chest. You don't want to end up with mashed potatoes.) When the potatoes are almost done, add the hot dogs, sausage, corn and mushrooms. After they have cooked, lower the fire on the burner and remove the basket. Place them in a small clean ice chest - don't close the lid - just place foil on top. Time to drink another beer.
8. Turn the heat up on the burner. Add more spice to the water. (About 1/2 lbs., save rest of spice for later.) Take the lemons and oranges (halved) and squeeze the juice in the water. Then add the lemons and oranges to the water. When the water comes to a real good boil place the crawfish into the basket and put the basket in the pot. (Be careful - it's very hot!) Put the lid on the pot and enjoy another beer.
9. When the water comes back to a boil - keep a very close eye on this part - let it boil for 4 minutes and turn off the fire. Let it soak for another 3 minutes and then remove. Kill the boil when you turn it off by adding cold water or ice, not much is needed maybe a gallon or so (Tip- have some 2 liter bottles almost full of water and frozen, use these instead of loose ice so that you do not dilute your water for the next batch). Then let the crawfish soak. They will sink to the bottom and fill with spicy water (JUICES).
10. Get an old table and place old newspapers on top. Dump the basket of crawfish on top of the newspaper and sprinkle with leftover spice.
11. Dump the onions, potatoes, corn and garlic on top of the crawfish. Now it's time to really drink beer and eat. The vegetables are for those guests who cannot figure out how to peel the crawfish (we call them Yankees, LOL). At least they won't starve.

Use leftover spice to experiment. You can always add more to the ice chest. Sprinkle it on, stir it up and let it steam in chest for 10 minutes. Then test again.


Tips:
1. To hold hot crawfish for a short time (1-2 hours), you can use a styrofoam ice chest. Most plastic chests will melt or warp.
2. Use leftover spice to experiment. You can always add more to the ice chest. Sprinkle it on, stir it up and let it steam in chest for 10 minutes. Then test again.

In a survival situation, they are a great food because even if you want to cook them, they cook quickly and easily, though they will not have much flavor, they are a good food source found in many places.

Just got back from checking the trap. 5 or 6 small crawdad's was it. I released them. What did we learn? The first time I had put bread balss in the trap along with Herring. This time was just herring. I had left the trap in the same location. I have now moved the trap but didn't have bread balls at the ditch cause I honestly thought the Herring was what nabbed the great catch the first time. Looks like maybe it was the bread. If nothing happens this time I will know what bait is best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by catfish10101

The vegetables are for those guests who cannot figure out how to peel the crawfish (we call them Yankees, LOL). At least they won't starve.

---

:sneaky2: That's 'cause us Yankees are only used to eatin' them saltwater crawfish. We call 'em lobsters. When we wanna cook up 30 lbs, we don't weigh 'em, we just throw a dozen in the pot. To us, crawfish are just newly hatched lobster eggs.

We boil ours up with some spices and about 2 quarts of liquid crushed red pepper in it's own juices - like Hopeak says, that's what real men use. We serve it with drawn butter. But if we've had too many beers, we just get lazy and use a couple of pounds of Zateran's Seafood Boil. It's the best!

Anyway, thanks for the recipe. It's similar to the one I use for my shrimp boil.

Here's what the liquid crushed red pepper looks like:

Just checked my trap for third time today. I think it must be that the bait of choice is bread balls. It was empty except for one minnow. Good news though it was the first minnow. I moved and rebaited the trap to include those wonderful bread balls. It is dusk thirty now so we will need a light for this last set. Waiting...........................

To keep things organized I merged both "Crawfish" threads into one.:cool2:

Well, ain't that cool. Looks like you won't have to worry about stocking the ditch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Well, ain't that cool. Looks like you won't have to worry about stocking the ditch.

---

I baited and set 4 times. The first time I got approx. 30, the last time I just came in, about 5 and not many in between. Not sure if it is the time of day the bait or what makes them crawl in the cage. I do know I am cooking the keepers right now along with our gardens first yield. So I have protein and a great source of beta carotine right outta my back yard!

I have more pics and a new trap that I was gonna share but, just gonna let it lie being my post is done.

Why not just post them here in the merged thread. All of your posts are here on the topic.

I will when time permits. Just got a little befuzzled when my post just disappeared. Now that I know what happened it makes sense. I also ran outta steam because it looks like the subject has been well documented as it is.

The other option is you ate the ones that were in the ditch!

Yeah, post some pics of that new trap you've been talking about. Thats amazing, right in your backyard. I'd love to do that, trouble is in the winter, my water becomes somewhat of a solid. The craws could survive the cold i think, but the water underneath becomes stagnant and pretty gross. IF I kept it circulating it would be good, but the equipment for that is expensive. I would not want to restock every year, so does anybody know of a cheap way to keep water liquid in -35 degree weather? There is actually a "guy" that sells live craws for stocking not to far from here. Therefore, its legal, but impractical to stock every year. Anybody have any ideas?

I will do more with the post soon. One thing I had considered was digging a small impoundment. The crawfish only need 18-24 in. of water. This way you could stock and feed'em. Yeah, I too was a little concerned about water quality. I figured eat'em now while a doctor was readily available.... Logic? This is an irrigation ditch. Run off water is not always of acceptable quality even for a fish pond you need a spring or other source. A paddlewheel aerator is what is used to move water in a crawfish pond. Usually a motor drives a good size paddle wheel and it just throws water around at the surface. Also part of the yearly cycle is a time when the pond is allowed to dry up and the crawfish burrow. I will post a link that will help you understand the production of crawfish a little later gotta hit the shower, time to goto work. Gees I don't wanna wake up this morning.

Quote:

---

Gees I don't wanna wake up this morning.

---

It sure as heck beats the alternative.

You wouldn't have to use a paddle wheel to aerate. Folks around here use a fountain to aerate small ponds. Just pump the water through a hose into the air and let it fall back in the pond. Looks like a fountain.

http://www.pondaerators.com/images/pondaerator.jpg