A “crawdad” (a nickname for crayfish) can be caught for live bait, food, pets, or for the pure fun of it. These three-inch long, 10-legged, lobster-like fish that live on the floor of creeks, ponds, and lakes are easy and fun to catch. You’ll need the following to do so.
* pole (about 6-ft long; stick, bamboo, or old fishing rod)
* string or line (about 6-ft; household or fishing)
* flashlight
* bait (hotdogs, pork liver, chicken parts, bacon, or worms)
* fishnet (fine mesh with a long handle)
* small camera
* water bucket
How to catch them.
1. Do this fishing with a parent or grownup who has a fishing license.
2. Arrive at your fishing place near predawn or sunset.
3. Use your flashlight to find a shallow fishing spot, 1-to-5 five feet deep. If the water is clear, you might see crawdads on the bottom of your place. They come out from hiding at night. Do not wade there barefoot!
4. Tie one end of your fishing string tied to one end of the pole. To the other end of the string tie a palm-sized chunk of bait. For example, cut two hotdogs in two. Tie these four pieces together around their middle.
5. By holding the pole at the other end, lower the bait into the water until it touches the bottom. Keep the string fairly taught.
6. When the string moves slightly, a crawdad is pulling it.
7. Slowly raise your bait one to three feet off the bottom. The crawdad will stay attached to the bait if it cannot see you.
8. Have your partner place the fishnet under and slightly behind the crawdad.
9. Let your partner scoop the crawdad into the net. Your crawdad might also fall or swim into the net on its own. Sometimes, it will stay attached to the bait until it’s out of the water. When that happens, shake it off into the net.
10. Carefully take your catch from the net.
11. Have your partner take your picture with your catch. Smile!
12. Return your catch to the water if you don’t want to catch a few more first. Otherwise, save it in the bucket partly filled with water. Have fun!
More about crayfish.
* More than 250 kinds of crayfish live in North America alone.
* Crayfish have a crusty outer skeleton (exoskeleton) and five pair of legs. Their front two legs have strong pincers to grab their food with, or someone’s finger or toe!
* When crayfish sense danger, they swim backwards by flipping their tails downwards.
* Crayfish like to hide under plants, logs, tunnels, and rocks. They are scavengers, feeding on anything they can find.
Bibliography/References
1. The Crayfish Corner, “Crayfish Information” www.mackers.com/crayfish
2. Missouri Department of Conservation online, “Varieties of Crayfish Found in Missouri” www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/crayfish/varcraw.htm
3. “Crayfishing Girl” http://pub47.bravenet.com/photocenter/album.php?img=104376&usernum=3988215334
4. University of California, Lawrence Hall of Science, Foss Science Curriculum; Support resources, and fun activities for schools, districts, teachers, and parents (continued below) www.lawrencehallofscience.org/foss/fossweb/teachers/materials/plantanimal/crayfish.html
5. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2003 Deluxe Edition CD-ROM, article “Crayfish”
6. Sill, Cathryn (Illustrated by John Sill), “About Crustaceans” A Guide for Children, Peachtree Publishers, Atlanta, 2004, plate 12-crayfish
7. Sowler, Sandy. “Amazing Armored Animals” Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, 1992, p-26
8. Pet Health & Care Information “Crawdads as Pets” www.petlibray.com/crawdads.htm
9. Australian Museum Online “Crayfish” www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/crayfish.htm
10.Crayfish World “Looking After Your Yabbie” www.crayfishworld.com/yabbykidshusbandry.htm
