How to Make a Yabbie Trap

Yabbies are a type of crayfish found in Australia. They come in a range of colors--including blue, red, black or yellow--depending on where they are found. Physically, they look like tiny lobsters. Like their American counterparts, yabbies are often used in cooking. Homemade traps may be less reliable than commercial traps, but they are less expensive and require only simple supplies to make.

Things You'll Need

  • Mesh hardware cloth
  • Steel wire ties
  • Wire snips
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Roll a 24-inch-by-28-inch piece of mesh hardware cloth into a cylinder shape. Using steel wire ties, attach the two sides together where they meet once rolled. This will hold the cylinder shape. You will need one tie every 4 inches.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of mesh hardware cloth into two 9 1/2-inch semi-circle pieces. Roll the semi-circles into a funnel shape. Place one steel wire tie at each end of each funnel to hold the shape.

    • 3

      Use a pair of wire snips to cut the tips off the funnels so that both ends of each funnel are now open. Cut the funnels so that the smaller opening will be 2 inches in diameter.

    • 4

      Insert the cut funnels into the larger cylinder you created in Step 1. Insert one funnel in each end so that the smaller ends of the funnels are pointing into the cylinder. Attach them into place using steel wire ties.

    • 5

      Use a measuring tape and a marker to draw a 4 1/2-inch square on the side of the cylinder. Use your wire snips to cut an X in the middle of the square you drew, going from corner to corner.

    • 6

      Press the center of the X in to create an opening. This will be the door that allows you to access the yabbies you catch.

    • 7

      Create a hatch to cover the door you created in the prior step by cutting a 7 1/2-inch-by-13 1/2-inch piece of mesh hardware cloth. Place your cut hatch over your door. Use steel wire ties to attach two of the corners of the hatch to the cylinder. This will make a hinged door.