Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations How can I tell if my pond has crawdads?

I want to know if my pond has crawdads in it. I have never seen any but I dont know where to look ether. Is there a way I can tell if I have crawdads? I do know one way I could find out is by setting up a trap, How do I make a crawdad trap?

Thanks this will be very helpful. I have been looking through crawdad threads and have not seen anything that will answer my questions.

Do a dipnet survey around the shallow weedy edges.

You can tie a chicken neck (or any scrap meat) to a line and pole. Let it sit on bottom for 5 minutes, and pull it up. Many times, the crawfish refuse to let go, and you can pull them up. Some try to swim away with the bait, so you can feel little tugs on the line.

Minnow traps work too. Use a chicken neck or fish pellets. The little ones go in, the big ones hold on to the outside of the trap.

Just look for crawdad holes along the shoreline, they are easy to spot and have a chimney of mud surrounding the hole. If you didn't put them in, and if you are not near a creek, chances are they aren't in there. Many who try to stock them fail.