Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Crawdads...Free to a Good Home!

I have over 100 crawdads (Northern Virile) that need a new place to be. Most are 3 to 4" long. If anyone wants to bring a cooler and pick them up, I'll honor the first "I'll take them" on this thread. I will be able to meet any evening this week (today included). I live in West Central Missouri, about 10 miles south of the I-70 / 65 Hwy intersection (I-70 mile marker 79).

Should someone want these guys...post your "I'll take e'm" here and PM me a number to call and I contact you. I'll check back in a couple hours.

QA, I would love to get them, but I’m getting my ankle rebuilt tomorrow morning. I am not sure, but I imagine I’ll be down for several weeks. Plus it’s my right ankle so driving will be delayed.
How long can you hold them?

best wishes for your surgery and recovery SetterGuy!

SG...We'll get you some before the summer is over, so long as the catch rates continue. I have been getting about 20 a night for the last month and 30 to 50 prior to that for a total of over 1000 this year. And, my work hours are getting ready to change such that I will not be able to set traps as much. Don't hesitate to PM me when you foresee an opportunity to travel and we'll see what we can do...take it easy and don't get impatient with the healing process!

I have over 120 now and have been emptying the bait sock over the caged craws...this should allow them to be kept caged longer, but I don't want to push it such that they start eating each other. These will go to a neighbors pond this weekend unless a PB member needs them. Even though my neighbor does not have the habitat for them...they will certainly be good forage for his LMB and CC.

Sounds good QA. I’ll be in touch in a few months. Took the surgeon 4 hours to rebuild the ankle. It’s going to be a long recovery.

Listen to the Dr. and don't rush it to much. Hoping for a quick recovery !

QA, if ya can't find a home for them call your local Game warden.. Tell them free craws and they'll load them up by the cooler load :-))
340lbs of my craws removed went to 7 wardens and 1 local KHP.

I guess I've boiled up about 15-20lbs for my wife n Kids.

As someone with a fractured knee, smashed while fishing, I can only advise you to do your physical therapy! Key to full recovery.

SG, sorry about the ankle, hope it heals up good.
As for the craws, if QA doesn't have enough when you're ready I think Augie is coming out for fish in a month or 2. I'll bet we can get some close to ya if needed.

I live close to new haven missouri about how far are you from that. I might be interested

Joe... According to G.maps, I'm about 2 hours and 15 minutes from New Haven. I have over 150 caged with no takers and should be available throughout the weekend.

I bet we could get em right straight into SG's pond.

QA hello from STL. Why are you getting rid of your crawfish? Last year I stocked 15k live crawfish into my 4+ acre pond for my bass. They are great forage! Curious why you’d want to remove them.

Hello N&K,

I have too many that have gotten out ahead of my predators. They may not be preferred by my HSB (2-3 pound fish) and have gotten too big for the HBG (1/2 - 3/4 pound). HSB, HBG, and the never seen since stocking RES are the only fish in the pond. In too large of numbers, they eat almost all vegetation and contribute to muddy waters. I would love for my waters to clear up to 24 to 36 inches (currently at 12-14) and I would also love to get some American Pond weed and Water Primrose established...the crawdads love APW and I'm putting WP in this week to give it a try. I am not trying to eradicate them, just get the numbers down so some plants will thrive. I have considered putting some CC in to help reduce the craw numbers, but have not pulled that trigger. I thought I'd try trapping them down first before I traded HSB capacity for CC.

have you considered adding a single, large freshwater drum? Just curious, how large is your biggest crawdad pipe? I've got a couple this year that are 18" tall, 24" around at the base and have 4-5" holes on top, by far the largest I've ever seen.

I have not even thought about a drum...not sure where I'd get one. These northern virile crayfish do not build pipes. I think they just hang out in the rocks and crevices. I do have a single LMB in there (I think). I added it last year...surely it's fat and happy!

White drum can be caught in pretty much any flowing stream south of the Missouri River. Any creek mouth on LoTO or Truman should be stacked with them after a decent rain.
The trouble with that idea is getting them home alive. If you could catch a couple them <12" it might be do-able.
Any bigger than that they are very difficult to transport. 5lb+ size will croak in less than 15 minutes if you toss him in an aerated livewell on a boat.
But if you were able to pull it off... they will hoover some crayfish...

They are pretty hardy in cold water....late fall through early spring. They would also help control snails, much better than RES

We call them goos (gasper goo)

they have so many different names; sheephead, freshwater drum, drum, white drum and ironically here they are called perch

I should have a guesstimated 60 crawdads looking for a new home come Sunday...any takers.

If not, I should have about twice that many by the next Sunday so long as they do well being in the cage that long. I think they will be fine. I'm more than willing to reserve them for someone that wants to commit to the trip (10 miles north of Sedalia, Mo.).

I should have over 100 craws come Sunday it there are any takers.

Wish I was closer to you would like to stock some

I should have about 150 craws by the end of next weekend (Sunday, Sept 27th) if there are any takers. I'll have more in the following weeks as I will be able to trap more often then.

Don’t forget about me! I get this stupid boot off October 14th. I will be a free man at that point. I’ll be able to drive myself somewhere! Other than driving my wife crazy! I will still want a crawdad or two.