Crab & Crayfish Traps

Crayfish traps at Charlie's Fishing: a weighted, stackable trap for crayfish and Chinese mitten crab

A crayfish trap is a baited trap that you lower onto the bottom: crayfish and crabs walk in and struggle to find their way out. On this page you find our Crab and Crayfish Trap Pod, made for freshwater crayfish such as signal crayfish and for Chinese mitten crab in rivers, canals and still water. It comes in a Small and a Large size. Below you read how it is built, how to set it and what to check before you use it.

Crab and Crayfish Trap Pod: how it is built

The weighted base makes the trap sink fast and stay stable on the bottom, also in flowing water. Specially shaped entrances guide crayfish and crabs in and reduce the chance that they escape. A click system opens and closes the trap quickly, which makes baiting, emptying and cleaning easy, and the traps stack for compact transport and storage. The open throat is designed to let fish find their way out more easily, so you catch fewer fish you do not want. No trap rules out bycatch completely, so check it regularly.

How to set a crayfish trap

Put the bait inside, close the trap with the click system and tie on a strong rope. Lower the trap so it lands flat on the bottom. Crayfish look for food and shelter near stones, banks, bridge pillars, vegetation and drop-offs, so those are good places to try. A bait with a strong smell usually draws crayfish from further away; fix it well inside the trap. Results depend on water temperature, season, depth and how many crayfish live there. Check the trap regularly, do not leave animals in it longer than needed, and rinse it after use to keep the entrances clear.

Rules for crayfish traps differ per country and region

The rules for using traps for crayfish and crabs differ per country and region, and sometimes even per water. Before you set a trap, always check the local rules: whether you may use a trap there, which bait you may use, how often you must check it and what you may do with what you catch.

Which trap set-up for which situation

• Flowing water: rely on the weighted base and tie the rope on securely.
• Several traps at once: stack them for transport and use the click system to empty them fast.
• Still water, ponds and canals: set the trap close to cover such as stones, banks and vegetation.
• Fewer unwanted fish: check the trap often and release bycatch quickly where that is allowed.
Prefer to imitate crayfish with a lure? See Craws & Creature Baits. More gear in Fishing Nets and Essentials.

Why buy a crayfish trap at Charlie's Fishing

We keep the Crab and Crayfish Trap Pod in stock in the Netherlands and ship it fast across Europe. Not sure whether the Small or the Large size suits your water? Ask us and we are happy to help.

What can I catch with this crayfish trap?

It is made for freshwater crayfish, such as signal crayfish, and for Chinese mitten crab. What you actually catch depends on which species live in your water.

Can I use the trap in flowing water?

Yes. The weighted base makes it sink fast and stay stable on the bottom. Tie the rope on securely and take the strength of the current into account.

Do I need permission to use a crayfish trap?

That depends on where you use it. Rules for traps differ per country and region, and sometimes per water, so always check the local rules before you set one.