Crawfish Trapping

[cooper]

I just bought my first crawfish trap and will start trying it out this summer.  I've been freezing some fish parts (guts, heads) to use for bait.
 
I've heard that fresh fish is the best bait to use, but if you're out of fish, is there anything else you can use that works well? 
 
And what about scent?  Are crawfish attracted to any particular kind of scent?  I was thinking something like cod liver oil, or anise oil, but I've never heard anyone say anything about using scent.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[ub1167]

use beef liver  check your state regs. first  my state can only use fish.

[BUGEYE]

I had one many years ago and used chicken necks.
currently, I have a crawdad rake. it's useful where you have bottom lands where the little road-side ditches get full of water after a heavy rain.  in a good spot I could rake up 2 or 3 gallons in just a few minutes.
I'm trying to find an area like that again so I can pass my rake along to someone else that can use it.

[Hellgate]

If you can only use fish, use fish flavored cat food in the can. It's woth a try and prettycheap.

[Bugflipper]

Hotdogs or bologna. No mess or stench. The fat pulls them in better than normal baits in my experience. If you put it in non running water you can see an oils slick form when it first goes in.

[Trapper-Jack]

I have done some crawdad fishing, but not a whole lot so take this for what it's worth.  The most effective bait I've personally used on crawdads were the commercial fish pellets they use to feed the fish in the trout hatcheries up here.  We tied them off in a woman s nylon sock and tied the sock into the trap.  I've tried chicken, liver, and cat food.  They worked but not as well. 

[streak]

Another option is tie a couple of slabs of salt " Fat Back" bacon inside the trap!

[hillbill]

just about any kind of meat will work.fish is prob one of the best and easiest to obtain.i wouldnt bother with a scent if yu had some meat for bait.

[andytrapper]

Cat food works great.  poke some holes in the top of the can and put it in the trap.
 
gravy types work the best.
 
Andy
 
 

[hillbill]

ok we need sum pics of the crawfish boil!