Do not add salt,you will kill them,the object is to allow them to clean their stomaches and intestines.Put them in a bucket or preferably a cooler of fresh water,and change the water occasionally,24 hrs they should be clean and ready for the boil.You do need to keep the water cool,and fresh,to have good results.
Purging has been proven not to do anything. One restaurant in S La. put them in fresh water for a few days, maybe that made a difference. Just clean them until the water is clear. I grew up in crawfish country, traps are a few bucks, and throw a dead fish in it. When you pick it up, and it's heavy, let it go, a snake is in it
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I used to put my hat in the water behind them, and ease my hand in front of them until they spooked into my hat.
Then I'd dig a hole in the bank and put them in it until it was time to run home for supper. Caught gobs this way. Ofcourse I believe I may have been a bit younger and had more time to waste than I do now :D
Redge LIKED above post
If the crawdads don’t intake any food,and they are given only fresh clean water,they will absolutely purge the sand and poop chute.Ive eaten them both ways,I personally didn’t care as much for the unpurged,but to each his own.Every year I do a few survival bivouacs,I don’t bother purging the crawdads on those trips,but while I’m at home,I make an effort to purge and clean them