i appreciate all the help guys. Two buddies and I put out 8 minnow traps baited with chicken livers or canned dog food last night in a small river by campus and didn't catch a single crayfish. We got plenty of minnows though. We know there are crayfish in there because we saw a few when setting the traps. Are they just not active enough because it is too cold here in southern wisconsin??? Is there problems with the bait?? we put the chicken livers in a section of pantyhose tied up in the trap and just hung the perforated dogfood cansin there. we tried to put the traps in rocky areas and areas with submerged brush. Any help would be greatly appreciated...i'm gettin anxious to see what these things taste like!