Crayfish Hunting

[Elchinodiablo]

Hey folks. So I know many of the southern waters here are infested with crayfish. Ive managed to pull a couple up whenever they latch on to my minnow. I do keep them and they taste awesome. Clean water and some old bay seasoning.

Does anyone know a way that I can actually catch myself a bucket or two full? Never seriously thought about it but sure would save me a trip down to the southern u.s.

Thanks.

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[Moefoe]

Bought 2 Craw traps at a Walmart in Idaho a while back used them last year at Travers...chunk of Salmon in each, tossed them in around dinner time picked em up around noon the next day stuffed with the little critters! Didn't keep any most were kinda smallish compared to the ones I've seen down south but pretty cool. Not crystal clear on the REGS...this is Alberta, probably get tossed in the slammer for even talking about it...:thinking-006:

[BrownTrout]

We just set a line on the bottom with a piece of hotdog/sausage on it. Check it every 5-10 min. Bucket films up fast.

Fun watching the kids do it

[ORV]

on here when you get a chance
lots of threads & tons of info for you to read

Orv.

[wangpeishen]

Caryfish is an invasive species here, so the more you kill, the better for the native aquatic ecology. This is confirmed by fishing officer.

[Michael_Brown]

We used to go out at night with a flash light in the shallow gravel areas and catch tons. A friend's father used to love eating them and we would fill a pail in no time.
A crayfish trap left in overnight is probably the easiest answer.

[Red Bullets]

Caryfish is an invasive species here, so the more you kill, the better for the native aquatic ecology. This is confirmed by fishing officer.

Actually, crayfish are not considered an invasive species because they are native to the Beaver River system in Alberta.

No crayfish traps allowed in Alberta.

[Johnnydanger]

I would love to try and catch a few of these little buggers. Does anyone know if they are in crawling valley? Can you catch them through the ice?

[nightcrawler]

Actually, crayfish are not considered an invasive species because they are native to the Beaver River system in Alberta.

No crayfish traps allowed in Alberta.

From the regs:

Crayfish

Crayfish are native to the Beaver River system. However, they appear to have been illegally introduced into many Alberta waters and may be adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems.
Some people have expressed a desire to consume crayfish. In all waters other than the Beaver River, people may catch crayfish for consumption. Legal capture methods include angling (sportfishing regulations apply) or catching them by hand. No licence is required to capture crayfish by hand. The retention and transport of live crayfish is illegal and all retained crayfish must be immediately killed to prevent the spread of this species. Please help prevent the spread of invasive species.

[Sundancefisher]

I know standard minnow traps with a wider opening works. Bait in the middle.

http://www.fishing-tips-bait-tackle.com/minnow_trap.html

Watch the regs. Don't transport live.

[tirebob]

People go catching them in Nose Creek around Airdrie like crazy! Just flipping rocks and grabbing them. A buddy of mine caught well over 100 of them in a couple hours. Be careful though because it is illegal to transport them alive and you are supposed to kill them right away...

[waterninja]

There are a lot of crayfish in Cardiff pond not far from Onaway. Very pretty pond and fun for children.
I like the minnow trap idea but something tells me it is to logical to be legal. Good luck.


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[Angler]

There are a lot of crayfish in Cardiff pond not far from Onaway. Very pretty pond and fun for children.
I like the minnow trap idea but something tells me it is to logical to be legal. Good luck.


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From Onoway? Or by Morinville? Is there two of those...

[the local angler]

i went into the calgary wildlife office on 12st ne and inquired about using traps, they told me traps are not allowed because from an officers point of view the trap is owned by who ever's tag is on it, and if the cray fish are obviously still alive in the traps then theoretically you are in procession of the live crayfish. there is no evidence to support if you say you are going to eat them cause it would be your word against theirs. they could say who ever is on the tag could possibly toss them into another water body but again its your word against theirs and its such a hassle. i also wish i could set traps for them but now i just do it the old fashion way roll up the pant legs and flip rocks with a snorkel if need be. if you talk to a few CO's you will also notice the interpretation is also different.

[ORV]

i went into the calgary wildlife office on 12st ne and inquired about using traps, they told me traps are not allowed because from an officers point of view the trap is owned by who ever's tag is on it, and if the cray fish are obviously still alive in the traps then theoretically you are in procession of the live crayfish. there is no evidence to support if you say you are going to eat them cause it would be your word against theirs. they could say who ever is on the tag could possibly toss them into another water body but again its your word against theirs and its such a hassle. i also wish i could set traps for them but now i just do it the old fashion way roll up the pant legs and flip rocks with a snorkel if need be. if you talk to a few CO's you will also notice the interpretation is also different.

like one other poster said before. what happens if they get into
your minnow trap??? wink wink.
we went out at night at Macgregor & picked them up with long bbq tongs
no hand grabbing for this guy. see some of those pinchers? lol

Orv.

[the local angler]

yeah i was also told about that if your intentions are to catch minnows then its ok if a few crayfish got in but its such a gray area to deal with. for me i use my hands but wear a pair of thick neoprene gloves and a small net. i find the small ones seem to pinch harder then the larger ones. lol

[Elchinodiablo]

like one other poster said before. what happens if they get into
your minnow trap??? wink wink.
we went out at night at Macgregor & picked them up with long bbq tongs
no hand grabbing for this guy. see some of those pinchers? lol

Orv.
Ok. Sounds like a good time. What kind of bottom or shoreline should I be looking at? Certain depths?

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[Sundancefisher]

i went into the calgary wildlife office on 12st ne and inquired about using traps, they told me traps are not allowed because from an officers point of view the trap is owned by who ever's tag is on it, and if the cray fish are obviously still alive in the traps then theoretically you are in procession of the live crayfish. there is no evidence to support if you say you are going to eat them cause it would be your word against theirs. they could say who ever is on the tag could possibly toss them into another water body but again its your word against theirs and its such a hassle. i also wish i could set traps for them but now i just do it the old fashion way roll up the pant legs and flip rocks with a snorkel if need be. if you talk to a few CO's you will also notice the interpretation is also different.

How is a legal minnow trap that happens to catch crayfish illegal if upon lifting it out of the water that you snap their heads off and put the tails in a bucket?

By your definition just picking one out of the water and holding it in your hand can suggest you may release it elsewhere.

[Sundancefisher]

Trick to catching crayfish is to place a fish carcass of oily chunk of
Chicken back on the bottom of the creek or lake within reach. Use a forked stick to pin them to the bottom so you can grab them with your hand.

Other traps that would work would be clam traps. Works for crabs off docks in Bc

[Sundancefisher]

What it says.

Crayfish cannot be used as bait. It is unlawful to possess live crayfish.

Crayfish

Crayfish are native to the Beaver River system. However, they appear to have been illegally introduced into many Alberta waters and may be adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems.
Some people have expressed a desire to consume crayfish. In all waters other than the Beaver River, people may catch crayfish for consumption. Legal capture methods include angling (sportfishing regulations apply) or catching them by hand. No licence is required to capture crayfish by hand. The retention and transport of live crayfish is illegal and all retained crayfish must be immediately killed to prevent the spread of this species. Please help prevent the spread of invasive species.

[Sundancefisher]

Why can't you use a trap for crayfish other than in the Beaver System? I think F&W could rethink that.

[the local angler]

i think its because the trap is lets say yours and its holding and keeping the crayfish alive till you process them. but thats where it confuses me is when people catch crayfish by hand for instance. they have a bucket full and go back to camp to cook them off. would that be ok? or would you have to literally catch them kill them then put them into the bucket?

[pikester]

I set two crayfish (minnow) traps with marker buoys in Newell last year & F&W removed & confiscated both of them so I wont be trying that again!:scared:

[TylerThomson]

The reading comprehension on this site amazes me sometimes. It's literally spelt out in the regs. You can not catch crayfish for consumption in the beaver river period.

re·ten·tion/rəˈten(t)SH(ə)n/
noun

the continued possession, use, or control of something.

If you retain a crayfish ie put it in a bucket and don't kill it first you are in possession of live crayfish and are breaking the law.

This is about as black and white as it gets.

[fish99]

I set two crayfish (minnow) traps with marker buoys in Newell last year & F&W removed & confiscated both of them so I wont be trying that again!:scared:

any explanation why they kept them

[anthony5]

The reading comprehension on this site amazes me sometimes. It's literally spelt out in the regs. You can not catch crayfish for consumption in the beaver river period.

re·ten·tion/rəˈten(t)SH(ə)n/
noun

the continued possession, use, or control of something.

If you retain a crayfish ie put it in a bucket and don't kill it first you are in possession of live crayfish and are breaking the law.

This is about as black and white as it gets.

Kinda splitting hairs here aren't we, pull your minnow trap with live minnows now you are in possession of live bait which is also against the law. It is up to each individual to make sure that the bait or crayfish are dead before transporting from said location. Nobody said they wanted to catch or trap crayfish from the Beaver river system, mostly southern reservoirs and maybe have a snack of crayfish, which will sometimes be caught in minnow traps.

[walking buffalo]

i went into the calgary wildlife office on 12st ne and inquired about using traps, they told me traps are not allowed because from an officers point of view the trap is owned by who ever's tag is on it, and if the cray fish are obviously still alive in the traps then theoretically you are in procession of the live crayfish. there is no evidence to support if you say you are going to eat them cause it would be your word against theirs. they could say who ever is on the tag could possibly toss them into another water body but again its your word against theirs and its such a hassle. i also wish i could set traps for them but now i just do it the old fashion way roll up the pant legs and flip rocks with a snorkel if need be. if you talk to a few CO's you will also notice the interpretation is also different.

Kinda splitting hairs here aren't we, pull your minnow trap with live minnows now you are in possession of live bait which is also against the law. It is up to each individual to make sure that the bait or crayfish are dead before transporting from said location. Nobody said they wanted to catch or trap crayfish from the Beaver river system, mostly southern reservoirs and maybe have a snack of crayfish, which will sometimes be caught in minnow traps.

Precisely.

Or having a sturgeon on your line.

A garbage response from F&W.


Considering the introduction of these crayfish appears to be part of an authorized Government stocking effort, they sure are getting their panties in a knot over the public harvesting their mistake.

[TylerThomson]

I'm not arguing if the law makes sense or not. But the difference is that it explicitly says in the regs that you can use a trap for minnows and any minnows you keep (from the trap) must be killed immediately. It also explicitly state what collection methods are allowed for crayfish. I have no skin in the game so do what you like but to say the regs aren't clear just isn't true.

[Alexey]

Five years ago I was also confused with the regulations in regards to the use of minnow traps for catching crayfish. Below is what ESRD replied :

Hello Alexey,

Thank you for contacting the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Information Centre.

It is legal to catch crayfish by hand or by using hook and line, except in the Beaver River and it's tributaries, as explained on page 22 of the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing under the heading "Crayfish". Crayfish may also be captured by the use of a trap provided the trap does not capture fish (including bait fish); if the trap resembles a minnow trap and could capture bait fish also, it must follow the requirements on page 22 under "Collecting Bait Fish". In short, a trap that may catch bait fish and crayfish both must not exceed the dimensions of a legal minnow trap and must be marked as noted.

Any crayfish caught must be killed without delay as crayfish cannot be possessed live."

[chucklesthe3rd]

Minnow trap baited with fish guts put in beaver river, newel lake, mcgregor and travers.(newel have bigger ones)

[FishingPole]

Yep. Can't trap them in a minnow trap

I also catch them at Cardiff Pond when I a really slow bite (which is quite often!) but as open water season went on it seemed they were all smaller.

Anyways, since you're not likely fishing them at Cardiff, THey seem to like the weedier areas or under docks. I put a piece of bait on a hook (just to old it on there) and pull them up. Powerbait surprisingly worked pretty well so if you are fishing for trout at a stocked pond give that a try.

[abhunter8]

Tons of crayfish in Carson(Mcleod) lake for those interested. I was shocked when I saw them and we caught about 100 hundred by hand with a little kids butterfly net just for fun with intentions of cooking them but changed mind and let them all go. Some were the size of small lobsters.