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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: Piltzviller on Jan 10, 2019, 06:48 PM

Title: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Piltzviller on Jan 10, 2019, 06:48 PM
Howdy all, anyone ever try to trap crawfish under the ice?
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: paguy15545 on Jan 10, 2019, 08:16 PM
i have no idea!!! I know they go to deep water for winter  cut a big hole and drop ur trap
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: A man called horse on Jan 10, 2019, 09:06 PM
Never seen one in winter. They dig into the mud and basically hibernate.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: 1MOFISH on Jan 10, 2019, 09:59 PM
put meat in trap like stinky livers find a rocky creek.deep hole,toss in trap over night i pick them up trapping chubs all the time
GOD BLESS
mo
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: reelrusty on Jan 10, 2019, 11:32 PM
 ;D I catch crawdads all the time thru the ice on a minnow I've had too close to bottom. Hungry buggers just won't let go! My Chessie loved 'em like they were his favorite doggie treat. See 'em on my camera or under clear ice in shallow (4 to 10ft) water so I would suppose a fella should be able to trap "em. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Chuck Enwinde on Jan 11, 2019, 01:01 AM
I see quite a few sight fishing perch in shallow water.  They'll steal bits of chum so they're definitely feeding.  Don't see why it wouldn't work.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Yellowstoner on Jan 11, 2019, 02:57 AM
I've never tried to trap them through the ice or in open water, but I'm definitely interested in what everyone comes up with for a solution.  Is it legal?
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Huntindave on Jan 11, 2019, 07:08 AM
I've never tried to trap them through the ice or in open water, but I'm definitely interested in what everyone comes up with for a solution.  Is it legal?

That would all depend on State you are in. As many folks don't care to even share which State they are from, it makes these type of questions extremely hard to answer.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: perchnut on Jan 11, 2019, 07:55 AM
Say you catch a crawfish or two....then what do you do with it?  Just curious...pretty tough to fit one on a 2.5mm tungsten .
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: jerryfishing on Jan 11, 2019, 10:04 AM
We catch quite a few crayfish thru the ice here in Utah. Not so much intentionally but they won't let go of baits when pulled up. So if you were out to target them; I would use same bait as you do in summer. Most people here use chicken legs. Its tough skin and meat hold up good for crayfish to latch onto. As far as traps go, there are restrictions on how big of a hole you can cut, so fitting a trap down may be feasible. Although a small dipnet on string may work. When we do catch them thru ice, we break them apart and use pieces as bait on jigs. Just the Sam's adding piece of nightcrawler or waxie.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Piltzviller on Jan 11, 2019, 10:46 AM
Seems to be legal in Montana. They are classified along with worms and can be used as bait any where worms can.
Thanks for the help folks. It's not actually me trapping, but my fishing buddy. I wanted to make sure I wasn't sending her on a fools errand!
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Royalwapiti on Jan 11, 2019, 11:16 AM
Say you catch a crawfish or two....then what do you do with it?  Just curious...pretty tough to fit one on a 2.5mm tungsten .

We catch a lot of perch through the ice on a pink #6 hook with a minnow.  Who knows they might like a crawdad.

Crawdads do not hibernate, but they slow way down in the winter, they can be found in the warmer water too, so go deep in the rocks to catch them.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Unclegillhunter on Jan 11, 2019, 03:46 PM
Don’t know for sure but I would check your state Regis to make sure there is not a season.
Keep it safe! JDL
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: Kevin23 on Jan 11, 2019, 11:48 PM
I thought they hibernated in the winter but back about a month ago I went to break ice on our goose pond and when I shined my headlight in the water about a dozen of them took off scurrying under the ice.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: A man called horse on Jan 12, 2019, 11:23 AM
Looks like I can still learn something new! Even at 68.
Title: Re: Trapping crawfish under the ice
Post by: prospector on Jan 12, 2019, 11:30 AM
They’re always making me think that I have a bite while fishing for Burbot at Flaming Gorge. I dropped a trap down two years ago with no luck. Might have to send a GoPro down to see what the problem was as far as trapping them.