I lived and worked in Southern Louisiana for several years. All of the locals used what they called "melt" for bait. Melt is the spleen from slaughtered cattle. You can find it in virtually every grocery store and bait store across that whole area. A cow's spleen is a cross between liver and a sponge, with a white membrane on each side. The structure holds blood very well and doesn't give it up until the Crawfish start eating on the bait. It doesn't stop. Constant, fresh blood leached into the water. I've never found any better bait, myself. But, now that I'm here in the northwest, I've never really looked for it. Perhaps you could talk to a local butcher? It would certainly be worth the trouble. Since no one here uses it for bait, they probably just toss it. Do you have friends that raise beef? Have them save the spleen. And no, this is not any attempt to troll you.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Wow, very interesting! I'll have to look into trying out "melt" for bait. Thanks for the suggestion!

Great catch! And I almost choked on my beverage at the "bloopers" at the end. Hilarious!

Loving this video bro, thanks for uploading

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Great to hear from the official UKCA! Thanks for checking in and sorry for the late reply. I hope you are doing well and staying healthy. Cheers!

Awesome a new vid!! Keep'um coming

@WesternEclectic

5 жыл бұрын

Will do. Thank you!

I just caught ur channel and really have enjoyed it so far so I’m subscribing to you.👍🏻👏🏼 my favorite subjects are the crawfish. Also any nature things.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I didn't know what to expect when I started my channel a couple years ago but the response has been great and it has been a lot of fun. Thanks again for subscribing and take care.

I've not had much luck with my traps. I think I've been out too early in the year and in water that is moving too fast. I have yet to catch enough or ones that are big enough to bother taking them. It sure is fun though just to toss a trap in and see what finds its way in! It is a totally different experience than the hunt for razor clams or the "move all of the sand you can stand" raking for cockles. I keep rewatching your videos and trying to be inspired to do less lock fiddling, and less knife and watch collecting, yet still enjoy those hobbies, but get out more to try to clam for other species and crayfish. if only the beer flu hadn't ruined those plans for this spring!

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Hey Kyle, I agree that if you haven't been getting too many crayfish in the traps, it's possible that you were a bit early. In my experience late summer when it's hot and water levels are low is best. A couple other thoughts: It could be that you're just not in a great area. In my experience water with lots of structure for crayfish to hide in (like big rocks or submerged brush) tends to be best. And you might even want to try changing up your bait (oily fish is probably best, although I'm usually too lazy to deal with all the mess and instead just use tinned cat food). Regardless, keep at it and I'm confident you'll figure out what works for increasing your catches! And as for all those other hobbies... Well, yeah, sometimes it's hard to choose, but hey, at least we don't ever get bored! And it's always good to have plenty of knives on hand so you can use one to open the box when you order a new knife.😁 Take care and keep in touch!

This year was first for f.catching them from beginning to end if season and too noticed that first of season I caught caught almost nothing but males then a little later noticed more and more females as summer kicked in. Thanks for video

@WesternEclectic

8 ай бұрын

Hi Tim, that's a great observation. I hope you had fun catching crayfish this season!

Thanx for turning me on to this vid we chatted the other day. Great vid shout out from a Maine lobsterman

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

You bet, and thank you for watching! To me it's great to chat with a bona fide Maine lobsterman. Very cool! Our "river lobsters" here on the other side of the country are a lot smaller, but still taste great. Cheers.

@jeromeb1590

4 жыл бұрын

Np bro this is why KZread iis cool it's awsome to b able to meet n chat with people on the other side if the country. Very cool ur vids r good and interesting b happy to see more. I'll hafta send ya sum vids of us hauling lobster traps . Right now out traps r full. Lobster r kinda like them crayfish early in the season u don't get many but mid summer at least for us we r pulling full traps in till after Xmas. Then it gets tuff the wethers bad and super cold ain't much fun winter fishing but wer a hardy breed. Very cool have a good evening

Looks like a good day crawfishing!

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike!

I live out by hillsboro and there are tons of streams and rivers by us! We use hotdogs they stay together and release lots of oils which the craws seem to like, we make our own traps out of galvanized chicken wire. I’m glad I found your videos.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Cool! I'm glad you found these videos too 😁. I'd love to see how you make your own traps. I've tried hotdogs too and yes, in my experience they work well. I hope you're catching lots of crayfish this summer! Thanks for watching and commenting.

@TedSeeber

4 жыл бұрын

I'm in Beaverton and work at Jones Farm. Can you tell me a good legal spot near Hillsboro to thrown in a trap and check it a few times a week?

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

@@TedSeeber Hi Theodore! As far as I know, it is legal to trap crayfish in pretty much anywhere in Oregon, with a 100 per day limit. (You could check the ODFW site online just to be sure.) I am not very familiar with the streams in your area, but I suspect they will contain crayfish too. And finally, as far as trapping: I've had better luck letting the traps sit in the water for only a few hours. Most folks do overnight at the longest. Letting them sit any longer means the bait may run out and the crayfish will find their way out too. Also, the longer you leave it unattended the better chance someone might steal it. We've had quite a bit of rain lately so I'm not sure if they crayfishing will be much good now, but you could give it a shot. Good luck!

@willyrisco9618

4 жыл бұрын

Theodore Seeber the creeks that feed Hagg lake can be productive, also if you take 26 towards the coast you will see some good creek access.

Get yourself a pair of polarized sunglasses, they work great at reducing glare.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely! A must-have for fishing or catching crayfish.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

@Eric Schimmer Hi Eric check out the "Jackpot" trap on trapperarne.com. I haven't used it but I have heard it is a good trap and it is collapsible with no bright colors. Of course, I would certainly never condone using it in a way that didn't conform to government regulations, no matter how ridiculous...

Enjoyable video thanks. Who sells camouflage line please?

@WesternEclectic

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! I bought the line at a local Bi-Mart store; it wasn't very expensive and isn't anything fancy but it works. Sorry, I don't recall the brand name offhand, but pretty much any camouflage line should work.

I ran across your videos and really enjoyed them. I live in Seattle and have been wanting to try catching crayfish. Can you recommend some good rivers and lakes nearby to try? Thanks!

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! I'm in Oregon and unfortunately I'm not too familiar with options near Seattle. But a few other folks from your area have commented and I know that are supposedly some good crayfish waters near you. Good luck!

@juanedoses8715

4 жыл бұрын

pretty much any body of fresh water. just make sure you're not fishing in polluted waters if you want to cook them.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

@@nwnative4139 Hi Shawn, I don't want to give out the exact location of my top secret crayfish spot 😁, but there are a lot of places between Portland and Newport that should have good crayfish populations and also not be crowded enough such that you should have to worry too much about your gear getting stolen (although I always try to take measures to prevent this, no matter how secluded my location). Pretty much any of the Coast Range streams should work. With a little research you could get ideas for good spots. I hope you're staying safe with all the craziness in Portland. Take care, and good luck!

I live in western Washington with waters containing some big signal crayfish. Do you worry about water quality in your area when eating these guys?

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Good question and yes, I do try to be cognizant of those. I would be hesitant to eat crayfish from polluted waters, especially since crayfish feed on so many different things. I assume WA has a listing of potentially hazardous rivers and lakes, that might be a good place to start. Good luck!

Have you tried bacon rind or pork hock, maybe even bacon pieces you can get in a box at some stores?

@WesternEclectic

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Barbara! Yes, I have tried bacon and it works well--the crayfish seem to like it almost as much as I do, haha. You can see me using raw bacon as bait (on a rod and reel) in this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/X6p928qBmKXWeJM.html. Although I haven't used it in a trap, I'm sure it would be effective. Thanks for checking in and for the suggestions.

Where did you buy those crayfish traps? I want to buy a couple.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Check the video description; I provided a link there.

What would your results be if you left the traps out overnight?

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Good question! I've actually tried this and it didn't work as well as I had hoped: When I came back the next morning I expected the traps to be full, but each only had two or three crayfish and they were no longer on the bait can. I think that with that much time, the bait runs out and they crayfish start to look for a way out (which they eventually find). I have found that letting the traps sit for a two or three hours seems to works best.

Newbie here - Is there edible meat on the claws? Thanks.

@WesternEclectic

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Scott, yes, the best meat is in the claws! In this video you can see how I clean a crayfish including removing the claw meat: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hK5ptNdrlJm2aco.html

@scott5456

2 жыл бұрын

@@WesternEclectic thank you for taking the time, and thanks for the video too.

I wonder if the crayfish in the banana skin trap was attracted by the smell of the cat food from the trap next to it?

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

That's definitely possible. It's hard to conclude much based on catching just one crayfish in the trap... I think more research is needed! 😊

if you can, you should upload more.

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Cody! I have a few other crayfish videos posted in case you haven't seen them yet, but yes, I'll definitely be uploading more in the future.

@codycargill4521

4 жыл бұрын

@@WesternEclectic sweet, i look forward to seeing them.

you say you like to share your hobbies. I'm having a horrible time finding creeks and other locations around the Puget sound. I would love to talk about what I'm doing wrong

@WesternEclectic

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul, sorry you're having a tough time finding a good spot. We're just starting to enter the season for catching crayfish, so it also might be a timing issue. I'm in Oregon, so unfortunately I can't help much with suggestions on specific spots in your area.

Hi , just came across your channel, thanks for posting, they are considered invasive where I come from just wondering if you would put up a video on how you like to cook them and what goes well with them when your eating them ? White Wine or Beer and do you dress them with any sauce or just have em boied etc , cheers will keep watching!

@WesternEclectic

5 жыл бұрын

Glad you found the channel! It's a fairly new endeavor for me, but it has been a lot of fun so far. Please feel free to subscribe (note that in spite of being new to making videos, I'm already all about shameless self promotion!). A few weeks ago I made a video along the lines of what you've requested; you can find it here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hK5ptNdrlJm2aco.html And in pretty much any recipe that calls for shrimp or crab you can substitute crayfish. There are tons of great ways to enjoy cooking and eating them! One of my absolute favorites is the "Looo-Zee-Annah Crawfish Pie" recipe from the book I show in the link in the aforementioned video. A lot of work to make but well worth it in my humble opinion. As for what to drink with them... A cold beer or a nice glass of white wine tends to do very nicely. Cheers!

I must be the worst mud bugger ever. 0/7 now and have only seen two on outside of the trap. Even left them in over night three times. From fillets to cat food. Maybe im just picking bad spots. At least these videos keep me motivated haha.

@WesternEclectic

5 жыл бұрын

Hey operationNOBO don't give up! From the sound of it, you might not be having good luck simply because you're in a spot where there just aren't that many crayfish. Also, I have left traps in overnight and in my experience this doesn't always help. I think that when the crayfish run out of bait (or just get full), they start looking for a way out of the trap and eventually they find it. I once left a trap overnight in a fairly good spot and in the morning I only had a couple crayfish in it. Moreover, they were just sitting in the corners of the trap, nowhere near the bait. Again, I think you're probably doing everything right but just not in a great location. I'm not sure where in the country (or world) you are, but I hope you're able to find a good spot. Good luck!

@operationNOBO

5 жыл бұрын

@@WesternEclectic Thanks for the reply. I switched spots and actually got one. Only took me 8 times! I saw a lot more here and some good sized ones. I noticed a lot were going towards the entrance of the trap and then would just back off several times..didnt want to commit. I made a mistake maybe..using fillets and those crawdads would go under the trap and peck at the bait as best they could. Either way it gives me hope!

@WesternEclectic

5 жыл бұрын

@@operationNOBO Great! And yes, I really try to keep the bait suspended in the middle of the trap, otherwise crayfish will just get it from the outside and lose all incentive to come in.

@BigBeavrSlayer

4 жыл бұрын

@@WesternEclectic here in Washington I have had my best luck suspending a piece of chicken in the trap drum sticks are great with the fat content they have oil that really draws them in

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

@@BigBeavrSlayer Good to know; thanks! Chicken drumsticks are my standard bait for crabbing, but I have yet to try them for crayfish.

Hello Sir! I have been studying crayfish for a while. My family attempted to open a pond in Louisiana, but did not overcome. I have since moved to Kansas, but my interest is still high on crawfish. Would you be interested in shipping me one of those puppies to Kansas if I take care of all expenses. I would rather start with the Signal after reading about it's meat and taste. Thank you for your videos, very informative. I look forward to hearing from you, good day Sir!

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Hello Robert, thanks for watching and reaching out to me about this. I'm not 100% sure, but I am fairly certain it isn't legal to ship live crayfish without all the proper permits, etc. There is a risk of introducing an invasive species (signal crayfish were introduced in the UK and have caused a lot of damage there). So, unfortunately I won't be able to help in that respect. Good luck with your plans if you intend to start a commercial crayfish operation!

@robertadger4446

4 жыл бұрын

@@WesternEclectic Note taken! Thank you for the info nonetheless! You are appreciated.

@Jeremihayes75

4 жыл бұрын

Western Eclectic kzread.info/dash/bejne/o32htbWqicuYaZs.html

Is there a size limit for crayfish?

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

Not in Oregon. I'm not sure about other states (or countries), but I have never heard of a size limit. (By the way, it's a lot different for catching dungeness crab here in Oregon, where there is a size limit *and* only males may be kept.)

@arief6950

4 жыл бұрын

Depends if it's cherax it can grow up up to 12 inches (30cm) if procambarus it can only grow until 12cm

Use some ramen. Crayfish love some ramen.

Crawfish Yankee boy

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

I know I know, nobody in the South calls them crayfish. 😁

Try to use garlic

@WesternEclectic

4 жыл бұрын

To attract the crayfish whilst keeping away the vampires? 😊