CRAYFISH - THE MIDWEST'S BEST BAIT

From Lake Michigan salmon to catfish in the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, anglers of this state find that crayfish is a fish’s Sirloin steak.

Crayfish, crawdad, or crab, they are all the same. Virtually every freshwater body of water contains them. Fish found in the same water eat them with delight.

Homeowners often find crayfish in small mounds of mud the shape of volcanoes in their well-groomed lawns each spring.

Scientists tell us that although often thought of as aquatic animals, these mini-lobsters will often live in burrows for their entire life. They are a burrowing subspecies from the more commonly seen water species. A cousin to the lobster and shrimp families, there are about 22 species of crayfish in Illinois.
These land based critters need only to keep their gills moist in order to survive. In spring this is no problem due to frequent rains. As summer wears on there are periods of prolonged dry spells. To survive during this time, crayfish will burrow down into the ground to the water level and manage to keep their gills moist there.

As they burrow, the mud is forced to the surface and forms a mound around the mouth of their den opening. Most of this digging is done at night. Warm humid nights are the most active.

Often the mound gets smashed down. This does not hurt the crayfish. They can continue to live in the burrow. They are able to tolerate very low dissolved oxygen levels. A crayfish can live in such a burrow for eight to 10 months without coming to the surface.

Each burrow is different. Some will be near water on a shoreline. Others will be many yards away from any surface water areas. Some will connect to ponds and ditches. Others will just go straight down to the water level. They can go down 10 feet. They will have secondary lateral passages as another exit. The secondary passages will be about half that length. They move a lot of dirt.

Most species of crayfish are omnivorous. That is, they will eat virtually everything. Some will eat only vegetation. But, most will eat insects, grass, vegetation, earthworms and anything else they come across.

All crayfishes are edible but some are better tasting than others. The burrowing types tend to have a smaller tail muscle because they are not always swimming around.

One way of fishing for the crustacean consists of lowering a piece of meat into the hole on a string. The crayfish grasps the meat and is reluctant to give it up. The bait is raised slowly to the surface and the crayfish is carefully removed.

Another sure fire way to catch crawdads is with a minnow trap. It is the easiest to use. The trap is a wire mesh cylinder with an inverted cone at each end. Bait is placed inside. The crawfish crawls into the open end of the cone and cannot figure how to get back out. The bait is usually any type of cut up fish or cat food.

Want to do a little fishing for crayfish? Try placing a piece of fish or worm on the end of a fish line and lower into rocky areas of a stream. Dangle it between rocks and in crevices. The crawfish takes hold and can be gently reeled to the surface.

Crayfish can be kept alive for long periods of time by storing them in a cooler between layers of wet newspaper. Just alternate the layers of crayfish and layers of newspaper to keep them wet. Store them in a refrigerator and use as soon as possible.

For those needing to be stored for prolonged periods freeze them. By freezing only the tails one can store more in a limited space. Freeze them quickly while they are still fresh. When thawed the meat will still be firm and stay on a hook.

Small crayfish can be fished whole. Just hook them through the last section of the body, just in from of the tail. Some people remove the claws and hook the crayfish through the ridge just behind the head. Either method seems to work.

Many anglers just like to fish the tails. They pinch off the tail at the first segment and then peel the shell. The meat is then impaled on a small hook. If it looks too soft to stay on the hook try boiling the tails first. Boiling tends to firm up the meant.

Rigs for fishing with crayfish tend to vary according to species and water conditions. Split shot and bottom walking rigs are popular on a hard bottom body of water. On a soft bottom anglers tend to use jigs. Both methods require fishing the bait slowly.

For the most part, the weight of a crayfish is enough to get it down to the desired depth if a light line is used. If using a heavier line some weight may need to be added.

Panfish anglers tend to use a slip bobber and fish the crayfish so that it dangles just over the top of the rocks or other bottom structure. They often like “peelers.” Peelers are crayfishes that have shed their outside shell. As crayfish shed their shell in order to grow they are without their shell for a day or two. Refrigerated at about 40 degrees, the process can be delayed by halting the hardening process for 10 to 12 days.

Fishing with crayfish tends to increase angler success. It is not as challenging as artificial baits. But, if one is willing to put out the effort and stand the smell on his hands, then it is the way to go.

                               Don Gasaway - The Ground Pounder

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