How to Catch Freshwater Signal Crayfish

Turn over rocks in streams where signal crayfish inhabit. They hide underneath rocks and logs during the day. Let the debris settle and search for crayfish. When a crayfish is sighted, place a bowl behind the tail large enough to capture it. Tweak or poke the front of the crayfish with a stick or with fingers. Crayfish swim backwards, so when threatened from the front, it will swim backward into the bowl placed behind it.

Flash a headlamp in the water while wading in streams or lakes at night. Crayfish reflect light, so they're easily spotted. At night, they emerge from hiding spots to search for food. Repeat tipping over rocks if the crayfish cannot be located.

Lay a specially baited crayfish bait at the bottom of a creek or river. The traps are cylindrical cage that easy entrance, but a not-so-easy escape. Trapper Arne's crayfish website suggests smelly fish like salmon or other meat like chicken as bait. Fresh bait is optimal. Trapper Arne also suggests loading the trap with a lot of bait. Once the bait is eaten, a crayfish will try to escape. The more bait put inside, the less likely a crayfish will leave. More bait increase the odds that other crayfish will enter.

Lay out a couple of traps and then fish by hand with a light and a bucket. If you use both at the same time, you're doubling the chances for success. The traps have the benefit of catching huge batches of crayfish.