Does anyone eat Delta crawdads ?

[bruizer343]

If so, where ? When ? Is there somewhere I can take some out of town realative's to eat them ?
Is the crawdad fair the only time ?

[Long Nguyen]

I've only eaten the crawfish from the Isleton Crawfish festival. It's normally in the July timeframe.

I don't think it will be bad to eat crawfish from the river. Just make sure you clean and cook them properly.

[Ken C.]

There used to be a company in Rio Vista that caught, packeged and shipped craws to Louisiana (of all places!). I couldn't point you to any place that has Delta Dads on the menu, but you could sure set yourself some traps out there and have a feast at home!

[bruizer343]

where would be a good area I can 20 or traps together. I gues Id soak em overnight ?

I have trying to get a buch in disco, not getting any big numbers though.

any ideas

[XMAN]

put traps up around ryer island and ryde---xman

[XMAN]

put traps up around ryer island and ryde---xman

[MrSkeeter]

There used to be a company in Rio Vista that caught, packeged and shipped craws to Louisiana (of all places!). I couldn't point you to any place that has Delta Dads on the menu, but you could sure set yourself some traps out there and have a feast at home!

I was told once some time back, that CA (Delta) has the BIGGEST crawdad export of any state in the union!!

[nipples]

I'm no expert here, but I think most of those crawdads we are exporting from the delta are coming from rice fields and aqua culture. Since they don't use pesticided in rice fields, the crawdads are safe for consumption. But they usually don't get big enough until the fall. but I could be way off base on that one.

I've never dropped traps for them in the Delta, but I like the recommendation of the Ryer Island area (cleaner water). And if you catch any mitten crabs, tell the DFG and sell them to an asian market (if DFG doesn't want them).

I used to catch alot of crawdads as a kid and I would always purge them before I cooked them. I put a bunch of them in the bathtub in the spare bathroom and put a toothpick under the drain plug to create a slow leak, and then I left the water on (barely) so it would trickle in the tub. After 2 days, the crawdads have nothing left in them to poop and they are a lot cleaner and taste better (no nasty vein to muck up the boiling water).

Good luck and if you do really good, please let us know. I might have to drop some traps some afternoon and do some night fishing and then check the traps in the morning. Rumor has it that you can drift a ghost shrip under the barges by Rio Vista and pick up a nice sturgeon now and then.

Good Fishing,

-Paul-

[DeltaDan]

I drop my traps all the time and we eat them all - The boys and I can not get enoufgh of them !!

There is a resturant in Isleton you can eat a craw dinner most year around. If was called Franks-- but the last I drove through there it looks like they changed thier name ? You cant miss it..... It has the big craw on the outside wall staright across from the Del Rio Hotel. Moores Riverboat used to also always carry Craw's for dinner. -- Also.... It is pricy- but Todai in the Concord mall has Craw's most every night -- Granted they are not "fresh" though- like most everything else most like everything else there. (Crab/Shrimp/Cod/Clams/Mussels and your single 1/2 baby lobster)


This time of the year..... I understand it that we recieve all of our crawdads (like at the Isleton Fathers Day Festival) from Loiusanna...... Likewise in our fall we ship ours to them as they are molting at different times of the year. and Yes the bulk majority of our exported dad's do come from the rice fields.

I still get mine from Jersey Island (island access permit needed for $30) and just put the traps in the rocks right at their end to the mud bottom were there is a good tidal movement. (Place a good sized rock in the trap so it does not move far from the tides) Frozen herring/mackeral from Albersons fishbin seems to work better than canned dog food. I also drop them at Hasting Island and they seem to be a little smaller- but more plentiful than JIsland.

My favorite place is Slab Lake up off of hwy50 and the Armerican River that flows into it. There is NO shortage of dad's there and clean water !! Most all of those the shells are still Blue in July.

Remember that they are mostly Nocturnal..... (night feeders) and you can just leave your traps for a day or three. Gene used to stock traps at his shop-- He may still have some.

I usually put them in a cooler and leave the hose running for a day or 2 to get the eggs/mud off of them before they go into the pot with some crab boil, a couple of bottles of Franks or Tobasco with some corn and red potatoes. --Serve with Corn Bread, a cranberry-cesar salad and a Anchor Steam beer !!!!

[Blue_R70]

I've only eaten the crawfish from the Isleton Crawfish festival. It's normally in the July timeframe.

I've read news articles stating that the bulk of 'dads for the festival are actually imported from China. The festival grew so large that local suppliers couldn't keep up with the volume required...

[Larry Douglas]

China for the Isleton Crawdad Festival. An old girlfriend's brother and sister in law, own the restaurant that is next door to the Isleton Hotel. They serve the 'dads during the festival along with everyone else.

I enjoyed them so much I asked Bill and Phyllis (the owners) if I could take a bag or 2 home with me. Both bags were clearly marked "Imported from China".

ALL of them may not be imported, but I know that at least SOME of them are.

Larry Douglas

[Long Nguyen]

... before they go into the pot with some crab boil, a couple of bottles of Franks or Tobasco with some corn and red potatoes. --Serve with Corn Bread, a cranberry-cesar salad and a Anchor Steam beer !!!!

Dang it Dan....that sounds so good! Crawdads are super plentiful up in the rice fields around Chico too.

[bruizer343]

By the looks of my visiting relatives Im going to need alot.
How many pounds per person ?

[Andy Giannini]

The place in Isleton was called "Ernie's", and it became Isleton Joe's. I believe there is a crawdad outfit in Thorton where you get get a mess of them.

Some of the local bait shops carry them as well. The old Bob's Bait (Isleton) has an aquarium in there filled with dads for sale, big aquarium.

I think Freeport Bait in Rio Vista has them too. Give the forum sponsor a call.

If you are planning an event, I would call around and book your dads vs. being under presssure to produce them on gameday with your own traps.

.02 A.G.

( The craws from China, had a special process to package them. I can't remember what it was, quickly frozen, freeze dried, you got me. It was a special way to keep them safe for storage. It was a weird thing reading the bags.)

[bruizer343]

Thanks Andy, I will call around and report back when I'm squared away.

bruizer