Is there any other outdoor activity that’s more fun than throwing a crawfish boil party?
It’s arguable, but I don’t think so. At least people from Louisiana will agree with me. And why won’t they? I can’t explain the reasons in words. But if you take the leap of faith to attend just one crawdad boil hosted by your buddies, you’ll be hooked – I kid you not.
As you’re here looking for crawfish traps, I believe you’re one of the very few with exquisite taste who prefer catching crawfish alive from the water over buying them frozen. I’m stoked that I get to write today for people like you.
In this article, I’ll be recommending my top picks of crayfish traps along with explaining which one is best for what kind of anglers. Will also be answering some common questions about crawfish traps and catching crawfish/Crayfish in general.
Last but not the least, a buyer’s guide to walk you through the ins and outs of shopping for crawfish traps.
Excited? Let’s begin!
Top 6 Best Crawfish Traps Comparison
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | Price |
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Premium Choice  
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Best for Beginners  
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Best Durability  
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Best Overall  
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Most Portable  
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Value for Money  
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1. Protoco Crawfish Trap – Premium Choice
Features
- Built-in bait box
- Black Polyethylene coated steel mesh for corrosion resistance.
- Easy catch removal system.
- Multiple trap inlets.
Protoco Crawfish Trap is certainly not one of the most affordable crawfish traps. But hey, even if I’m asked this for the 1000th time, my answer is going to be all the same.
It will be a very good investment for the future, especially if you’re going to catch crayfish quite often.
Why so?
Well, to start with, the unique design screams innovation. It has four trap entrances in total, covering all four sides of the square shaped trap. The coned design makes it easy for the crawfish to get in, but even the Einstein ones among them wouldn’t be able to escape. And yes, white it’s mainly a crayfish trap, you can catch shrimps as well.
This is one of the few crayfish traps that don’t shy away when it comes to durability either, thanks to the corrosion proof construction material. And last but not the least, the catch removal system couldn’t get any simpler than what it comes with. One of the tunnels can be hinged down, and that’s literally all you’ll need to do.
I mean, could trapping crawfish be any easier? This is an amazing trap for crawfish!
Overall, if you want the premium features and don’t mind paying a tad bit more for that, this will be the best crawfish trap for you.
Pros
- Good durability.
- Ingenious trap design.
- High usability.
- Versatile.
Cons
- Comparatively expensive.
- Quite heavy.
2. South Bend SBCD-2369 -Best for Beginners
Features
- Beginner-friendly.
- Corrosion resistant nylon wire construction.
- Easy catch removal system.
South Bend SBCD-2369 is an ideal crawfish trap for those who want to get started with trapping crawfish and are not ready for something top-shelf just yet. The minimal design with no additional features makes it virtually impossible to do something wrong, even if you’re a total beginner.
Everything is a piece of cake with this crawfish trap, whether you want to put the bait in or remove the catch. I wouldn’t recommend something hard to use for beginners, right?
It’s certainly not flawless, but if you’re a newbie who just wants an easy to use crawfish trap, this is what you should get.
Pros
- Simple to use.
- Good durability.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Small mesh size hole, only small and medium sized crawfish can enter the trap.
- Subpar locking system, so the prey may be able to escape with some efforts.
3. Gees Feets G-40 – Best Durability
Features
- Made of galvanized steel wire with anti-corrosive properties.
- Can be disassembled with ease for putting bait in or removing catch from the trap.
- Semi-collapsible so easier to store when you’re not using it.
When compared to similar crawfish traps, Gees Feets G-40 is built like a tank. Figuratively, of course. But no, really, the build quality is great and the reinforced design will never complain even if you’re more of a rough user.
Though the main highlight would be its durability, it also packs another very neat feature, semi-collapsibility. If real estate is at a premium in your shed or boot, that can come very handy.
To sum it up, this is a very durable trap that offers compact storage along with good portability as well.
Pros
- Very durable construction.
- Simple to use.
- Lightweight and compact.
Cons
- Small mesh size hole, only small and medium sized crawfish can enter the trap.
- No built-in bait bag or box.
4. Frabill Crawfish Trap (1272) – Best Overall
Features
- Mesh is made of vinyl dipped steel, making heavy-duty usage possible.
- Two-piece design, so putting bait in and removing catch is a breeze.
- Torpedo-shape design allows it to perform great in both calm and turbulent water.
Frabill Crawfish Trap (1272) is very popular among trapping enthusiasts as its unique set of features makes trapping crawfish easier.
While, of course, the sheer brilliance of its design combined with the amazing durability is the reason behind that – I’d also give a shout-out to the manufacturer, Frabill. As a company that has been providing quality fishing gear for the last 73 years, they surely know how to make great stuff, which is apparent here too.
The crawfish trap has a two piece design, which means you can remove one of the halves to put the bait in and get the prey out very easily. Its design also lets you catch crayfish in both calm and turbulent water with minimum effort.
This crawfish trap definitely comes with some cons, but the pros undoubtedly outweigh them. If you’re looking for something that has a good balance of advantages and disadvantages, Frabill Crawfish Trap won’t disappoint you.
Pros
- Great durability.
- Very easy to use.
- Can be used in all kinds of water conditions.
Cons
- The pod may get detached from the clasp, which can be fixed with a pair of pliers though.
- No built-in bait bag or box.
5. Ieasky Collapsible Crawfish Net – Most Portable
Features
- Foldable design.
- Double layer nylon mesh and steel wire have been used in construction.
- Inbuilt two telescoping shrimp/crab traps.
- Zipper opening making it more convenient to take the prey out from the trap.
“Woah, this will make an awesome travel buddy for backpacking!”
That was precisely my first impression about this crawfish trap from Ieasky. Though as a matter of fact, you’ll need a somewhat roomy backpack to carry this on your back.
But that doesn’t stop this from being any less portable. It conveniently folds into a small size and the low weight means you can easily carry it around in a bag, if not a backpack.
Some manufacturers tend to compromise on durability while trying to make the crawfish trap more portable, but that’s not the case with this one. In addition to the unmatched compactness, the rigid construction materials also not so subtly hint that this crawfish trap is made to last.
Another noteworthy feature would be its zipper opening, which can be a blessing. Especially if you’re tired of using crayfish traps that have a cumbersome catch removal system.
To wrap things up, this is certainly one of the best crawfish traps when it comes to portability. If that’s one of your criteria, do consider this crawfish trap from Ieasky.
Pros
- Compact storage, easy to carry around.
- Convenient to use.
- Versatile – can be used to catch shrimp and crab as well.
- Well-built, durable design.
Cons
- The bait pouch is a bit small in size, so not much bait can be placed in the trap.
6. Drasry Fishing Trap – Value for Money
Features
- Both steel wire (galvanized) and polyethylene is used in construction to get the perfect balance of stability and durability.
- Can be used in both freshwater and saltwater.
- Clever openable design makes taking out catches both easy and safe.
- Can be folded when not in use.
If audience consists of people who always look for the most bang for their buck, this crawfish is trap is the one that steals the show. I hear you, which is why I present you the least expensive crawfish trap on my list, Drasry Fishing Trap.
Before you raise your eyebrows up, I know it’s certainly not about being the cheapest one.
Having the best price-to-value ratio is what it is about. And, fortunately, this crawfish trap excels in that too.
Let me start with the construction. Both corrosion proof steel and polyethylene have been used there, so there’s no question about its durability and longevity.
The good versatility promises way more options on your dinner menu as well. It can definitely trap crawfish, but that’s not where its capabilities stop. Want to catch minnows? No problemo. Can it double as a crab trap too? Yes!
To top it off, the design is even foldable which is a pleasant surprise given the price. While this is not one of the crawfish traps that can put up with the pressure of professional use, it’ll do the job just fine for weekend trapping.
If you’re looking for a well constructed crawfish trap that offers a great deal of features along with good versatility at a reasonable price, you can’t go wrong with Drasry Fishing Trap.
Pros
- Low price.
- Portable, easy to store.
- Rigid structure, decent build quality.
- Convenient catch removal process.
- Very versatile – can be used to catch crabs, baits, lobsters, crawfish, shrimps, reptiles and a lot more.
Cons
- Not suitable for professional use, designed for casual anglers only.
Finding the Best Crawfish Traps – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
Crawfish traps aren’t that hard to shop for, but there are a few things you’ll wanna keep in mind.
I’ll be walking you through what you need to know below. These evaluation factors will help you pick the best crawdad trap for yourself and of course, clear the possible confusions you have.
Durability and Maintenance
It might be obvious but yes, durability is absolutely something you’ll want to look out for.
The durability of a crawfish trap depends greatly on the construction material. As the trap would be exposed to water for extended hours, it must be corrosion proof. Usually galvanized steel or strong nylon is used in crawfish traps. Some also come vinyl coated for higher longevity.
Do look into the amount of regular maintenance the crawfish trap requires as well, since not everybody can afford to spend a lot of effort and time on that.
Just keep these two things in mind, and you’ll be fine. As long as you’re not cheaping out on it, a well constructed crawfish trap with corrosion proof structure will last you years.
Trap Entrance Size
Experienced anglers may already know what I’m talking about, but I’m going to include this for everyone’s convenience anyway.
The entrance size of the trap must match the average size of the fish you’d be catching. As you’re reading this article, I’m going to assume you want to catch crawfish.
And why is that important? Because, if the entrance is bigger than your catch then your catch would be able to escape through it easily. And if it’s smaller than that, then, well, they won’t be able to enter the trap.
So, what you’ll want to do is to determine what size of crawfish you want to catch and pick the one that has sufficiently large mesh holes. To give you an idea, an average crawfish is about 3 inches long. However, it does vary widely from species to species.
Go to your local water body and see for yourself, that’d be the best.
Crawfish traps generally have appropriately sized entrances for crawfish, as they’re designed for that purpose after all. But if you plan on trapping something smaller like shrimps too, check how much versatility the entrance size allows.
Bait Holder
Traps often come with some sort of crawfish bait box or bait bag which you can fill with your bait. It’s usually something simple like a cylindrical or rectangular box or a net bag.
This is definitely a nice feature to have, as you wouldn’t have to supply your own. But if it comes down to either a decent bait holder or something more important, I’d recommend going for the latter. You can always buy one or make your own.
While without it the crawfish trap is useless, think of the built-in bait holder as more of an amenity, not core functionality.
Ease of Catch Removal
Storytime.
After leaving the crawfish trap for a few hours or overnight, it’s finally time to get the catch out. You walk up to the trap and let out a sigh. As you try to gather the crayfish, you break into a sweat and regret buying a trap that’s so difficult to empty.
How did this turn out to be such a long haul?
Yes. I know, you don’t want to end up like that. No one does.
Which is exactly why you’ll always want to check how easy it is to remove the catch from the trap. It would be best if the trap has a separate door that lets you empty the catch, as well as putting the bait in.
If the only way to remove catch from the trap is to use the trap inlet, that’s a red flag. Run.
Portability
Let me clarify something first, the best crawfish traps are not always the most portable ones.
But it certainly helps if you go for crawfish trapping more than once in a blue moon. Carrying all the traps back and forth from your home/storage area to the water gets so tiresome at times that you’d really appreciate a lightweight trap.
Fortunately, if you prefer portability, there are plenty of great options to choose from. The collapsible and foldable crawfish traps are what you should go for, they take far less space to store and are lightweight as well.
The rigid metal cages don’t offer much portability because of their weight and inability to fold. If portability is one of your criteria, they wouldn’t be a good choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you make an easy crawdad trap?
Homemade crawfish traps are pretty fun to use, and they’re not that hard to make either. All you’re gonna need are some plastic bottles and zip ties. As it’s a bit hard to explain how to make them in words, check out this video instead.
There’s something I’d like to mention though.
While homemade crawfish traps aren’t terrible, store-bought crawfish traps tend to do a far better job at catching crawfish. If you have the time and knack for the DIY route, I encourage you to give it a shot anyway, if only for fun.
However, most people would probably find store-bought crawfish traps better in terms of performance and convenience.
Can crayfish escape traps?
It depends on the trap, of course.
After crayfish have eaten their fill – even if it’s the best crawfish trap bait – you can’t really expect them to hang around, right?
They will definitely be trying to escape. That’s why the best crawfish traps always have some kind of easy-to-access-hard-to-leave entrance, which makes it significantly difficult for crawfish to escape.
So, to summarize, if the crawfish trap you’ve picked (e.g. the ones on my list) has such kind of entrance(s), the trapped crawfish will be less likely to be able to escape. If you want to be on the safe side anyway, consider emptying the trap every 3-4 hours to avoid escapees.
Where is the best place to put a crawdad trap?
When it comes to nesting ground, shallow water bodies are what crawfish prefer. You know, like creeks that have continuous water flow, ponds, lakes etc. You can set crawfish traps there.
They’re also known to have a special affinity with bedrock. So, if the water body has a lot of rocks and debris, that can be a great place to trap crawfish as well.
What is the best time of day to catch crawfish?
Crayfish are nocturnal. As in, they’re more active at night while searching for food. So, obviously, they’d be most likely to bite your bait at night-time, given you’re using a trap.
That being said, crayfish often search for food during daytime hours too. Especially if they’re very hungry. So, if you don’t get good results from nighttime hours, don’t hesitate to give the other time period a shot.
Best Bait for Crawfish?
It is mainly the smell of the bait that attracts crayfish, so ideally, real meat should be used. Any kind of raw meat would do, chicken or beef for example.
If you’re on a budget, canned cat food will also do the job.
Final Words
That was all about the best crawfish traps in the market. Let me quickly give you a recap on what’s been discussed so far quickly.
We’ve explored the top eight crawfish traps. Whether it’s a beginner-friendly trap you’re looking for, or something with high durability, or even the best crawfish trap that doesn’t cost a fortune – the carefully curated list of crawfish traps I’ve made has got you covered.
As always, I’ve answered some commonly asked questions about crawfish traps in the FAQ section and threw in a buyer’s guide too. I hope they will clear up your misconceptions if any.
I’ve tried to recommend the very best crawfish traps in my article, that’s true. However, it’s you who would be using it to catch fish at the end of the day. So, it’ll be a good idea for you to do your own research before settling on one.
Whichever crawfish trap you pick, don’t forget that the point is to have fun. Happy trapping!
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