Banks Lake Craws?

[Larry3215]

My brothers and I are heading up to Banks Lake for the first time in early June. We are mainly going for bass and walleye but hoping for a Burbot or two. We will be staying at Steamboat state park.

I've been reading Banks reports and it looks like there are craws in Banks. Ive been wanting to try eating some craws for a long time. We used to catch them when we were kids.

Any tips on catching them? I picked up a small pot at Sportco and will rig up a buoy and flag. Im assuming fish heads or carcass for bait?

I was also wondering if anyone has tried using craws as bait for bass or walleye? Some of the reports mentioned finding craws in the bass when cleaned.

If so, is there some trick to it or is this idea a waste of time?

I plan to take a pot and leave it out over night at the park and see what happens.

Thanks!

Larry

[Anglinarcher]

Never tried to catch any crawfish in Banks, so I will side step that discussion.

Yes, I have used Crayfish for Bass and Walleye, just not in Washington State. In Colorado back in the 80's I use to be able to fill a crayfish trap in one of my favorite lakes and those too small to eat were my bait for the day.

I have found that locating the fish, and locating the fish when fishing crayfish would be available to them, is more important then the bait. Translation, crayfish are not a silver bullet that will always catch Walleye or Bass, but, fished on the bottom, in locations the fish are, when they are in a feeding mood, excellent choice.

Hooking the crayfish is a different issue, but .....

Good luck, but check the regulations for crayfish first. I know there is a season so don't get in trouble. You need to look in the shellfish area, even though you would think the shellfish would be only saltwater.

[eat-sleep-fish]

I have caught a ton of craws at Banks. Just before you go up the big hill prior to million dollar mile there is a dirt road to the left. We would walk down to the beach and flip rocks, find one or two under most. I would think anywhere there are rocks, there would be crawfish.

[Larry3215]

Thanks for the tips guys!

I just downloaded the new fishing regs. Crawfish opens the first Monday in May, so we will be good to go in June.

[Anglinarcher]

Enjoy and let us know big some are. My wife loves to eat them.

[Larry3215]

Will do

[baydog1990]

I fish the Craws each season in Banks and surrounding lakes. Taste very good! I recommend using a boil packet and hot sauce. Make sure you understand which are native and which are not, different regs for each. We use our fresh or frozen fish carcases works for us! Oh and any bay or shelf near shore should work, leave trap in overnight for best results!

[drysuperfly52]

Larry, do you live in the Seattle area? i have a pot that I have a couple pots that I am sure i could dig up so you borrow. more pots more crays right. PM me if your interested.

[Larry3215]

I fish the Craws each season in Banks and surrounding lakes. Taste very good! I recommend using a boil packet and hot sauce. Make sure you understand which are native and which are not, different regs for each. We use our fresh or frozen fish carcases works for us! Oh and any bay or shelf near shore should work, leave trap in overnight for best results!

Thanks for the tips, but whats a "boil bag"? A bag to boil the craws in or some sort of seasoning?

I guess I should look up how to cook the things before catching any! :D

[Larry3215]

Larry, do you live in the Seattle area? i have a pot that I have a couple pots that I am sure i could dig up so you borrow. more pots more crays right. PM me if your interested.

Thats a very very generous offer! Thanks!!

Turns out my brother-in-law has some he hasnt used in 10 years. Plus we bought two new ones at Sportco a few weeks ago, so we are well covered

[drysuperfly52]

good deal, In the past at state parks if your shorebound i chucked a pot off the shore and hidden the rope in the brush and have done really well. i was only tossing it about 10ft out.

[baydog1990]

Crawfish boil is a blend of spices used when you cook your craws. You can find it at most sporting goods outlets, Walmart etc. You add the hot sauce with it and enjoy!

[Larry3215]

Ah! Thanks!

[Larry3215]

Spent the week at Banks and tried for craws at several places around Devils Punch Bowl. We got skunked! Zero craws!

The first night we tried some cat food in one trap and some shrimp bait mixed with cat food in another with the pots in two different locations near the roadway across from the park. One shallow and one deep = zero craws. The next night we ditched the store bought stuff and used fish guts and carcases - bass and walleye we had caught that day and tried a different spot near some big rocks. Again one shallow and one deeper = zero craws. Then we moved over into the shallows near the end of the Bowl where all the weeds are. One pot in the "channel" about 7 feet deep and one up against the weeds about 1 foot deep = zero craws.

Very disappointed.

We did see a couple of what might have been other pot buoys but they were near the day use area and right in the boat traffic routs, so we didnt try there.

Beautiful lake, nice camp grounds and a lot of fun to fish, so we will go back and try again next year

[baydog1990]

Bummer! I am setting my trap today

[Anglinarcher]

Maybe the draw down to work on the dam thinned the craw numbers down.

[Kfedka]

Camped there over the Memorial day weekend. My traps only brought in 1 crawfish :( that trap had bread as bait. The fish carcasses had no success either. But we did managed to catch plenty by hand after dark with a flash light in the rocks at shore and at the reeds. If you cook them right they are delicious.

[Larry3215]

Bummer! I am setting my trap today

Let us know how you do - and where you tried