Huge Crawfish Are Caught at a New Spot Called Crawdad Island

Mike and his fishing buddy, Kevin, venture out to a brand new spot crawfishing. They are shocked by the amount and the size of the crawfish they catch on a remote island. Come along with us on this crazy and fun adventure we call Crawdad Island!

[@alistairclark6814]

You guys got me fully hooked! For the last 3 weeks I have been filling my freezer with Northern Crayfish here in the Southern Alberta, Canada reservoirs. I have been making my own pillow case traps and having tonnes success. Facinating, delicious little creatures! The northern crayfish got very active around here April 1st in 40 degree water. CRAY-Z!

[@stephenbenson5]

Finding new spots is a lot of fun and a big part of the crawfishing experience. Thanks for sharing this adventure. It was a lot of fun to see!

[@royolson1268]

Nice mike and Kevin. It’s always fun trying new spots.

[@wayne-oo]

Really like this newer format, I wish you gave tips on how to throw a trap , the ins and outs of the best place to set at in a new area ! Great job guys !!!

[@crayster3926]

Heck yeah, check out these hacks. I think its just what you are looking for! kzbin.info/aero/PLTN-rJxBLrChK4w3aDU2qWfE1znrkw3vz

[@andykjohnsonjohnson7622]

Spectacular video Mike and Kevin 👍.

[@crayster3926]

Thanks for coming along with us!

[@KB-nz5tb]

Huge crawfish brothers! Nice spot. Can't wait to get some good gulfcoast crawfish after being in Japan for 3 years. New sub!

[@crayster3926]

Thanks KB, welcome back!

[@WesternEclectic]

Nice! That last trap would have been my entire daily limit here in Oregon!

[@scoremat]

What a spectacular day on the river! Thanks for sharing

[@MrHrKaidoOjamaaVKJV]

Wow that is an awesome bounty catch by Kevin& Mike! Of sine reak fresh water Lobsters! Way to go gentlemen! Safe Journeys to Everyone!

[@crayster3926]

Thanks for joining us Kaido!

[@MrHrKaidoOjamaaVKJV]

@@crayster3926 Wish I could have been there in person with you guys! Those Signal Crayfish are truly Fresh Water Lobster! Looking forward to such in a calmer future time peroid.

[@carlecarl42]

I am going to try your spot this weekend. I am about two miles away.

[@monicafolse8103]

Awesome catch

[@crayster3926]

Thanks for joining us!

[@Lala11701]

This reminds me of a place in Tn :) beautiful scenery

[@dterice8767]

Nice spot

[@dacandydog]

I love it! So much!

[@GurrasGarage]

Wow! that last trap 👍

[@crayster3926]

Yeah, even we were shocked. Thanks for watching!

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

That's amazing. I live down South and see a lot of crawfish. Those are neck and neck with some of Louisiana biggest.

[@conversationswithkat5710]

Can you find crawfish year round? I live in NC, and I've never tried to find them before. Now, I want to try! This looks fun!

[@LLUX543]

We used to go there alot were you guys crossed we walked allover through there flipping rocks and catching the crawdads. Didnt have traps at that time tho. Great video guys!

[@crayster3926]

Thanks for watching! We actually saw crawfish In the river on the walk over to the island. That place was loaded.

[@capo337g]

Best bait for traps after yrs of crawfishing is beef liver imo

[@crayster3926]

It does depend on the bread of crawfish, but we have found hands down fresh fish work the best in all of our comparison testing. But if you are catching craws that's all that counts!

[@westcoaster3763]

@@crayster3926 fresh fish works best for me, salmon and tuna carcasses

[@BombedNevada]

When does the season pick up? Still too early? This gives me a really good idea of some places to try.

[@TechnoBabbles]

I am trying to get into crawfishing, are there certain areas you really look at when looking for new spots?

[@crayster3926]

You bet, check out our Crawfishing hacks on our page. Lots of good info there.

[@christowphersadventures6527]

I feel like your accent is from the Midwest. Are you from Minnesota?

[@jerrystruhs]

Idaho

[@richy12zzz]

Are they still active this time of year? Starting to get colder in Idaho.

[@crayster3926]

Yep, coming to an end.

[@andrewhedger3872]

I live in south central Indiana. After watching your videos, I bought two Crayster Lake Traps and the Crayster bait attractant. I baited both traps with fresh salmon filet pieces marinated in the attractant for 3 hours. I threw them out in my pond overnight and nothing. I didn't catch a thing. Kind of discouraging given how easy you guys make it look in Idaho in just one hour.

[@eattheinvaders.3037]

I will attempt to help you, these guys rarely answer. Very discouraginging when you get skunked. Let's see if we change your luck. So basically they're selling you a package designed specifically for signal crayfish in the Pacific Northwest. Indiana has a few types of crayfish. The species is the main factor for determining best bait. The habitat they're in determines which type of trap to use. The species and habitat determine the soak time. Generically speaking, herring or mackerel is usually a good bait regardless of species. Do not use rotten or stinky fish! Fish works better than butcher scraps or road kill. Generically speaking an overnight or 24hr soak is recommended. This varies a lot however. For example, in warm water signal crayfish inside your full trap can eat 3lbs of fish in an hour. . Which trap to use and where to place it: Average size of crayfish you're attempting to catch? Stream, reservoir with flow through, or lake/pond? Is the bed substrate comprised mostly of mud, of sand, or of stone? Is exposed bedrock present? Does it have a mud bank? Shoreline aquatic vegetation present? Is the pond or lake choked with millfoil? . Barrel traps. They can be cylindrical or may be wider in the middle. Essentially this is a minnow trap with larger openings so the crayfish will fit through. No bait pouch or cage needed with these, but it will slow down how quickly they consume the bait. These are best in flowing semi clear to clear water with stone beds, exposed bedrock, and even streams with a mix of sand/bedrock or sand/stones. Place them in areas just downstream of loosely piled rocks, log jams, root wads, bedrock crevices, other submerged where they can easily hide. If the stream has a sandy/stone bottom mud banks, you may need to place the traps close to bank to lure them out of burrows. For streams a depth of 1.5 ft. to 18 ft. will be the range. Usually about waist to shoulder deep. Remember that crayfish are nocturnal. If trapping during daylight hours, shady spots will work better than open sunlight. . Umbrella traps, box traps, and collapsible traps. You'll want to use a bait pouch with any mesh traps (umbrella, collapsible). These are best for reservoirs, lakes, ponds, and slow moving streams with predominantly silty, sandy, or mud bottoms. In areas that aren't choked with millfoil. What's important is that sit relatively flat on the bottom and stay in place. Collapsible traps can sometimes be used in stony streams with current, but you have to weight them to keep them anchored. . Pillow traps. Best for shallow ponds and lakes and best for waters choked by millfoil. In weed choked waters these traps can be placed horizontally so long as they're completely submerged. Allowing you to physically jam it down into the weeds. . Things that factor into soak time, the number of traps you set out, and the distance between traps: Species. Population density. Scent flow and distribution. Water temperature. Altitude. Barometric pressure. Basically you'll have to figure out how fast the traps will fill up and how full they get depending on how spread out they are. For streams a minimum of 200 yards between traps. For deep reservoirs and lakes about 500 yards apart, and for shallow reservoirs about 250 yards apart. For ponds as close as 50 yards apart if the population density is high enough. . Last bit of advice. If the bottom is silty or muddy, then purge the craysish in clean water for 24 to 72 hours and change water as needed during the purge. Do not cook them whole. Dispatch your crayfish, then remove the tails and claws. Devein the tails. Discard the heads or use them to catch smallmouth bass. Boil the tails and pinchers in a light brine for 10 minutes. Drain and "shock" them. Peel and eat. Dip in melted butter. Sautee in butter and garlic. Serve with fettuccine alfredo. Etc.

[@eattheinvaders.3037]

Oh. One more thing. Herring may be referred to as pogie bait. Atlantic or Pacific mackerel both work the same as each other. Also try using game fish caught from the place where crawdads are found. But not catfish, they suck for bait.

[@andrewhedger3872]

@@eattheinvaders.3037 Wow! You are a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for taking the time to reply in such lengthy detail. My son and I were discouraged, but not defeated. We will happily put your advice to work. You are much appreciated.

[@mylivingsoil]

@@eattheinvaders.3037 your awesome! Thanks for the lengthy description! From Canada

[@eattheinvaders.3037]

@@mylivingsoil You're welcome.. Btw, in southern B.C. there are some coastal rivers that are loaded with signal crayfish. Mid August is a very good time to harvest them. They are also found in streams on Vancouver Idland. Check the current regulations because there was a limit of 25 per day a few years back.

[@elysiataylor2097]

Where is this located

[@andyeldridge3503]

What bait did you use there?

[@jerrystruhs]

Fresh fish scraps if allowed by your state regs.

[@williamhills6039]

What state you in

[@crayster3926]

This episode was filmed in Idaho.

[@crayster3926]

We are in Idaho

[@backroadbbqgrill239]

And you said it was located where? 😉😁

[@jerrystruhs]

On crawfish Island! 😉🦞🦞😉

[@crayster3926]

Snake River in Idaho. It was an amazing time, thanks for watching!

[@huntingkc1]

Anybody in Ohio or Indiana?

[@liddochaos]

You guys should free dive for them. Be more exciting

[@crayster3926]

Yeah, that is why we made our traps. less work more eating and fun.