Kayaks, Crawdads, and Swamps

[beckerhead]

My nephew and I decided to drop a few test traps in the Sulfur River backwater near Mercer Bayou. It is still just a bit early for the areas early summer crawdad explosion, but we had to take a shot at it. Loaded the yaks, strapped on the traps, hosed on the Deet, and plunged into the cypress gloom. The skeeters were fierce as usual, but the biggest problem was the fire ants. We have had lots of flooding, and now the trees are just dripping with the buggers. Anyway, we set 5 traps of various descriptions, at different depths and ran them this evening, about a 24 hr. soak. Total haul, (drum roll please) 7, yes, 7 crawdads from 5 traps. As I said, it is early yet. End of June last year we loaded 3 ice chests just pulling 'em with poles and salt pork. I think maybe all the rain and flooding has slowed them down some. Nevertheless, here are some shots of the activities, and even a knife pic in the mix to legitimize the post.

On the bank, ready to go:

Some shots of the scenery:

A nice little Locust tree, just a tiny bit thorny:

And, lastly some crawdad pics:

Beckerhead

 

[Darteres]

Sounds like a fun trip even with the small haul. On a side note: THANK YOU! I have always wondered what those trees with the thorns were. I have many memories of my childhood and "finding" those trees on accident while not paying attention.

 

[beckerhead]

Sounds like a fun trip even with the small haul. On a side note: THANK YOU! I have always wondered what those trees with the thorns were. I have many memories of my childhood and "finding" those trees on accident while not paying attention.

An absolute childhood favorite of mine, and now my youngest son's too. After he saw 'em punch through a chunk of cardboard, with just a soda straw "blowgun", and a little twist of cotton on the back end to seal.

 

[burddogg]

that's a nice yabby! You're right, still real early. that's one thing I don't miss about the south= those pesky fire ants! thanks for the pix

b

 

[Carolina River Rat]

Nice pics. Looks a lot like my neck of the woods.

 

[Shotgun]

Cool pics, I like your kayaks.

 

[beckerhead]

Cool pics, I like your kayaks.

Thanks, they are really nice for weaving through all those cypress trees, and a total breeze to paddle. The Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100 is mine, and the OT Wave belongs to the wife.

 

[brians]

Such great variety on this forum. Those are great pics, thanks.

Brian

 

[Rockywolf]

Looks like fun. As a northern boy, I have never caught a crawdad, but I sure like to eat them! Fire ants? Ouch!

 

[TheGame]

That looks cool. Thanks for sharing with us. It looks like a pleasant day.

 

[beckerhead]

Looks like fun. As a northern boy, I have never caught a crawdad, but I sure like to eat them! Fire ants? Ouch!

Just do some checking, there are crawdads in MN just waiting to be caught. A little research could yield some delicious results for you. Besides, it is a real world valuable survival skill: Building, baiting, and setting traps.

BKRHD

 

[Rockywolf]

Just do some checking, there are crawdads in MN just waiting to be caught. A little research could yield some delicious results for you. Besides, it is a real world valuable survival skill: Building, baiting, and setting traps.

BKRHD

Will do! Thanks!

 

[LMT66]

Have you ever had the Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100 in any white water or a windy lake? How did it handle?
Been eyeing this at REI.

 

[beckerhead]

Have you ever had the Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100 in any white water or a windy lake? How did it handle?
Been eyeing this at REI.

Some class II, and will be on some non-crazy class III later this month hopefully. We floated 10.5 on the Buffalo Mother's day weekend with gusts of 20+ at times. Of course you will get moved some, but I never had trouble getting where I wanted to get. I really love mine, it is a super rec./moderate whitewater boat. NO, it's not a Dagger playboat, nor is it a 17 ft. touring rig, but it will easily run basic rapids, and a 48-72 hour camping load out will ride just fine.

BKRHD

 

[mikeal]

Is it me or is that thing huge? I've caught them in Florida, Tennessee and Connecticut and eaten them in Louisiana, but I have never seen one that big.

 

[pitdog]

Some great pics there buddy, thanks for posting them !

Those Locust trees are the stuff of nightmares eh !!!!!

 

[Stormstaff]

Is it me or is that thing huge? I've caught them in Florida, Tennessee and Connecticut and eaten them in Louisiana, but I have never seen one that big.

Crawdad hell, that thing looks like a freakin' lobster!

 

[myright]

Fire ants falling from trees ??? Wow... that would suck.

Cool pics. That's a big freakin' crawdad!

 

[Guyon]

Some class II, and will be on some non-crazy class III later this month hopefully. We floated 10.5 on the Buffalo Mother's day weekend with gusts of 20+ at times. Of course you will get moved some, but I never had trouble getting where I wanted to get. I really love mine, it is a super rec./moderate whitewater boat. NO, it's not a Dagger playboat, nor is it a 17 ft. touring rig, but it will easily run basic rapids, and a 48-72 hour camping load out will ride just fine.

BKRHD

I like my little Pamlico. On class III, I'd recommend at least an inexpensive spray skirt.

The problem with kayaks is that they breed and multiply.

 

[dipbait]

Crawdads are colorful creatures. Ive seen purple , green, blue, orange... Nice pics.