Keeping Crawfish alive?

[BrandonH]

What is the best way to keep crawfish alive? In the past I have just placed the bag in a cooler and put a small amount of ice on them, but I've never done it for more than a day. Are there better ways to do it, and what is the longest I can expect them to live?

Thanks,
Brandon

[BrandonH]

Ttt

[RaginCagin]

I have kept them under my carport for 2 days by laying a wet towel on the ground then the sack of crawfish then another towel on top. Wet the towel about every 4 hours and it will keep them cool and moist. A cooler would be better though if you have access to that.

[Landrover]

Keep them in a cooler still in the sack, ice at the BOTTOM (fresh water kills them), there metabolism will slow down, they will be fine for 2-3 days! Done it a million times!!!

[bjg]

Keep them in a cooler still in the sack, ice at the BOTTOM (fresh water kills them), there metabolism will slow down, they will be fine for 2-3 days! Done it a million times!!!

x2

[WoJo]

I use to hunt crawfish in the creeks all week and then use them on trot lines all weekend. We had a big wash tub, with some rocks and limbs in it with an airator to keep them alive.

I would put them in a big ice chest with some way to circulate the water. Seeing the post above. The crawfish I was changing were coming from fresh water creeks.

Man I wish I was young again. Love those days.

[BSOB]

i've always been told to put them in a cooler, in the sack, with ice on the top and make sure the cooler is tiled so that the water from melted ice can drain out. a couple days. salt water kills them, not fresh water.

[Ol Thumper]

I use to hunt crawfish in the creeks all week and then use them on trot lines all weekend. We had a big wash tub, with some rocks and limbs in it with an airator to keep them alive.

I would put them in a big ice chest with some way to circulate the water. Seeing the post above. The crawfish I was changing were coming from fresh water creeks.

Man I wish I was young again. Love those days.

That exact same thing was how I spent all summer, I had some awesome crawfishing holes, I wish I had one to take my daughter to now, to show her how her dad spent with youth. I think she would love it.

[cbrown]

Keep them in a cooler still in the sack, ice at the BOTTOM (fresh water kills them), there metabolism will slow down, they will be fine for 2-3 days! Done it a million times!!!

x3

[Swooshski]

Fresh water won't kill them if you use ice made from rain or distilled water. But out-of-the-faucet water has chlorine and flouride in it ---- and they don't like it. Keep'em cool, damp and in the bags until ready to go.

[Swampa]

Keep them in a cooler still in the sack, ice at the BOTTOM (fresh water kills them), there metabolism will slow down, they will be fine for 2-3 days! Done it a million times!!!

What he said.

[BrandonH]

Thanks for the info...trying to make plans for a Spring break camping trip.

[chief262]

I use to hunt crawfish in the creeks all week and then use them on trot lines all weekend. We had a big wash tub, with some rocks and limbs in it with an airator to keep them alive.

I would put them in a big ice chest with some way to circulate the water. Seeing the post above. The crawfish I was changing were coming from fresh water creeks.

Man I wish I was young again. Love those days.

Do not want to jack thread, but there was a old tank with a small creek running through it by our house. Could take a minnow seine with one drag and fill up a 5 gallon bucket. We just kept them damp and cool. Trotline bait for a week! Good days. Almost brings tears!

[Landrover]

Fresh water won't kill them if you use ice made from rain or distilled water. But out-of-the-faucet water has chlorine and flouride in it ---- and they don't like it. Keep'em cool, damp and in the bags until ready to go.

Thanks!

not fresh water.

Swooshski beat me to it above!

Thanks for the info...trying to make plans for a Spring break camping trip.

Very kewl, where yall gonna go? U will be fine, keep the drain plug open and you are on autopilot!