Crayfish and Minnow Traps

[Michigander]

So I want to start catching minnows and crayfish. I used to do this as a kid but that was always in current in creeks/rivers. If I want to drop a trap in a lake off of my kayak, what type of trap should I get?

 

 

[TnRiver46]

51 minutes ago, Michigander said:

So I want to start catching minnows and crayfish. I used to do this as a kid but that was always in current in creeks/rivers. If I want to drop a trap in a lake off of my kayak, what type of trap should I get?

 

 

I trap them off my dock on a lake with a wire funnel trap you get at wal mart or anywhere.  I always seem to get shiners and baby bluegill in the lakes. And you have to release trapped bluegill in TN, they are only legal for bait if caught with rod/reel. But the shiners work great and usually get into the trap within 5-10 minutes of setting it 

[Michigander]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I trap them off my dock on a lake with a wire funnel trap you get at wal mart or anywhere.  I always seem to get shiners and baby bluegill in the lakes. And you have to release trapped bluegill in TN, they are only legal for bait if caught with rod/reel. But the shiners work great and usually get into the trap within 5-10 minutes of setting it 

Ok, that's cool. I'm not using for bait, just measuring size and photographing so I can keep the pics as reference when I'm making/painting lures.

 

What kind of bait do you use in the trap?

[TnRiver46]

18 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Ok, that's cool. I'm not using for bait, just measuring size and photographing so I can keep the pics as reference when I'm making/painting lures.

 

What kind of bait do you use in the trap?

Bout anything works. I use stale bread 

[Michigander]

23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bout anything works. I use stale bread 

We used crackers as a kid, so roughly the same.

 

When you say "funnel" are you talking about the double ended cylindrical ones?

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, Michigander said:

We used crackers as a kid, so roughly the same.

 

When you say "funnel" are you talking about the double ended cylindrical ones?

Indeed . Bottom shelf at most stores 

[J Francho]

There is a nice, long thread on traps, baiting, and ethical treatment of bacon if you do a search. 

[Michigander]

25 minutes ago, J Francho said:

There is a nice, long thread on traps, baiting, and ethical treatment of bacon if you do a search. 

Oh, I'll see what I can find. I dislike bacon abuse!

[DitchPanda]

I use a frabil black mesh cylindrical shape one. I use bread or dry cat food. Some spots I catch more craws than minnows.

[Bluebasser86]

Bury a milk jug in the mud with hotdogs in it for craws. Leave it overnight. They craw in to get the food and can't get back out.

[Kyle S]

Setting a trap to catch craws sounds like a fantastic idea to be able to see what color and size are most abundant in my waterways. I had my first experience of 'matching the hatch' this past summer. I was in the middle of moving rocks along the shoreline so that I could launch my boat into a friends pond when I spotted a crayfish that was dark green and had orange claws. Needless to say I tipped a green pumpkin baby rage bug with orange spike it and HAD A BLAST that day. I might just have to try trapping crayfish in the river that I fish to try and get a better idea of what they look like. Thanks @Michigander for stirring my curiosity lol

[J Francho]