Crayfish

[Alan Palmer]

in or out of the tin Alan?

Tin of pineapple rings…there’s a thought I was talking flavoured baits

 

[Cliff Turner]

when I used to fish the Kennet with Eipse pellets I found that I could leave the bait in for at least 20 mins, the rod tip would tap tap tap but if a barbel was present it would eventually slam round.

 

[Alec Hague]

when I used to fish the Kennet with Eipse pellets I found that I could leave the bait in for at least 20 mins, the rod tip would tap tap tap but if a barbel was present it would eventually slam round.

yes Cliff, that's what I think happens ie the fish push to blighters out of the way. Did I read correctly that when they go soft shell twice a year the carp eat them?
ps the TSI has had some nice mid double carp lately. The handle was looking a bit sad, so I found my old brummer cork stopper, livened it up with a couple of liquids, glycol and oil and worked on the handle fishing with a light sand. Looks like new now, Very pleased with my little self and a very cheap useful nice rod. I think my sportex barbel 1 3/4 is probably the better caster but for handling , both seem very similar.

 

[Chris Belcher]

These look quite interesting if you haven't got the patience to soak/saturate wooden balls; and look better than the fiddly OMC offering

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Never mind crayfish - mitten crabs on the Trent are the acid test; never tried it but they allegedly hate garlic doused baits. . .

 

[Phil Dunn]

Is there any bait crayfish won't eat. I read that they don't eat luncheon meat but also read that this isn't true.

I had experience on the Great Ouse with crayfish, and actually found that catching crays and using their tails by just removing the end flared scales, and giving them the occasional twitch worked really well. Had many big chub and perch on them. I also used to peel the shells off the tails and use the white meat inside on the Ivel and Nene, and they worked well too.

 

[Chris Jones]

I've never caught one trotting yet, regardless of the bait being used.

 

[Kevin Siddle]

A mate believes that if you stamp on them, throw them back when dead two things happen. They eat each other and get a taste for it so reducing their numbers. Secondly fish start eating them and again develop a taste for them. If either is true it would help though surely not eradicate the problem, I did hear a theory that the increase in chub size is mainly on rivers holding crayfish as large chub have a liking for them. I can personally vouch for the fact that they taste good, eaten loads in the states.

 

[Andrew Richardson]

These look quite interesting if you haven't got the patience to soak/saturate wooden balls; and look better than the fiddly OMC offering

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Never mind crayfish - mitten crabs on the Trent are the acid test; never tried it but they allegedly hate garlic doused baits. . .

I wouldn't bother pal, they love garlic

 

[Andrew Richardson]

These look quite interesting if you haven't got the patience to soak/saturate wooden balls; and look better than the fiddly OMC offering

Multi-Bait - Liquirigs

Imagine a revolutionary product in the world of fishing... A hook bait so innovative that it allows anglers to craft the ultimate attractor, perfectly tailored to any situation. Introducing the Multi-Bait, an artificial bait that brings unparalleled versatility, realism, and durability to the...

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Never mind crayfish - mitten crabs on the Trent are the acid test; never tried it but they allegedly hate garlic doused baits. . .

Good idea but it doesn't stop them snipping the hair.

 

[Colin Dapp]

I had experience on the Great Ouse with crayfish, and actually found that catching crays and using their tails by just removing the end flared scales, and giving them the occasional twitch worked really well. Had many big chub and perch on them. I also used to peel the shells off the tails and use the white meat inside on the Ivel and Nene, and they worked well too.

I can see that that would work, but is it legal? You're not supposed to return signal crayfish.

 

[Chris Jones]

Be wary, some regions will no longer grant licences to trap signals. I've heard two reasons: people struggle to differentiate small Signals from native crayfish. Then there's the theory that removing big Signals just ends up with having loads of small ones.

 

[Alec Hague]

Be wary, some regions will no longer grant licences to trap signals. I've heard two reasons: people struggle to differentiate small Signals from native crayfish. Then there's the theory that removing big Signals just ends up with having loads of small ones.

Yep, if they can't be returned or killed what happens to them?. Probably they get older and become politicians, ie no use to man nor beast.

 

[Neil Blood]

Be wary, some regions will no longer grant licences to trap signals. I've heard two reasons: people struggle to differentiate small Signals from native crayfish. Then there's the theory that removing big Signals just ends up with having loads of small ones.

The latter is true, as the biggest consumer of juvenile crayfish is adult crayfish, so if you trap the larger ones, you end up with even more. This is why the E.A can be reluctant to grant trapping consent.

When they first appear, you get a massive population glut, before it peaks and tails off before stabilising.

 

[Alan Palmer]

Next time you catch a Cray stamp on him and chuck him in the margin…within a short time there’ll be a cannibal feeding frenzy, they live eating there own kind…vile creatures but guess it demonstrated why there so successful at adapting to different environments! I also noticed recently a well known tropical aquarium fish chain store selling two different species of freshwater crayfish - I wonder how many of these outgrow tanks at home for their owners to then just release them into local waters?

 

[Chris Belcher]

Good idea but it doesn't stop them snipping the hair.

Wouldn't fish them on a hair . . . my crayfish proof wooden balls have rig rings glued in so I'd go for this option and fish on a D Rig / D Rig Kicker or most likely direct to the hook (with hookbeads). You could create little 1" 'mini leadcore' hairs and splice them to the hookbait ring if you wanted more separation . . .but tbf with crays you need something that can vaguely 're-set' (as they're going to be knocked about) and keep the hook point from impaling in the bait cage . . .

 

[Steve Jones]

There's various thread on this on this forum guys.

I've said before when I fished korda lake in the Colne valley in the early 2000s the lake was overrun with the buggers.

Wooden balls, pre drilled for the hair, soak in coloured dye and flavour. Freeze and unfreeze a few time to get it drawn into the wood. Don't use a hair stop as the lickle feckers pull that off. I used the lead out of lead core as a hair stop and pulled it back into the drilled hole. Worked a treat.


Best thing to do with crays, boil um for 10 to 12 mins, then eat the claw and tail meat. 1st remove the anal tract from the middle of the tail segment.


Even better boil um for about 5 mins, take off the tail and claw meat then pan fry in garlic butter on the bank

 

[Phil Dunn]

I can see that that would work, but is it legal? You're not supposed to return signal crayfish.

Technically you are correct, but I am not returning them in reality. By separating the tail section I can remove the main body which can be discarded and just using the tail section which carries no eggs. Grey area I suppose but there we are.

 

[Alec Hague]

Next time you catch a Cray stamp on him and chuck him in the margin…within a short time there’ll be a cannibal feeding frenzy, they live eating there own kind…vile creatures but guess it demonstrated why there so successful at adapting to different environments! I also noticed recently a well known tropical aquarium fish chain store selling two different species of freshwater crayfish - I wonder how many of these outgrow tanks at home for their owners to then just release them into local waters?

I recall about 20 years ago a local trout fishery started selling crayfish for food. My wife bought a bucket load. Made a nice sandwich. Ratio of shell weight to meat is crazy. I didn't fish then but now they have invaded my favourite water I have to fish up in the water. Even short zigs are pulled down.