[mmdawson1]

I want to trap some crawdads, but curious if you guys think they would be safe to eat from Smith lake?

 

[dallasdb]

Considering the swim beach has been closed since the 1950's due to pollution... I personally wouldn't eat them.

I think you'd be better off driving outside the city and finding irrigation ditches or something with a consistent flow of water.

Search the archives here, there are a few threads about catching crawdads around Denver and one in particular I'm thinking of when they said they ate them and they tasted nasty.

 

[mmdawson1]

thank you for your response.
Any thoughts on whether McKay Lake in broomfield would have any crayfish?

 

[dallasdb]

I have no idea about McKay Lake. Use the search function and see what info you can find.

Here is the thread I mentioned earlier:

http://www.coloradofisherman.com/forum/3-colorado-fishing/124226-help-caught-local-lake-crawdad-eat-green-stomach-tasted-gross-advise-needed.html

 

[Dakota]

If its legal, give aurora a shot. That place is LOADED with mud bugs.

 

[dallasdb]

Check out the video at 4:55

 

[Dakota]

I dunk my underwater camera occasionally there and you wouldn't believe the amount of crawdads in that lake.

 

[Charlie W B]

"Crawfish" are omnivorous... means they will eat almost anything. If a pond or stream smell oily or funky I would not eat them . If I remember right a lot of runoff from Denver streets flows into smith lake. Petroleum leaking from auto's will sooner or later find it's way into a ditch or pond then lake. Crayfish must be purged before boiling, If it was me I would purge and rinse the critters 2 or 3 times just to get the funk out. Saying that I would not eat crawfish from a small pond like Smith lake. Try to find a semi-sandy bottom pond or creek to harvest Crawfish, Crayfish, Crawdads, mud bugs. Set a few of these out for a day and get a mess of them to eat 'm'up http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Crawfish-Trap

 

[dallasdb]

That same trap will catch minnows for you as well. You can use bread as bait to catch the minnows.

 

[bobys]

That whole vid for footage of a singular crawfish dallas!? **** I was expecting to see at least 20

 

[clark salmo]

If its legal, give aurora a shot. That place is LOADED with mud bugs.

It's not legal at Aurora. A friend of mine put out some traps and the ranger immediately came up to him in the patrol boat and told him to pick them up.

 

[mmdawson1]

It's not legal at Aurora. A friend of mine put out some traps and the ranger immediately came up to him in the patrol boat and told him to pick them up.

I think you can "fish" but not trap.

 

[dallasdb]

That whole vid for footage of a singular crawfish dallas!? **** I was expecting to see at least 20

For the record there was another one under the plane at 2:50 and again at 3:00!!!

But yes a whole video for two crawfish... I had seen the video before and remembered it when someone suggested Aurora!

 

[Dave M]

It's not legal at Aurora. A friend of mine put out some traps and the ranger immediately came up to him in the patrol boat and told him to pick them up.

Lots of other lakes that are good for mud bugs. Eleven mile has some Maine lobsters and so does Williams fork...

 

[lvrider]

ive been wanting to try some 11 mile lobsters and not the toothy poor mans kind... id also probably try purging them. locals of area even purge 11 mile lobsters. no radiation in 11 mile bet they are cleaner than the oceans...

 

[dallasdb]

Lots of other lakes that are good for mud bugs. Eleven mile has some Maine lobsters and so does Williams fork...

I kinda got the jist that the OP was hoping he could stay somewhat local but good suggestions. Sounds like if you want quality you're gonna have to head out of town.

 

[Dave M]

I kinda got the jist that the OP was hoping he could stay somewhat local but good suggestions. Sounds like if you want quality you're gonna have to head out of town.

Yup.

A lot of lakes towards the southwest end of town are good mudbug spots as well.

 

[dallasdb]

My kids like watching these guys on YouTube and the mudcrab episode was pretty cool!

Check out the size of the monster "nippahs" at 2:00

 

[homeboy]

put your traps out below cherry creek with a can of cheap cat food inside

 

[mmdawson1]

put your traps out below cherry creek with a can of cheap cat food inside

the actual creek or the reservoir?