crawdads near Tillamook?

fishindogs · 01-10-2004, 06:19 PM

I would love to have a crawdad feed this summer, but don't know where a good location is for gathering these miniature lobsters. The Newport area has some great streams, but the Wilson (at least where I've looked) has slim picking.
Does anyone have any recommendations, just general info (unless you want to email/PM me with your personal favorite honey hole)
Thanks

Riverkeeper · 01-10-2004, 06:21 PM

Nehalem.

Mad Mikey · 01-10-2004, 06:27 PM

Nestucca.

fishindogs · 01-10-2004, 07:56 PM

Reverkeeper, Mad Mikey thanks for the tips. Any other advice? High up vs tidewater...?

Uglygreen · 01-10-2004, 07:59 PM

If you have traps any of the coastal lakes are thick with them. - Hebo Lake is good. So is Devils lake in Lincon City. Kids have caught them by the hundreds.

UG

Riverkeeper · 01-10-2004, 08:02 PM

I don't think dads live in salt or brackish water. I've gotten decent hauls of them from the nehalem just above Mohler Sand and Gravel, and on up the river.

A fun way to do it if you have kids (or are a kid

) is to chuck a couple traps and then wade around in the shallows "hunting" and grabbing with a pair of bbq tongs or by hand, while waiting to pull the traps. Better in the summer of course.

Try searching the archives for more info.

Fishstix · 01-11-2004, 01:26 PM

I would have to agree with Riverkeeper on his methods. That is the way I have always done it. It is a blast. Sometimes you can get more by hand than with the traps.

kayakfisher · 01-11-2004, 03:29 PM

Timothy Lake is full of them...

m.

Mrdorkfish · 01-11-2004, 03:32 PM

Fishindogs, I would say the Upper Nestucca...Lots of nice big holes with boulders do drop a bait in there...(summer time of course)I've even seen a trap in the hole at the wayside from time to time. I would use them as bait...steelhead love the raw meat :grin:

MrDorkfish [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Louis

Rimshot · 01-11-2004, 03:41 PM

I remember going to Spruce Run with my family when I was a kid. We always caught tons of crawfish. Matter of fact that is why we would go there - to camp and have crawfish feeds. It used to be thick with them...probably still is :grin: . Good luck.

rebell · 01-11-2004, 06:44 PM

The upper Trask and Wilson are loaded with them if you know where to go. If you put a baited trap in any deep slow moving water you will find ton's of them.

bender · 01-11-2004, 06:52 PM

what uglygreen said,costal lakes.last time i was at hebo lake it was full of crawdads.

fishindogs · 01-11-2004, 08:50 PM

Thanks for all the great replys folks. I can't wait to taste them dads!

Sore Back · 01-12-2004, 10:37 AM

I agree with rebell, the upper Trask in a deep slow moving unoccupied swimming hole this summer, throw about half a doz. hot dogs in a trap to soak for the evening. Next morning, walla.

Good fishing and eating,

Sore Back

Paddlefish · 01-12-2004, 01:37 PM

The Nehalem has (had? :depressed: ) always been great for me. Wade around in the shallows during the summer. Traps work but grabbing them by hand is a whole lot more fun, especially with kids involved.

And the adults can retire to streamside with hot buttered rums on the backpacking stove.

Only thing is . . . it seems that each time I return, more of the river and my favorite spots are posted against TRESPASSING! :depressed:

[ 01-12-2004, 02:37 PM: Message edited by: Paddlefish ]