Trapping Big Signal Crayfish in the Pacific Northwest

[@crayster3926]

Cool video. Looks like some great eating. We subscribed to your channel! Keep up the good work. (Mike)

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks Mike! It's a huge compliment to get a shoutout from Crayster! I've learned a lot from watching your videos. Thanks for your support.

[@crayster3926]

You bet and keep up the great videos. Great to have you as a new friend! @@WesternEclectic

[@AlexPThorn]

the ABSOLUTE BEST BAIT for crab, lobster, crayfish is PLAIN OLD HOTDOGS , thats right, i tried it in my crab traps and wholly Toledo did it work, i never use anything else any more. CRABS ABSOLUTELY LOVE HOTDOGS HAHAHA, TRY IT YOU'LL SEE!!! :)

[@chrisspalding1463]

You can make a trap out of a coffee can.

[@ShellyAnn1a]

@@AlexPThorn They love cheap cat food as well, I have used several different flavors of cat food in my crab traps and it seems to attract the crabs rather nicely. Also have used frozen tuna blood and the remains from when mom and I canned tuna, the blood and oil draws the crabs in. It may also draw in small blue sharks, have had some small ones about 2.5 to 3 feet in length in my traps. They are always a surprise. I have never tried the hotdogs though.

[@ShellyAnn1a]

I also live in the PNW, the last time I went crayfish fishing the limit was 122 per person. Dad owned a sportings good store and he saved the styrofoam buckets that bobbers came in. We would take those and wade out into the river which was just a little deeper then knee deep where we went and pick them up off the bottom. When our buckets were full we took them back to the low water bridge and dump them into our big ice chest which we filled with water. When we were done we would sort them out by size and throw the smaller ones back. After getting them home, cooked and cleaned we would pack them into half pound containers then freeze them. Some we kept out. My favorite was a crayfish, chanterelle mushrooms and mixed cheese omelet. Littering does spoil the fishing, I went back in there a couple of years ago and found a couple of car batteries dumped in the river, there was not a crawdad in sight, nor were there any fish. Managed to get the batteries out and hauled away, but have not been back since, hopefully the river has recovered there and down stream.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Shelly, this is a great story about catching crayfish; thank you for posting it. Too bad about the trash (and no crayfish) when you returned, but I'm happy to hear you were able to get the trash out. Imagine how good our rivers and streams would look if everyone did that! I have had chanterelles (mushroom hunting is one of my other favorite activities to do in our area and I've posted some videos on this too), but never thought of pairing them with crayfish. Sounds good! I'll have to give it a try sometime...

[@John-mf6ky]

A crawdad, chanterelle, and cheese omelette sounds great tbh!

[@pffear]

Years ago in the mid 70's I was trapping crawdads in the Sacramento river. I had 3 bait shops and 3 Cajun Restaurants I would sell my catch to.... All of the little ones would go to the bait shops, while all of the big ones (and I got some almost the size of rock lobsters with tails 4'' x 1'' and big meaty claws) and those inbetween were dinner..... I had 2 lines with 20 traps set 20 feet apart on anchor rope, and a short line with 10 traps set 10 feet apart on a rope for tight spots and I would check them every 2 or 3 days.... My traps were a bit bigger than yours and were home made out of 1/4'' fence wire.... Same design as yours but about 2 foot long by 10 inch diameter and I would fill up the 4 foot wash tub in my boat every day I went out..... My customers loved me that summer but I had to give it up when I went off to college and even I got sick of FW Lobsters for every meal after a while but I had a freezer full of freshly cooked & peeled tails and claws that cut the food bill for my first semester of college.

[@WesternEclectic]

Wow, very cool to read! Thanks for sharing this!

[@daveyboy8907]

You could have skipped college and got rich starting a Bubba Gump crawfish store..

[@pffear]

@@daveyboy8907 Thought about it until the summer ended and the bait shops stopped buying, even the restaurants slowed way down. So college was good. And the ARMY was better.....

[@jamessmith6363]

Yo what part of the Sacramento River? I’ve heard the river delta before Benica bay is best. Please lemme know I’m definitely interested just trying to have a good time lol

[@pffear]

@@jamessmith6363 I ran my traps up in the slues in the delta around Ielton and Sherman island and up to Sacramento in a 12 foot aluminum boat with a 6hp OB motor.... It's best to get up river above the salt water line that in 1975 was reaching Pittsburgh Antioch area.... That wash tub would just fit in the middle of the boat, gunnel to gunnel and about 2 inches lower than the top of the sides of the boat and I'd have it so full of dad's they'd be falling out and crawling around the bottom of the boat❗😜❗ I grew up eating crawdads before I ever knew what a lobster was, so when I say I got sick of eating them you gotta know I went through a lot of them.... And I was selling 50% to 70% of them to the bait shops and restaurants I had lined up..... I only ate the ones I couldn't sell that were too big for bait and too small for the restaurant to take.....😜 Good luck James, I hope ya catch a bunch. One thing though, I don't know about the fish & game laws out there now, so watch out for that..... What we could get away with then, they'll probably throw you so deep in jail for these days.... They'd have to pump you sun light on a special order from the Governor.....😱😧😱

[@sacp2273]

I build my own traps and use the chicken guts and neck left over from whole roasting chickens that come in a bag. The kind you might Beer Can or Rotisserie. I use them in small portioned ziplocked frozen portions. These go in the inside top hung bait cage. (no cans of food to buy or pack out later.) Any remainders I toss like you do. I return females and juveniles and only keep large males. My typical trap is about 3ft long and of similar design to your purchased ones, except home made with 1/2 inch galvanized wire mesh and ziptied together. Trap doors are identical and simply ziptied on to fit by cutting an opening and reattaching with the same ties. TO keep the trap door and suspended bait cages closed I use bread clips. Typical haul averages about 45-60 per trap per 48hr soak. Total cost per trap is about $2 finished. Bait is free, bread clips are free, and so are the Crayfish. No limit, no permit, no record, and only a suggested season right here in the NW. The best part is because they are fresh cool water animals, and not from the "Swamp" they are clean and sweet don't need purging like the Louisiana crayfish do. To cook I coil or steam in plain tap water, shock in ice water to chill. Peel and serve with fresh squeezed lemon juice and clarified melted butter for dipping.

[@WesternEclectic]

Wow great ideas! Thank you for commenting!

[@Odqvist89]

Lovely video, and you've got a nice fishing spot too. I live in Sweden and i love our crayfish (kräftor). I really like to know how you cook yours. Here is how we do it in the Swedish countryside: 1 kg Fresh, living crayfish 5 l Water 0,5 l Bavarian Lager or Porter 5 bits Raw cane sugar Coarse salt Dill flowers Bring all ingredients but the crayfish to boil. Boil 5 minutes. Remove dill flowers. Rinse the crayfish and put them, a couple at a time, in the boil. Add more dill flowers. Simmer 4 minutes, then rapidly cool. Store at < 3 Celsius 2-3 days, then serve with bread, strong cheese, swedish Västerbotten Cheese-pie, swedish nubbe (snaps), aquavit and dark lager.

[@WesternEclectic]

Wow, thank you for sharing your crayfish recipe! This sounds great and I am definitely going to try it. My understanding is that in Sweden crayfish are typically eaten cold with lots of dill (your recipe seems to verify this) whereas in the southern US crayfish are often eaten Cajun style: boiled with lots of spices and usually lemon, corn, potatoes, mushrooms, and andouille sausage and served hot. I have done it this way but have also made crayfish pie, crayfish etouffee, crayfish quiche, etc... Just making this list is making me hungry! I have had a few other requests for how to clean and cook crayfish, so I plan to make a video on this soon. Thanks again for watching and commenting. Skål!

[@Odqvist89]

@@WesternEclectic You're welcome! Yes, we are kinda savage over here. We typically eat them straight up with kinda simple side dishes, and often cold, as you said. Sweden is an old country, and crayfish has moved between being concidered as trash food for smallfolk and hoboes, to feasts for kings. This made the crayfish endangered by heavy fishing, and early regulations stated that we are only allowed to catch crayfish in august. Thereby, catching crayfish has become one of swedens deepest, most beloved traditions, as a feast to celebrate the last days of summer. We arrange big crayfish-parties, Kräftskivor, outdoors with lanterns, decorations, swedish snaps-songs and cheers. We eat them straight up, sucking the juices from the claws, joints, bodies, eating the meat in claws, bodies, the "butter" and "caviar" in the females. Typically we cook in august, and freeze in crayfish in the cooking liquid for store over the year. Ah, now I got an urge or crayfish. Maybe I'll thaw a box of them.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@Odqvist89 Cool! I now have a new goal to add to my life wish list: Attend a Kräftskivor party someday! Thanks for the information, and I hope you have some good crayfishing this August. I'll work on that crayfish cooking video I've been promising to make, so stay tuned.

[@Odqvist89]

You are welcome to visit. Jst stay away from the capital and the other big cities. Swedes are a shy people, but get out to the countryside and have a few snaps and you will be most welcome and they'll be curious about you. We love to have western visitors here and most of them appreciate our nature, most because of "Allemansrätten" which allows anyone by law to walk in all forests, pick berries, mushrooms and even camp one night at the same spot without allowance from the estate owner. We are a small country, but I like to think we are a country of four seasons and with a variety of climates. There are the lush green fields of Skåne, the salt thorn cliffs of Bohuslän with its small fishing villages, the vast archipelagos of Göteborg and Stockholm, the high coasts of the north, vast pineridden lowlands of norrland, the high mountain ranges and then Sarek, the crown of it all, highest up in the north, with its blushing colours of leaf. I believe we got the most of americas variety here, just in a really scaled down size.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@Odqvist89 That sounds amazing and I am determined to visit Sweden someday. Thank you for all the great information!

[@model-man7802]

Great Video,not too loud,No screaming or rotten music and very informative..👍👍two thumbs up!!

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you!

[@John-mf6ky]

Grew up eating a lot of signals and invasives in Oregon. My Grandfather actually had a business catching them in the Tualatin river and selling to places in Portland (Jake's and I believe a few others).

[@John-mf6ky]

Used to also built a lot of traps as a kid with wire, nets, chicken wire, window screens. Used to use hot dogs, from carp we caught, dog/cat food, liver. Really, whatever we could get our hands on

[@WesternEclectic]

Cool! That's really neat that your grandfather actually made it into a business. Thanks for sharing this.

[@conquerandwin]

I was on a fishing dock one time and dropped my crayfish trap in to see if I might catch anything while fishing. There was one other guy who showed up to fish, and within 20 minutes he was pulling my trap up. I was blown away, and gave him the evil eye when I let him know it was my trap. That was with me RIGHT THERE. I can't imagine leaving a trap out... Always keep traps concealed. Good advice and video.

[@WesternEclectic]

It's really frustrating that this happens. I think most people are decent and would never intentionally mess with someone else's traps, but it only takes one jerk to steal your trap(s) and ruin your day. I'm really glad you were to stop this guy and I hope he learned not to tamper with another person's gear. By the way, some people commented that it's pointless to use the camouflage line when the traps have those bright yellow funnels, but I disagree. I made another video and included a portion where I show that the camouflage line is still worth it; you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o16ukp6Pbb2ah68. Thanks for checking in!

[@rtchow3000]

yep, i know how you felt. the mexican family did that stole my trap . this family was eating lunch while i was setting my trap. i should have just taken it back with me. never trust anyone.

[@PNW_SV650]

I've had this happen to me too! This kid pulled in my pot, and even picked up my rod and reeled in my line a bit. All while his dad was standing right there, not saying a word. Some people just grow up without learning any manners.

[@korzer]

I got some trap the same as yours, and used tuna catfood. But I found I caught more crayfish when I removed the whole lid fixed the can to the bottom of the trap, the crays feeding frenzy seemed to release more scent and catch more. I was leaving my traps overnight. thank you for the videos.

[@lorirowland5377]

Never had a crayfish, but they do look so good. Enjoyed your video and will keep watching

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you Lori! And crayfish most definitely are delicious; I hope you have the opportunity to try them sometime.

[@shirleymorrison9047]

How about I tell you everything you did right. Loved how you made a point about keeping things clean after you leave. Also, being informative about the rules/laws.

[@kristeelrod3367]

Great haul. I agree with you 100% about leaving the area how you found it, too, clean up if someone else has left litter.

[@brianwheway1933]

Ok, now you have caught them, what do you do with them? how do you cook them? how do you prepare them for cooking? do you de shell them? do you make a soup from them? please tell us more

[@WesternEclectic]

Hey Brian, great questions. I've made a video describing all of this! Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKuYg6homZuDb8k

[@henrycovell4362]

I heard mackerel or herring fish do quite well

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Henry, thanks for checking in. I've never used these fish, but I've also heard they make for good crayfish bait. I'll have to try it sometime!

[@henrycovell4362]

This made my day thanks

[@southwestsearch]

That was one big buying point about the size of the mesh! No sorting. I checked the Internet, including shipping $60 Canadian. Pretty pricey but might be worth it.

[@WesternEclectic]

Yep, for the size of the signal crayfish we have here in Oregon, these traps work well. I've used them on red swamp crayfish too and the "automatic sorting" from the mesh size works well for them too. Regardless of what traps you get, good luck and happy crayfishing!

[@bxlandry]

This video was GREAT! I live in Stanwood WA and I have never gone crayfishing and this helped me so much.

[@misterjim4458]

Not to sound like a wise-acre but at 1:00 you mention not using bright colored lines to which I agree to avoid detection/theft... BUT don't you kinda defeat the purpose w/ fluorescent colored traps?

[@WesternEclectic]

That's a fair question and no, you don't sound like a wise acre. 🙂 A few other folks commented about this, so I addressed it this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o16ukp6Pbb2ah68

[@gomeljohn9]

A few comments. I bring a net with me. Notice how on your first trap you had a big male on the outside? I always get a few hanging on the outside. I scoop them with the net and increase my keep per net. Second, I also wipe a little bait (Cat food would work. Or the juice) on the line, and I have a few crayfish hanging on the line as I pull it in. They don't all go in the trap, so this adds more. The net again is used to scoop them up. (I get about 150 in 2 - 3 hours of working the lake I go to. Pretty heavily populated lake. That's just the keepers. I don't count the little guys. About 4 inches is my minimum size, up to 6 inches for the big ones)

[@WesternEclectic]

Great suggestions! Thank you for the tips.

[@avinashcj398]

Hi brother, what kind of knife is that, can you please drop the link or the name from where bough it. Thanks in advance

[@WesternEclectic]

You bet! It's a Kershaw Launch 3. You can get a better look at it in another video I made about my gear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5e1pHZtqpqpbZY. I bought mine from bladehq.com (I am not affiliated with their site or anything, but I have had good luck ordering from them in the past). By the way, before ordering you might want to make sure it's legal to carry where you live: I believe this knife is not legal in WA or CA (but it is legal where I live in OR).

[@handbyl]

Never hurts to remind viewers of best practices - good to hear!

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you!

[@justwinks1553]

I am going to be possibly camping out for this pandemic. Might need to forage. What rivers in the Snohomish/King areas would have crawdads? What guide should I use?

[@WesternEclectic]

I'm really not familiar with that area so I'm afraid I can't offer much advice on where to go. Having said that, most waterways in the Pacific Northwest contain crayfish, so your odds of finding some are good. Good luck and happy foraging!

[@chrisbesaw8042]

Good thing you actually caught em he would have signaled the others

[@raphtze]

love your vid! i'm from sacramento and we're traveling up soon for the wknd. are you in oregon by any chance? and would you mind giving up a few secret spots? thanks !

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Raphael, glad you liked it. I prefer not to give out my spots publicly in the comments, but if you'd like feel free to send me an email at [e-mail] and I might be able to give you some suggestions.

[@raphtze]

@@WesternEclectic ok sent you an email just now :P

[@WesternEclectic]

@@raphtze Cool, got it! Just sent a reply.

[@mandy8211]

Cool video. I also am from the northwest; about 40 miles south of canada. When I was young, we used to hand scoop them out of the lakes edge at night.

[@david5150reed]

I could not tell by the picture. what brand is that knife....

[@WesternEclectic]

It's a Kershaw Launch 3. I also own the Launch 4 and more recently I've been carrying an orange Benchmade Griptilian. Oh, and a little Spyderco I received as a gift. I seem to have a bit of a knife obsession... If you want another look at the Launch 3, I have another video posted "Knives, Lock Picks, and More: My Everyday Carry" in which I show the Launch 3 and 4.

[@thecoolclips1]

This is awesome! I appriciate your conservation efforts. Cool video

[@rebekahleib9303]

Excellent info, I want to try and catch some. I know they're in southern Idaho, but I'm up north of Moscow, ID. Is there a specific type of water or ecosystem to look for them in? I don't know if we'll have any up here. :) Thanks!

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Rebekah thanks for checking in. Crayfish inhabit all types of water (clear, muddy, still, fast flowing, etc.) so the odds are pretty good you'll be able to find some. You might want to check out the Crayster KZbin channel; they're from Idaho and might provide some more ideas on where to go in your area. Good luck and keep me posted if you catch some crayfish!

[@turbodood79]

Nice debut! Top notch sir.

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[@themudbugjuggler9912]

Excellent video! I wish we had crays that big here. In New York, we have the super invasive rusty crayfish. And regarding that, I'm glad you mentioned both laws, and invasive species. Up until a few years ago, it was fine to catch and keep as many of these invasive crays as you could. And I asked several game officers if that was okay and none had an issue. Three years ago, the state issued a "no possession for any reason" law in the fishing regulations book. You can't catch one in the lake and put it on a hook for bait. You can't transport them away from the water body. If you catch one, you can't release it back in the water body. So, if I catch one, I have to put it on shore and stomp it, I guess? If fishermen can't help legally, by eating them, what does the state propose to do about it? I have messaged several state departments, and never heard back. Welcome to New York, our laws don't make sense. Sorry for the long winded comment, and thank you so much for sharing.

[@WesternEclectic]

First, it's pretty cool to meet someone who is into crayfish enough to choose the handle "TheMudbugJuggler 9". Nice! Second, yes, I agree sometimes these laws (that were probably well intended) end up making no sense in practice. Them: "These crayfish are invasive, so you can't remove them." Us: "Uh, OK, so I have to leave them here?" Them: "No, that's illegal too." Us: "..." I had a similar (albeit slightly less crazy) experience with the rules here in my home state. I noticed invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in a nearby lake. I reported the sighting on their invasive species page, and followed up with a question about trapping them (although I am not sure if I'd ever want to). I was told the same limit of 100 per day applies as it does for our native signal crayfish. I said yes but these are invasive so wouldn't it make sense to remove as many as possible? Nope, 100 per day. Weird. Well, glad to hear you've messaged state departments; it's at least good to keep trying to get them to come to their senses. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@themudbugjuggler9912]

Thank you! It's cool to meet someone who makes great, educational videos, love it. You could say I'm into them, actually got one tattooed on my leg :) And again, I'm glad you mention P. Clarkii. I can order as many pounds of those as I want (and often do!), and have them shipped, LIVE, to my front door. No issues at all. And a friend sent me a photo years ago, of a cray he found walking across a trail next to a lake- definitely a red swamp cray. A different lake than the rustys too. I follow a youtube channel called JoeAndZachSurvival, been for years, and he just posted a video of him catching buckets full of crays, and when seen up close, they are rusty crays. Big suckers too, lol. Ours are not that big. Although admittedly I don't know their legal status in Minnesota. But as an aside, if you can catch the red swamps, I can recommend them for excellent flavor. And as for the handle :) it was earned, not chosen, but I won't bore you with that story, lol. Thanks for your reply, and I look forward to what you come out with in future.,

[@WesternEclectic]

@@themudbugjuggler9912 Thanks for the advice on P. clarkii (and by the way, it's amazing that despite all the state rules and concerns about invasive species, you can literally have a live sack of them delivered to your door! Crazy!). If I ever end up catching some I will definitely try eating them. For now, I am hoping I don't see them in my favorite streams though, as they don't seem to have invaded them yet. And as for your nickname, it sounds like there must be a pretty interesting story behind how you earned it... Cheers!

[@launilarson692]

Boy , now I’m hungry for a mess of mud bugs and an iced tea !

[@sabrinahicks671]

Really cool to see. Here locally (southwest Virginia), I typically catch about anywhere from forty to sixty crayfish. Good eating---- quick boil, then pieces placed in baking dish with butter and garlic powder, black pepper. Yum! Broil for about 5 minutes at 450 degrees. New subscriber.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hey Sabrina, thanks for checking in and for subscribing. I haven't heard of the boil/broil method of preparing crayfish; I'll have to give it a try!

[@scornoyer9676]

Love to hear/see more. I'm an Oregon transplant living in Baltimore md... keep it commin

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you for the encouragement! I've posted a few other videos since making this one; you can find them on my channel if you're interested.

[@ryancorgard7926]

Maryland boy now in Washington state. Looks like we are polar opposites

[@agavebob3462]

I just subbed... can you make a video of just walking in the woods towards the stream or river? I live in the desert southwest so I dont get to surround me self with trees and bushes, much less streams. The river down here ( Rio Grande) is intentionally dried from September to March depending on the snowfall up north.

[@WesternEclectic]

Haha, OK, I'll add that to the video ideas list! 😊 I've never spent time in your neck of the woods, so it's a bit hard for me to imagine no trees, bushes, or streams... And I had no idea the Rio Grande ever went totally dry. Man, what I don't know could fill a warehouse. Anyhow, thanks for commenting and subbing, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the Memorial Day weekend!

[@janethagaman1998]

I Live in PNW too and remember my dad taking us to Lake Washington where he would dive for crayfish. Yummy!

[@rtchow3000]

hey there, i'm looking to move out this lunatic nation now this gravel nudesom is the governor of cow manure state calif. i love the woodland and lot of places to do sport hunting and fishing. how much is the fishing license? my plan is to move to Bellingham or blaine. does it rain a lot? thanks for your reply. bob

[@expressedforlife3018]

Awesome video! What kind of knife did you use? For future videos can you include the equipment you use in the description box and a link?

[@WesternEclectic]

The knife in this video is a Kershaw Launch 3. If you're interested I have another video up with a little more information here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5e1pHZtqpqpbZY

[@Wrench245]

Having served them, it's interesting to see them captured wild instead of farmed.

[@chrisdrahosz168]

I feel like this more of an Eastern WA/OR thing due to the hotter summer weather. Should I even bother to try this on the west side??

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Chris, thanks for checking in and yes, you should definitely give it a try if you're interested! I'm actually in western Oregon (not exactly on the beach or anything, but not all that far). And note that it won't start to be any good until late summer and early fall when the water gets lower.

[@shanidar]

Good video, no real slow spots and ends with some good conservationist tips. Well done and thank you.

[@curtiscash131]

the trap is a cylinder so theres no up or down, the weight keeps it on the bottom. As far as camo line?? the trap is bright neon yellow??

[@WesternEclectic]

I totally see where you're coming from, but with the way I attach the bait it's nice to have the weight so the trap stays "upright" in the water. And believe it or not, the yellow ends are pretty hard to see once the traps are set; I show it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o16ukp6Pbb2ah68.

[@mh53eflyguy]

Good video. I never thought to try catfood. I'll have to try this when I get back from deployment, I live up in Skagit Co.

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Those big crayfish could really pinch you! I hope I can get some myself soon, here in BC!

[@WesternEclectic]

Good luck!

[@FPScanadaPC]

dude dont apologize about thinking chinese manufacturing is sub par... it's only truth

[@iky5053]

Loved the video and definitely want to get some of those crates. Would like to see the cooking process 😊

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I made another video describing some ideas for cooking cryafish; you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKuYg6homZuDb8k.

[@Christopher_Hampton]

You should do a video on how you cook them!

[@WesternEclectic]

Done! 😊 You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKuYg6homZuDb8k Just in case you're interested there's also another one on catching crayfish here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6esqpt-naejfpI

[@edwin6709]

I’m trying to figure out where to go, I have silver lake right next to me in snohomish

[@dareal-d474]

Great vid, keep at it! A lot of people like to see you enjoy what you catch as well as some tips and tricks on cooking. Hope my advice helps. God bless!

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you!

[@davidshively9600]

Iam new to crawfishing. Are western washington rivers good for crawfish? Like the Snohomish?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi David, I'm down in Oregon so I am not too familiar with Washington rivers but I believe many of them hold decent crayfish populations. I suggest you ask around about this in your local area. Good luck!

[@dustinlaborde4537]

Can't say I've ever counted individual crawfish when trapping . We just count them by the pound in Louisiana. Good work. Were did you get your traps?

[@WesternEclectic]

We have a daily limit on the number of them here, so I always end up counting them to be sure I'm not over. I've learned that with live crayfish it's awfully hard to count them when they're all together in the bucket, so I try to count them as I'm emptying each trap and keep a running total in my head. If I'm getting close to a limit I'll throw back some of the females and smaller males and focus on keeping the males with big claws. At any rate, thanks for watching and commenting--it's cool to hear from someone in the crayfish capital of the world! I put a link to where I bought my traps in the description.

[@ifitflysitmustdie2418]

Western Eclectic here in California we have no limits on craw dads

[@seanparchim9165]

Nice job on the video and I have an old crayfish trap I got from my daughter's late Grandpa been thinking about setting it in one of our creeks in the Napa valley

[@WesternEclectic]

Cool! Good luck if you decide to give it a try!

[@gypsyspirit5749]

Thank you for the video ! Definitely on my bucket list .

[@kenhsiung]

What river is this? I fish several rivers for salmon and wondering if I can crayfish while I fish. Can you find these crayfish in basically any Washington river? Thanks for sharing, great video!

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Ken, thanks for watching! This was recorded at my top secret crayfish location :) Seriously though, although I am not as familiar with the rivers in Washington, here in Oregon I am not aware of any rivers that do *not* have crayfish. So, I believe the odds would be good at your salmon fishing spots. Just be aware that winter is not a good time to catch crayfish, at least in my experience. Late summer when the water is low is best. Good luck!

[@kenhsiung]

Western Eclectic thanks for the info. Yeah I’ll prob give it a shot when the season opens in May, and through the fall when the salmon are running. This river seems pretty still, have you tried in faster moving water where there are maybe slack areas? Wondering if when the water is moving or areas that generally have more water movement, the crawfish aren’t as plentiful because they can get washed downstream? This slow of a creek is a bit tough to find out here!

[@WesternEclectic]

​@@kenhsiungAs long as there are some slack areas, it is likely there will be crayfish. Deeper pools with a lot of structure on the bottom (larger rocks with lots of places to hide, etc.) seem to be best. Keep in mind that May is still pretty early and late summer is best. One idea would be to just give it a try with a rod and reel. I made a video about doing this; check it out if you haven't already seen it. This way, you can get a feel for whether or not there are crayfish in the river before you invest the time and money into specialized gear like crayfish traps. Good luck and keep me posted on what you find!

[@goparetraitors4156]

Never found a river that didn't have them.

[@barry7413]

Years ago, when I lived in Spokane, the scuba store where I worked would have a weekly drift dive in the Spokane river, and we'd fill our dive bags with big crayfish and have a crayfish boil afterwards.

[@viklondon3466]

Excellent Video I watched the whole length of it, which is a big deal - my attention span is shot thanks to youtube. Love from London

[@WesternEclectic]

Haha, KZbin has ruined my (admittedly already short) attention span too. Thank you for the compliment and thanks for watching!

[@johnrosas2606]

Is the entrance hole big so that the crayfish eventually escape the trap ?

[@WesternEclectic]

Yep, once crayfish lose interest in the bait they tend to start looking for (and eventually find) the exit. It's not usually a problem if the traps aren't left to soak too long.

[@vrinnmetagen]

Makes sense if those cages are made in Sweden. They love crawfish in Sweden

[@WesternEclectic]

Yes they do! Before I bought the traps and researched it further, I had no idea how much they like crayfish in Sweden. Heck, I didn't even know they *had* crayfish in Sweden, haha.

[@lmares3774]

Please do more of these videos. Explain the season in so much as when to start and when it ends.

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for your support for more videos! I am hoping to make more soon, so please stay tuned. Where I live there isn't a specific "season" when it's legal to catch crayfish (technically you can catch them anytime during the year), but the best time tends to be later in the summer and early fall when the rivers are nice and low. In my experience crayfish aren't very active during the cold weather months when the water temperature is low. So what's the best way to determine if it's a good time to catch crayfish? Just head to the river and toss in a couple traps and see what happens!

[@Kode154]

i fish for signal crayfish here in great britain and i find the best time is april to october

[@squamishfish]

Good video , I am wondering where you bought the traps, I live in the Vancouver BC area and have not seen them , If you could give the manufacturers name I could check online , Thanks

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for checking in, and I'm glad you liked the video. You can find a link to where I bought the traps in the video description.

[@aaronwhitefoot]

This pretty cool brotha! Loved the video.

[@PB-jk8bl]

Great video! When is the 'season' for crayfish and what rivers/creeks can you reccomend? Are they in some waters but not others? I'm really looking forward to getting into trapping some! Thanks!👍

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi P B, thanks for watching and checking in. Here in my area (the Pacific Northwest), in my opinion the best time to catch crayfish is mid to late summer (when the weather is hot and water levels are low) until the rains start in the fall. Crayfish can be found in all sorts of habitats, from muddy lakes and ponds to fast-flowing clear streams. For me, I prefer clear streams and the best locations seem to be deep pools with a lot of good structure (like big rocks) on the bottom for crayfish to hide in. Just do a little research and ask around (local fisherman are often a good source of information on this). Be sure to check your state's regulations too. Good luck and have fun!

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

We buy them by the 50 lbs sack in Louisiana . Its a secondary crop in the rice fields

[@WesternEclectic]

Awesome.

[@shannongreen4334]

We have the red swamp crawdads here also

[@ricky4mel]

How much do they cost??

[@chaist94]

@@ricky4mel depending on the harvest, they usually go for $1 - $2/pound. Pretty cheap most years.

[@demetrioskondylas8631]

@огромная эрекция different from what?

[@davidmcduffie1398]

Would like to know about the traps, like brand, where to buy them, cost per trap, how to open them, Thanks, good job other wise. Keep them coming !!!

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi David, others have asked too so I've added a link to the description that will take you to where I bought my traps. They have some good information on brand, cost, etc. As far as how to open, the yellow parts just twist in to lock. The traps can be taken apart for more compact storage, although I usually don't bother and just stack them in the garage assembled. Thanks for watching!

[@halsingefiske7989]

Hey man I live in Sweden and the traps you use looks to be from a company called trappy ps great video

[@andreassimonsson3490]

HÄLSINGEFISKE I think it is Smålandsmjärden.

[@halsingefiske7989]

Andreas Simonsson that’s possible

[@gus473]

🇦🇽🇦🇽🇦🇽👍😉

[@rtchow3000]

TRAPP ARNS is the company online name. i bought two XL since they ran out the small trap. you get your money worth in time enjoying all those cajun crusty creatures. it is originated from Sweden, i think, identical to this one on this site.

[@danielcain1118]

Nice catch. Being from Texas we call them crawfish or mud bugs. Funny story. Back in the late eighties I left Texas and went to work in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Mammoth Lakes. Summers we'd go trout fishing. Ended up at June Lake one day. I had a fish on a stringer in the water and my friend said, you might want to watch your fish, the crawlers will get after it. Crawlers? I looked down and there were giant crawfish all over it. He didn't understand why I got so excited so I explained what I wanted to do. We stopped at the office on the way out. I asked the girl working there if I was allowed to catch crawfish there. What's a crawfish she asked. I said, you know, the little lobsters in the lake. She didn't know but was surprised I was going to eat them. Found out from Fish and Game they had no problem with that. Had order a trap and couldn't wait till it got there. Dropped it in the lake and not two hours later it was chock full. I made a boil for them, momma's recipe, invited a couple friends and had to teach them how to eat them. Funny stuff there. Every time we went to June after that they made sure I was taking my trap. Keep pinching tails and sucking heads.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Daniel what a great story! A similar thing happened to us. My wife and I were out trout fishing, and she spotted something in the water that looked to her like a kid's superhero figure. She went to pick it up and it swam away! Turns out it was a nice big crayfish. It got me thinking: "Hmm, I wonder if you can eat those..." And I have never heard the term "crawlers" either. Anyhow, thanks for checking in, and take care!

[@danielcain1118]

@@WesternEclectic Lucky it didn't decide to latch on to her finger! That would have been a whole different story. Good luck out there and be safe.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@danielcain1118 Haha that's true. Fortunately each party involved in the encounter just wanted to get away from the other.

[@followchristwithme37]

I live in the PNW. Is this location in Western WA? I agree with you, products made in China are low quality in general. People shouldnt take offense to that because it is the truth! I guess the truth hurts!

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for watching and for your comment. I'm actually in western OR, but as I understand it there are a lot of good crayfish streams in western WA too.

[@vielee6417]

@@WesternEclectic I haven't seen what kind of Chinese-made shrimp cage you use. If it is of that kind of net, I am sorry. Every place may be different. The Chinese are used to catch small river prawns, not crayfish. The wrong object was used. Chinese crayfish are raised artificially in ponds.

[@mtnsnakeman]

Great video, love the tips you shared . How did you prep them before cooking? Did you have to purge them for a few days? How did you prepare your for eating. I discovered a great area for the signal crayfish a few months ago, I brought a few home for a breeding project. Seeing your luck with catching them in descent quantity makes me want to go back and try to catch with traps. How do they compare to your standard Red swamp crayfish? Thanks for sharing

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Gary, thanks for your comments. I never bother to purge crayfish. Purging clears out their digestive tract, but when I clean them I remove this anyway so it doesn't matter. I show this in another video I've made; you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKuYg6homZuDb8k. I think signal crayfish are similar to red swamp crayfish, but signal crayfish (males, anyway) tend to have bigger claws, which is great because that's more crayfish meat to enjoy.

[@yettekovjrwilson4216]

Looks like it is time for a good Louisiana Crawfish Boil!!!!! Eat them all!!!

[@mikerivers2705]

I'm not sure if I have posted on this video yet but here goes. PNW is where to you? I'm in Oregon near, florence where we have a nice fishery for crayfish. Nice vid man makes me feel like late trapping for sure but it's been rather cold as of late. Wish me luck.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Mike thanks for checking in. I am in Oregon too. I am not sure how productive trapping would be now. You're right, it's been quite cold but on the other hand there hasn't been much rain so the water levels aren't too high... Well, good luck if you go, and let me know how it goes!

[@gyunwook9485]

You sound and kind of act like my favorite character from Silicon Valley, Jared! I love it! Great vid man

[@RusselTheFisherMan]

I just pooped my pants LOL!

[@operationNOBO]

Noob here. I read in the Washington regs that you need to use cotton or another natural material to the pot so it may rot away if lost. Does this apply even if you arent leaving the area?

[@WesternEclectic]

Good question. I am not as familiar with the WA rules, but I think this regulation may be more aimed at crab pots for crabbing at the coast (at least that's where I've heard it applied). I'm doubtful anyone would care about crayfish traps in freshwater, especially since crayfish traps aren't designed to have this kind of escape hatch. Furthermore, in my experience, when the bait runs out from a crayfish trap they start wandering around and eventually find their way out. No promises, but my guess is that this isn't something you'd have to worry about, especially if you aren't leaving the area. Good luck!

[@wendellworth353]

Damn! Those are not crayfish. Those are river lobsters.

[@ctheonbethui]

Which body of water do you recommend I try? I would love to try to take my kids out to catch some of these.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Toan, great idea! Kids love to help catch (and eat!) crayfish. Assuming you're in the Pacific Northwest, you will have a lot of options. Just look for any body of water with nice, clean water and good bottom cover like boulders, etc. Beware though, during the rainy parts of the year when water levels are high it's hard to catch any crayfish. Late summer or early fall before the rain starts are the best times to go. Good luck!

[@fairrider3346]

I THOUGHT YOU MADE YOURSELF PRETTY CLEAR IN WANTING QUALITY OVER CHINESE JUNK. IF SOMEONE WAS OFFENDED IT IS BECAUSE THEY WONTED TO BE OFFENDED AND IN THAT CASE YOU DID NOT OWE THEM ANY FARTHER EXPLANATION ON THE MATTER. THEY SOUND LIKE TROLLS TO ME.

[@greglucero8714]

You can't even spell wanted, your Trump supporting dip s&'t

[@damarei]

@@greglucero8714 The irony is thick.

[@houstonsells1484]

@@greglucero8714 "you're" a fuckin moron! "Your" grammar needs work before you go bashing other's of their grammatical errors.

[@wojomojo]

FAIR RIDER Hey man, are you DEAF in addition of being STUPID? Why the YELLING?!

[@bohemoth1]

@@houstonsells1484 GRAMMAR QUEEN and yes I am YELLING.

[@curtishagglund980]

Help: recently got into crayfishing, I've noticed on almost all the crayfish I've caught here in Washington have little yellow eggs and what almost looks like earthworms attached to the underside of the tail.. Is this normal? If so, how to deal with them before cooking?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Curtis, on signal crayfish I have occasionally seen what appear to be small worms attached to the outside of their claws, but the meat inside seems to be unaffected so I've never been concerned. I'm not sure about the things you mentioned that look like yellow eggs. I have heard people tell me there can be worms in the meat (probably akin to what fish can get), but to my knowledge I've never experienced this in any of the crayfish I've caught. I assume that if you cook them thoroughly you'll be fine, but please don't take my word for it; you may want to do a little more research on this. Good luck and let me know if you find out any information!

[@John-mf6ky]

They're harmless, crawdad worms have a symbiotic relationship with their host. They clean all the gunk off the shelf. You can just brush them off.

[@susaneirthug415]

I swear, My farm cat caught the biggest crawdad I ever saw. It looked like a small lobster. That Lil cat dragged it a quarter mile to show me.

[@WesternEclectic]

That's a great cat!

[@volvo09]

that's cute, the cat brought it to you!

[@susaneirthug415]

He was the smaller of two litter mates, a buff colored tabby named "Zanzibar" .. He was the color of chocolate milk. He dove into that creek and came back an icicle . He was not fazed by a little cold water. He is in my, Cat Hall of Fame, with his brother "Sleepy Linus"

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

What area do you live in. Fellow PNW guy here. Yamhill county area. Cool vid. Keep em coming. Always nice to get some inspiration for my days off. Also it would be nice to have some type of unspoken rule for people to tag their traps with the date and time they are tossed in. I keep finding abandoned traps on my local river. One was in the same spot for 6 full days without being touched before i finally pulled it and let the ones that were still living go. Lets be humane and take care of our resources people.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Luke, thanks for checking in! I am in Oregon too. I totally agree that it is irresponsible for someone to leave a trap out for so long. I've gotten in the habit of letting my traps soak for only about 2-3 hours. I think this is most productive, because in my experience when the traps sit overnight the bait just runs out and the crayfish start to look for a way out (which they eventually find). Plus, I figure there is less chance of someone stealing my traps if I am in the area and monitoring them often. Why someone would leave a trap unattended for six days is beyond me, but I'm glad to hear you pulled it and released the living crayfish.

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

@@WesternEclectic i think some of the regulations for furbearer trapping and crabbing should be put in place for crawdaddys also

[@larreshiafradiue813]

GREAT VIDEO 👏💯😳 KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK 🙏🌟🔥 💞

[@quadq6598]

To get that many so fast means there must be huge local population bearing in mind the vast bulk would be not caught & living at various stage of life cycle in the water column & substrate. Are they classed as highly invasive like here in the UK? last 10 years they have stripped waterways bare of other wildlife throughout the UK

[@WesternEclectic]

It is sad to hear of the devastation that signal crayfish have caused to the ecosystems and native species in the UK and elsewhere. I have had several viewers from the UK comment on this. Signal crayfish are native to the Pacific Northwest, and thus we have a limit of 100 per person per day. Alas, we are not immune to invasive crayfish here either, as some of our waterways have been infested with red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), among others.

[@ajnin1974]

Try banana skin .. it's smell is exactly the same as a female crayfish pheromone , you will double your catch .

[@WesternEclectic]

Wow... Really?

[@WesternEclectic]

I plan to give this idea a try this season and post a video about it. It will seem a bit odd adding banana skin to the trap, but I'm just too dang curious not to try it! We'll see... Thanks for the suggestion.

[@bradleejones9959]

True! It's all I use. I was born and raised in Longview, Wa. and went crawdad'n deep in the woods. Always put bananas in the cooking pot. All you get is big fighting males too. Claws big enough it makes'm worth eating. We'd use a pie tin and wrap chicken wire around it twice and a rock to send it to the bottom. As a kid with my big brother and his .22, I've eaten everything that crawls around on four legs up in those woods. Fished every river and stream and even raided honey bees. There's a ton of food in the woods of the Northwest year round, you just gotta know where to look. Great video! It took me back, can you tell?

[@OmarTheAtheistAziz]

so banana skin isnt only useful human traps?

[@WesternEclectic]

@@bradleejones9959 Glad you enjoyed it and it's nice to hear from someone who has spent so much time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest. I agree there is a lot of food in the woods in our area (mushroom hunting is another favorite activity of mine), although I'm not sure I'd ever be brave enough to go after a beehive!

[@killerpizza345]

Where was this stream? I live in Redmond and would love to get some myself

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Dominick, this was at my secret crayfish spot, of course! 😁 Seriously though, I'm in Oregon but I'd rather not give out the exact location. The good news is that there are good crayfish populations in many areas of the Pacific Northwest and I assume it's the same near Redmond. Just ask around and I'll bet you'll find a good stream or lake in your area. Good luck!

[@Swarajsonu]

Nice video brother keep it up bro

[@Sadin15]

this was a nice video to watch. Thanks for posting it.

[@GurrasGarage]

Great stuff, yep made in Sweden i use them too

[@whenmountainsmove]

Awesome! I live by the Lewis river in Cougar, WA. I just tried overnight and only caught 6. How long do you leave your trap in there for?

[@WesternEclectic]

Great to hear you got out. On a good day a trap would only need to be left out for a couple hours to have a lot of crayfish. But this is very dependent on the time of year! For example, about a month ago I tried a pond where I've previously caught tons of crayfish and got... None! (You can see the details in my most recent post under the "community" tab.) There's nothing wrong with the location, it was just too early in the season and the crayfish weren't active yet. So, I suspect if you're already catching some at your spot this early, it'll be much better later in the summer and early fall. I've had a lot of folks ask about this issue, so I'm hoping to do a new video on it soon... Stay tuned!

[@johnmeshawn4402]

Chicken necks are much better than cat food. Lafayette Louisiana checking in.

[@WesternEclectic]

Cool. And if you're from Lafayette I have a feeling you know what you're talking about! Thanks!

[@I_am_a_cat_]

How many chicken necks you got lying around?

[@johnmeshawn4402]

@@I_am_a_cat_ you can buy them at the supermarket. It may not be something you would normally buy but they do sell them.

[@johnmeshawn4402]

If you can't find chicken necks try fish heads..

[@Worldindecline690]

@@johnmeshawn4402 I caught some using the scraps of perch I caught earlier that day. Heads, bodies (pretty much anything that I didn't fillet off! Had one pot filled almost full of them munching on it!

[@adude7050]

Cool video hanks for sharing. Are the crayfish actually able to get some of the food through those holes?

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for watching! Yes, I think they can get a to a little bit of the food through the holes in the tin, which is good because it makes them stay in the trap.

[@e.csocialorericcoolopwasom8328]

0:35 he said the good thing is that it wasn’t made in China 😂😂😂

[@Blupearl2003]

Thats right!

[@johnshilling2221]

I'm 64 years old, served in the United States Air Force, toe to toe with the Soviets and the Chi-coms at the Anchorage, Alaska's Elmendorf Air Force Base. Strategic Air Command. Today's idiots will have you think that the communist threat was just a bunch of propaganda to reinforce the "Military Industrial Complex." (And I mean idiots in the "Useful Idiot" category that the Communists place them) We were aware then, as well as now, that the Communist leaders knew that they could not defeat us militarily - and - openly - claimed - that they would defeat us economically. Well, here we are, 80% of US Imports come from China. Manufacturing and supplying our own needs are a joke and practically non-existent in this country. Administration after Administration has cozied up to the Chinese Communist regime on the belief that trade and cooperation would lead to an end of the threat. Well, here we are, China is the number one threat to the United States and Nations surrounding them. They are doubling down on Military expansion on most of their borders. Improved relations with China, the goal since President Nixon visited China, started us down a less aggressive path when dealing with China.., and here we are. The Soviet Union no longer exists in name, but the Russians back our enemies in every conflict. We all know that they actively try to influence our elections, but most people don't even realize that they do this most effectively through our Schools and Universities. Our Government, Corporations, and Institutes of Learning at every level, are infiltrated (infected) and influenced by the Communist / Marxist / Maoist ideology. !-In the name of "Free Speech and Freedom of Association-!" Good parents are spending ridiculous sums of money to have their children indoctrinated with this ideology and then watch these useful idiots try to tear down the United States and censor any Free Speech, attacking any Free Assembly of people with an opposing view. And! The stupidity of the general population of the United States is that the Chinese and Soviets openly stated from the beginning that this is what they would do and how they would do it. A Billy Jack move; "I'm going to take this right foot and whop you on that side of your face..., (and points to his right cheek) And you wanna know somethin'? There's not a damn thing you're gonna be able to do about it." Most of my generation saw the movie. And then, stood there and took it to the face, just like the corrupt Sheriff in the Billy Jack movie... If only there was a red pill that would awaken people to reality, but unfortunately, it only exists in the movies....

[@thedwighty]

Awesome video. Thanks for the link to the traps

[@RTBurke]

When they escape & hide in closet for a week they become pretty easy to find.🤢

[@WesternEclectic]

Eww.

[@danielleonard313]

I thought we are only allowed to have two pods at a time? I’m new to this and have never actually done it before. I’m in Tacoma wa, what river were you at?

[@WesternEclectic]

I'm in Oregon, so the regulations may be different here. I haven't found anything limiting the number of traps, but we are limited to 100 crayfish per day. Thanks for watching, and good luck if you give it a try in your area near Tacoma.

[@tomjones239]

When I was a kid we used bacon on a string weighted with a rock to catch them out of creeks. My dad and I used to make between $1500.00 and $3000.00 each day running 150 homemade net traps here in Louisiana when large creeks flooded the surrounding woods in the Winter. We used three foot long hoop nets similar to catfish nets but with a smaller mesh size baited with pieces of carp or buffalo fish. Crawfish were only about 75 cents a pound wholesale then.

[@WesternEclectic]

Wow that's amazing! At $0.75/lb it must have been a pretty impressive haul to get $1500-$3000... Cool!

[@tomjones239]

@@WesternEclectic We`d run the nets, bait them back up, go sell what we caught to a fish market and return and run them again. One guy we knew paid cash for a new car after about 10 days of crawfishing. The conditions and time of year had to be just right and it usually only lasted until the water fell after 5 to 7 days...but when it rained hard again it was time to do it again. Good money! A lot of crawfish would fit inside the nets we used.

[@mikerivers2705]

Hey great video. As for more? Just know some of us live vicariously through these outdoor vids. so yes keep them coming, please.

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you for the kind encouragement! Will do. In fact, I have already made and posted a few more videos; it has been a lot of fun. Cheers!

[@legionofsentinels]

Am hungry now.

[@legionofsentinels]

@Tony Gonzalez Thank you very much.

[@keitonsneakseattle6597]

What river is this?. I live south of Seattle about 20 mins well 45 with all this new traffic.. but want to go catch some with my boys

[@WesternEclectic]

This was at my top secret crayfish spot here in Oregon😊. Seriously though, I'd rather not give out the exact location but I'm obviously quite a ways south of you. I'm fairly confident there are some good crayfish waters near the Seattle area. As I recall a few folks have mentioned catching crayfish in your area in the comments here; you might want to take a look though the comments and see what information they provided (sorry, I can't remember offhand the names of any specific rivers or streams they mentioned). Good luck!

[@keitonsneakseattle6597]

Western Eclectic i hear you on keeping it a secret lol. Any tips on catching them . I hear just cat food and the trap. Good luck this year

[@edifierbass7821]

Yummy I'll cook it deep fry style

[@grahampalmer9337]

How do you grade them for size? At what point are they 'put-backs'?

[@WesternEclectic]

Good question. My threshold is somewhat arbitrary (and there are no legal size requirements where I live), but if they're small enough to fit through the holes in the trap I throw them back. On a really good day I'll keep only the large males, since they have a lot more claw meat.

[@TheXanUser]

Thats cheating! We just catch em with our hands. way more fun. Come on man!

[@elizabethvandecoevering6042]

Hey, I caught crayfish with my hands too from a pond at a family friends place when I was in my late teens and then later cooked and ate them, only the larger ones my family chose to bring home to eat, but one time I found and caught a big dark-colored female with eggs when I was younger exploring a brook near my home, but I had to put her back due to that she must of been climbing her way upstream looking for a safe place for her young.

[@Possumcods]

No you don't

[@paulchappelhymns]

Great video! Thank you so much. Would love to see how you cook them. Your hard work is appreciated.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Paul, thanks for your support! I made another video with some ideas about cooking and cleaning crayfish; you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKuYg6homZuDb8k.

[@KenMMark]

lakes or streams? I live near Lake Desire so I have access to Cedar and Green RIvers too.

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for checking in. I'm not familiar with that area (I'm in Oregon), but I know signal crayfish are commonly found in both lakes and streams, so I'd encourage you to check both. Good luck!

[@timothyadams7599]

The cammo rope is just fine, but you don't think that someone won't see the yellowish green entire ports?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Timothy, yeah, you're right, those yellow funnels are pretty bright, but unless you're overhead they can be surprisingly hard to see, even in clear water. I showed this in a subsequent video (you can jump ahead to 4:16 to see that part if you don't want to watch the whole thing): kzbin.info/www/bejne/o16ukp6Pbb2ah68

[@bartonknight2254]

I'm from Sumas, Wa., right on the Canadien Border... and the Crawdad Fishing up there is pretty decent. As well as the stream trout fishing. When I was a kid I caught over 100 good sized sea run cutthroat trout in one morning. I plan a trip up there this summer. What county were you trapping these? Just curious? Many thanks awesome video. I'm trying the bana skin trick this year for sure. Many thanks. 😎

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for watching. I'm definitely south of you, and it's nice to hear there are decent crayfish all the way up to the Canadian border. Good luck on your trip this summer!

[@jamesrivis620]

Barton Knight That’s CANADIAN unless you live south of Québec.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@jamesrivis620 Haha! Vous avez raison!

[@HmongGuitarPlayer]

Why use camouflage line when both the entrances are bright yellow?

[@WesternEclectic]

I know it seems like the yellow ends would be really obvious, but they're actually really hard to see if you're not directly above the trap. I show this in another video; check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o16ukp6Pbb2ah68