Handline

• 1). Tie a 30-foot section of 20-pound test to a steel leader with a swivel on the end. Tie the opposite end of the line to the center of a stick and roll up the line. Attach a snelled bait hook to the swivel.
  
  
• 2). Clamp several split shot on the base of the line, and attach your bait to the hook. Fish guts, cheese balls and chunks of hot dogs are effective baits.
  
  
• 3). Select a slow-moving, dark piece of water. A mud bottom is ideal for locating crawfish in Missouri. Slowly unravel the line and allow the bait to drop into the water. Stop when you reach the bottom, and retract the bait several inches off the bottom.
  
  
• 4). Slowly jig the weight up and down until you feel a change in the weight on the line. Slowly roll the line on the stick to raise the crawfish. As the crawfish comes within six inches of the water, make a quick jerk to throw the crawfish in the boat or on the shore. Repeat the process until the area is no longer productive.
  
  

Cage Trap

• 1). Open the cage trap by unscrewing the center. Tie one length of 20-pound line to the top of each half of the cage. Measure the length to meet the halfway point inside of the trap. Tie a snelled bait hook to the end of each line.
  
  
• 2). Hang fresh fish guts or other baits to the hooks. Use a liberal amount of bait to release a consistent scent as the trap sits in the water. The trapped crawfish will pinch the bait and assist in the scent release.
  
  
• 3). Screw the two halves of the trap together. Tie a long rope to the top of the trap and slowly lower it into the water. Stop once you reach the bottom and retract the trap several inches to ensure it does not sink into the mud.
  
  
• 4). Tie the opposite end of the rope to a tree or stable object and wait for at least two hours before checking the trap. Leave the trap for six hours to maximize productivity.