How to Bait a Crawfish Trap

The saying that goes "curiosity killed the cat" could easily be applied to crawfish -- also known as crayfish and mudbugs. A recent study published in the "Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences" showed that in a test of baited and unbaited traps, more crayfish were caught in the unbaited traps by almost 2-to-1. That said, baiting your crawfish trap is still your best bet. Baiting a crawfish trap requires placing the bait in the middle of the trap so that the crawfish has to enter, then is unable to leave.

Things You'll Need

  • Crawfish trap
  • Canned pet food or fish bait
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Instructions

    • 1

      Anchor the crawfish trap using metal spikes -- either about 2 feet past the edge of the water or in the ground just off the water's edge.

    • 2

      Place the bait -- approximately 1/4 to 1/3 lb. of bait per trap -- in the center of the trap. If using canned pet food, poke several holes in the sides of the can so that the food slowly seeps out. Cut any fish bait in half so the blood runs into the water or groundwater.

    • 3

      Check and replace the bait every two days during cold water months and every day during warmer water months. Discard of the unused bait.