August looms and kids all over Denver are itching for fishing, or anything else to while away the last days of summer. CRAWDADS! — those crustaceans of the shallows that lurk in every slow-moving body of water in town, await their nemeses. One can almost picture them flourishing their pincers in a ‘Bring it on!’ moment.
The recommended equipment for crawdad-fishin’ is rather tricky and expensive. Here is your shopping list, Mom:
1) a stick.
2) a string.
3) a paperclip.
4) a hot dog.
Seriously, the beauty of crawdad-fishin’ is its simplicity: Stick, string, paper clip, hotdog. That’s all it takes, really, to keep a pack of kids busy all afternoon. So moms, cut up a hot dog, put the bits in a bucket, help the young ones tie string to a stick and attach a paper clip. You’re off… pick any Denver metro area stream in a public park and sit back and watch the show.
Crawdad fishing in Washington Park in the 1970s.
Kids will learn virtues such as patience, as the sport absolutely demands it. It’s not enough to lure Mr. Craw Dad to the hot dog. One must wait for the right moment to hoist him out of the water to the waiting bucket, net or willing friend’s fingers.
Crawdad success!
Generations of Denver citizens have enjoyed this while-away-the-hot-days pastime. It’s a perfect sport and lesson in catch-and-release. Kids will enjoy catching, inspecting and then releasing their crayfish back into their habitat.
Crawdad fishing with net in 1970s.
The ponds in Washington Park in central Denver are always popular for fishing.
Girls and boys enjoy crawdad fishing.
Fishin’ in Denver’s Wash Park, 1970s.
Fisherman uses cork to catch crawdads.
Washington Park, Belleview Park, Rosamund Park, Dinosaur Park and many other metro-area streams and ponds harbor crawdads year-round.
Englewood’s Belleview Park has good fishin’.
As young fisherfolk have discovered, crawdads apparently find hot dog bits a delicacy.
No ketchup necessary. Good fishin’!
Crawdads!
Author: Mile High Mamas
Amber Johnson
WE love to try to do it in Ralston Creek in Arvada, though I can’t say we’ve been successful it’s always fun to try. We’re hot-dogs-on-a-stick people. 🙂
Denise
I just found two on my bike ride the other day, south boulder creek trail.
Sarah
Most of the creeks have them and bacon works really well as bait.
Julia
We had Crawdad birthday party for my son’s 6th birthday last year at the Carson Nature Center and it was so much fun!!!! They take you to a private pond where the kids got to wade in knee deep water and scoop up crawdads with nets! Definitely would recommend for nature/animal-loving kids!