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The best way to attract cancer. Fishing methods and best lures for crayfish

Lures for catching crayfish. Catching crayfish, just like fishing, has quite a lot of fans, not only in the summer, but also on ice. True, there are also restrictions on the timing of catching these arthropods, which are objects of industrial and amateur fishing (). And this is understandable. After all, crayfish have tasty and dietary meat, and are also considered a special and tasty snack for beer.

Lures for catching crayfish

Lures for catching crayfish can be very diverse, because these arthropods are omnivores. But main misconception In this matter, one can name a persistent legend that only serve rotten fish and the same meat to crayfish. These underwater animals are hunters and predators. And therefore, if possible, they will attack small fish, preferring fresh meat to carrion. Of course, crayfish will not refuse a dead fish or an animal that has fallen to the bottom, but if there is a choice, they will choose fresh prey. This unites crayfish with catfish, which are also attributed to a simply pathological craving for carrion.

Another unexpected feature of crayfish is their ability to sometimes... peck, like a small and cautious fish. Moreover, during such a strange bite, they sometimes even fall for the bait. In the summer, I didn’t have to catch them with a float or bottom fishing rod, but on ice such cases happened, and, surprisingly, on the Volga, on its main channel and at a depth of about five meters. Actually, the day before we caught a fairly large sorog here and, going to the car for the night, we fed the holes in hopes of successful fishing the next morning. But at dawn, after catching several roaches, some hesitant bites suddenly followed, and suddenly there was a rather large crayfish on the hook, which tried to grab its fingers with its claws. Obviously, hungry crayfish came from somewhere to the bait, which in addition to the ready-made winter mixture for roach and filler also contained bloodworms, and began to peck at the jigs with bloodworm tassels. And the roach either left on its own, or was driven away by the crayfish, but we had to look again for the sites of the large sorog.

This suggests that crayfish are no strangers to animal baits used for fishing. But, since these arthropods often live under cliffs where settlements are located, human food waste may also be of interest to these underwater animals. And this is: bread, meat and fish. In addition, it turns out that crayfish also understand cereals. They may be interested in steamed wheat, corn and even canned peas. It’s not for nothing that arthropods stay close to the fishing grounds of various fish, which also love peas and corn. And just like fish, crayfish at different times of the year give preference to high- or low-calorie baits, which experienced crayfish catchers place in crayfish traps according to the seasons.

Counts, that in the warm season, when there is a lot of food and the water has a positive temperature, and there is no need to make long trips along the bottom in search of food, it is better to use vegetable baits in the form of peas, bread and corn as bait. Moreover, it turns out that crayfish understand the quality of the product no worse than fish and, like a sophisticated roach, will prefer Bonduelle corn. They, like crucian carp, sometimes like bread with the smell of garlic, but unlike stupid crucian carp, crayfish are not “led” to bread with “Garlic” flavoring. Arthropods sense the difference between a surrogate fake and a natural product.

Underwater grass is also included in the diet of crayfish in the summer. Often it even predominates as food in the summer. Therefore, it is not uncommon for crayfish to be found in tufts of grass while cleaning a reservoir. And such bait can be ordinary plants in the form of water lilies, horsetail, elodea, etc. Sometimes crayfish are attracted to fresh dill and makha, that is, cake. But cake has a peculiarity. If it is old, it is more likely to scare away cancer with a rancid smell.

As already mentioned, crayfish love bread with garlic in the summer. But it needs to be ground together with garlic and placed in a crayfish trap in mesh bags. The bread crusts also need to be placed in a net and tied. Otherwise, the bait will float or crumble.

Animal baits are more suitable for cold water. These can be pieces of meat, entrails, or lungs of animals. It is better to lay out the fish, making notches on the pieces in advance. This will give a brighter smell and will attract crayfish to the bait from afar. It is better to use fish from the carp family.

The method of catching crayfish using equipment such as crayfish traps is the fastest and most effective method of obtaining this arthropod trophy. That is why most fishermen and crayfishers prefer to use this type of gear.

In addition, catching crayfish in this way is not considered poaching, unless, of course, the fisherman exceeds the number of crayfish used per person. Taking into account the characteristics of each region, this limit can range from 3 to 10 pieces.

The big advantage of such fishing is the absence of the need to purchase other fishing elements.

Well, in order to catch cancer you need to know:

his habitats;
what does he eat;
What time of year and day is it best to catch it?

Brief characteristics and design of the shell

The fish catcher is a piece of equipment that fishermen have been using for decades. It is designed in such a way that the cancer easily gets inside by the smell of food and can no longer get out.

Fishermen have many types of crayfish in their arsenal, but the most popular of them are:

conical;
cylinder;
rectangular;
in the form of a rhombus;
ball

The design of the crayfish catcher is quite simple, and even a novice fisherman will not have any difficulty making it himself. To assemble the simplest type of shell, you will need the following parts:

Styrofoam;
fishing line or rope;
net;
metal wire;
cargo;
bait;
bait mount.

In fact, it can be built even from improvised means.

The principle of catching crayfish on crayfish traps is that the bait is hung inside the structure in the middle, and there are entrances for crayfish throughout the entire area of the tackle, usually from 1 to 8 pieces. And when a crayfish gets inside the shell, it can no longer get out, because the entrance is in the middle and it is very narrow. The representative of the arthropods, trying to get out, rests against the wall of the structure, and the hole is located higher.

How to install shells?

The location of the crayfish depends on what type of shell is used. Depending on the shape of the gear, the installation method may differ significantly:

Cone. It is advisable to install from a boat. Rakolov swims to the desired place and, holding the top foam plastic, gradually lowers the crayfish into the water. If this is not possible, then the stick is threaded through the last bunch of ropes and installed near the shore. But still, it is better to put tackle of this shape from a boat.
Ball. A rope is tied to the crayfish trap and simply thrown into the water so that the bait does not fall out, without any sudden movements. In this case, there is no significant difference in how the installation will be carried out from the shore or from a boat.
Rectangular. With this form of gear, it is best to install from the shore. It is placed where there is a smooth descent of the bottom and there are no sharp cliffs of the shore. The principle of casting is the same as for a ball, but you just need to be more careful so that there is no confusion.

It is difficult for fishing enthusiasts to imagine fishing without catching crayfish. This is quite an exciting activity that requires endurance and perseverance. Everyone tried the very tasty and unique meat.

Fishing itself does not require the purchase of expensive devices and other equipment. It will be enough to prepare a crayfish trap and bait for crayfish.

Catching crayfish using crayfish traps is considered the most common and convenient way. It is not poaching, but quite legal.

The number of traps per fisherman depends on the fishing area. In each individual area, the limit of traps used is different (usually from 3 to 10 pieces).

In order for the crayfish catch to be successful, and the fishing itself to be only enjoyable, you should listen to some recommendations.

What to use to catch crayfish?

Crayfish is found only in fairly clean water bodies and it will be impossible to catch it in muddy and dirty water. The main habitats are lakes and rivers without strong currents. Prefers reservoirs with a rocky bottom, as it will be easy for him to hide.

Cancer is a carnivorous animal, which is why meat is used as bait when catching it. He is also a scavenger, which means that he himself does not like to hunt, but prefers the bodies of dead inhabitants of bodies of water.

But using rotten meat as bait will not lead to a good catch. To lure him into a trap, it will be enough for him to smell the strong smell of food. To spread the smell, you can cut the bait.

What bait should I use to catch crayfish?

It is impossible to accurately name the type of bait due to which the catch will be large. In different bodies of water and at different times, crayfish react to bait differently.

When choosing the type of bait, you need to consider the following:

The smell of bait. The stronger it is, the more crayfish will crawl towards the trap.
Its freshness. The bait should not be missing. Cancer will only go for foods with a strong smell if it is hungry. This means that in waters rich in food, this bait will not work.

But as practice shows, meat, small fish, dried frogs or even grasshoppers are effective bait, since this is its natural food.

Crayfish are also caught quite well using various food waste and expired food, but only at a time when they are still hungry.

Distribution of bait by fishing period

At different times of the year, crayfish react differently to the type of bait:

Bait for crayfish in spring. Small fish and fish fillets are good bait at this time of year. And you don’t have to catch it yourself; you can buy it in a store. To make crayfish smell the fish faster, the carcasses can be cut before starting fishing.
Lure for crayfish in summer. In the summer, when there is enough food in reservoirs, animal meat or offal will be a good bait. You can buy them in advance at any store or market.
Bait for crayfish in autumn and winter. Their catch during this period of time will be good, since the volume of food in reservoirs decreases and bread with garlic can be bait. To prevent the bread from turning sour quickly while fishing, it is recommended to wrap it with garlic in cheesecloth or weave it. It is better not to peel the garlic, but to stuff it into bread with the peel. During this period, many fishermen advise using non-fresh meat and fish.

Features of baits when catching crayfish using crayfish traps

To get a good catch of crayfish, the type of bait is of great importance. Cancer must be lured into a trap; he will not go into it himself.

Commonly used and effective baits are:

fish (preferably fresh);
cake;
garlic;
mollusks living in the reservoir where fishing will take place.

Fish is most often used as bait; it must be elastic. There will be a good catch if the bait is roach, bream or perch.

Of course, these are not all types of bait.

Experienced fishermen also use their own time-tested baits, but in any case, they must be fresh.

In order for the crayfish to crawl into the crayfish trap faster, a strong smell must come from the bait.

For example, to enhance the smell of fish, it is better to make a cut along the vertebra and turn the meat out.

It will be enough to put one fish in one trap overnight.

The second most popular bait is mollusks (mussels and clams). The bait may be live. You can find a snail or shell in a pond and put it in a trap.

DIY bait

You can easily make your own bait for catching crayfish.

Here are some fairly simple tips:

Grind a loaf of black bread and a small head of garlic in a meat grinder. Roll small balls from the resulting mixture and place them in gauze or fabric bags. When fishing, put these balls in a crayfish trap.
Garlic can only be rubbed onto pieces of bread. without grinding in a meat grinder.
Cake is considered a good addition to bait. It is added to the bread and twisted, or small pieces of cake are pushed into the bread and placed in fabric bags.
Crayfish lovers use canned fish for bait. Several holes are made in the jar on both sides, and it is placed in a trap.
Freshly caught fish will also work. But first you need to wither it a little in the sun, and then place it in a trap.

How to catch crayfish using a crayfish trap?

Open type shell

Using such traps is the easiest and cheapest way to catch crayfish.

Such traps consist of a wire circle with a diameter of about 70 cm (the wire can be replaced with a wooden circle), onto which a del is placed so that it sags a little in the middle.

If the trap will be used at depth, then four ropes are tied to it, which are then tied in a knot, with a long end coming from it for raising or lowering with a homemade float.

If the fishing for crayfish is in the coastal zone, then the role of the catch of the trap will be played by a long pole.

It is securely fixed in the ground. The contents of the crayfish traps should be checked every 15-20 minutes.

You need to lift the crayfish quickly, with a sharp movement. If lifting is carried out slowly, the crayfish may spread out.

Closed shell

Its use will give the best results. The advantage is that it does not need to be checked frequently (usually 2-3 times in one night). Their disadvantage is volume.

They are used to catch crayfish in one body of water, and to prevent them from floating, a weight is placed on its bottom. They are convenient because once a cancer gets into such a trap, it will not be able to crawl back out.

Attaching the bait

The bait used for catching crayfish is attached to the bottom of the crayfish trap in different ways. A pin, elastic band, or mesh bag are good for attaching it.

Many anglers attach a small homemade pocket to the trap to hold their bait.

It must be secured well to the bottom of the trap so that it does not fly off during installation in the reservoir, and also so that the cancer begins to eat it in the trap without tearing it off.

What time to catch crayfish with crayfish?

Crayfish are caught in different ways throughout the year.

In order for the catch to be large, you should take into account the peculiarities of fishing for them:

January and February– the crayfish sits in its holes at this time and is not caught;
March, April– begins to awaken from hibernation and come out of holes, but is caught very poorly;
May– this month the crayfish molts, and it begins to lay eggs, which is also difficult to catch;
June– difficult to catch, as molting is still ongoing;
from July to October– the best period for fishing, the crayfish has become active after molting, eating well and gaining weight;
November and December– at this time the largest ones by weight are caught, and the females will have caviar under their shell.

The catch of crayfish according to these dates cannot be called accurate; everything will depend on the region and climatic conditions in it.

The best time for fishing is considered to be at night, since crayfish are active at this time of day and crawl out of their holes in search of food mainly at night. Traps are usually placed on them from evening until early morning.

Fishing technique

It can be very difficult to freely approach a place on a reservoir where crayfish are found due to the fact that their shoreline is overgrown with reeds. Experienced fishermen advise placing crayfish traps from boats.

In order not to spend a long time looking for traps along the entire bottom of the reservoir, but to be able to easily find and lift them, a homemade foam float is tied to the top of the cord. It will indicate the location of the trap.

You can also set the trap from the shore, following a certain sequence:

find a stick with a slingshot at its end;
take the cord from the trap in one hand and the stick in the other;
lift the trap by picking up its cord;
slowly lower it into the water;
Tie the cord from the trap to a tree or stick.

Lifting it out of the water by the cord, the catch is taken out, and the empty shell is lowered back into the water.

By applying all these tips, you can be sure that fishing for crayfish will bring only positive emotions and a sense of satisfaction.

Probably every fisherman has caught a crayfish with a float rod. This underwater arthropod inhabitant grabbed the bait so firmly with one claw that it was easily removed from the water along with the gear.
I usually don’t catch crayfish this way on purpose.

To catch a large number of arthropods, you need to purchase or make your own special device - a crayfish catcher. You can catch crayfish in this way wherever it lives. Very promising in this regard are those areas of reservoirs where you can find a large number of damaged and dead fish. They catch arthropods throughout the year, pausing only for the period of crayfish molting.

At this time, the meat of this arthropod is tasteless, and in some regions there is a ban on catching it at this time.

The advantage of catching crayfish on crayfish traps is the high efficiency of fishing, as well as the absence of constant monitoring of the trap.

Choosing a crayfish trap

There are several types of clamshells. The simplest models consist of two hoops covered with mesh. A rope is tied to such devices, which is used to lift the crayfish out of the water.

Hoops do not have to be round. You can use square or oval models with the same success. Open type shells have a significant drawback.

Crayfish can easily leave such a trap after eating the bait, therefore, open crayfish traps require constant supervision, and traps must be checked several times within an hour.

A more complicated shell design is made of several hoops or squares with a fine mesh stretched between them. In this case, the inlet hole should be relatively small. Cancer, after it gets into such a trap, cannot always leave it on its own, even after the bait is completely eaten.

The advantage of using extended models is their autonomous operation. Such a trap can be left overnight and in the morning the arthropods caught in the trap can be collected.

The shells can be cylindrical in shape. Inside such a shell, in the middle, there are small holes for entry.

Such traps are most often made of hard plastic. The entire design of such a crayfish trap has small holes that allow the aroma of the bait to spread freely throughout the reservoir and prevent the crayfish from leaving the trap.

The cost of crayfish traps usually does not exceed several hundred rubles and depends on the dimensions of the product, material, and type of trap.

Cancer, after climbing into such a trap, cannot always leave it on its own, even after the bait is completely eaten

Lures

If a small fish is used to catch crayfish, then the air bubble is pierced, otherwise the bait will float up in the crayfish trap and catching crayfish will not be effective

Various natural products are used as bait for catching arthropods. Crayfish is omnivorous, so bread grated with garlic and fresh fish can be placed in the crayfish trap. The claim that crayfish are attracted to the smell of rotten meat is untrue.

Of course, when arthropods experience a nutritional deficiency, they attack any food, even with a strong odor. If cancer has a choice, it eats fresh fish.

When fishing is combined with catching crayfish, the best bait is fish caught with a fishing rod, which is kept in the sun for 2 - 3 hours. If you manage to catch a large fish, then you can use a fish head to catch crayfish.

If a small fish is used to catch crayfish, then the air bubble is pierced, otherwise the bait will float up in the crayfish trap and catching crayfish will not be effective. An excellent bait for catching crayfish are mollusks that are found in a body of water where arthropods live.

The shell of the mollusk should be opened with a sharp knife and in this form placed in shells. There is no need to additionally weight this bait; the shell has significant weight, which will not allow the bait to float up. To catch crayfish, you can use frozen fish, which you buy in a store: it is thawed and used. Frozen products are not inferior in effectiveness to fresh, just caught fish.

In the summer, crayfish are caught for meat. For this purpose, the stomachs, liver and kidneys of various animals are used. Crayfish are well caught using steamed peas or corn. To prepare such bait, you need to boil the cereal in salted water until tender. Place in a gauze bag and place in a clamshell.

Adding dill to plant baits significantly increases the catch of crayfish; you can use artificial attractants with odors that crayfish like, such as fish and shrimp.

How to catch

Good results in catching arthropods can be obtained on a cloudy day; at this time, the behavior of the crayfish is no different from night outings in search of food.

Catching crayfish with a closed and open crayfish trap differs slightly. An open trap requires more frequent checking of the gear; a closed trap can be left overnight or for a longer time. Cancer will not be able to get out of a closed structure on its own.

To install both types of crayfish traps, select a place with a steep bank. It is advisable that there be some hiding places for the crayfish under water. You can count on a large catch of crayfish where there are large stones at the bottom of the reservoir, under which the crayfish make their burrows.

Reservoirs with low oxygen content, dirty water, and a sandy bottom are practically unsuitable for catching crayfish. The depth of the reservoir does not matter when catching crayfish. If there are all conditions for the life of crayfish at the bottom, then they can be found both in deep-sea places and at a depth of no more than 0.5 meters.

At night you can catch crayfish with greater success than during the day. You can leave closed traps overnight and check the gear in the morning. Good results in catching arthropods can be obtained on a cloudy day. At this time, the behavior of the crayfish does not differ from night trips in search of food.

The traps are set from the shore, or a boat is used to set the traps away from the shore. In the latter case, in order to determine the location of the trap, a large piece of foam is tied to the rope. When catching crayfish from the shore, the rope of the crayfish is tied to a tree or a stick, which is driven into the ground to a depth of 20–30 cm. If several traps are used, the distance between them should be at least 10 meters.

An excellent place for catching crayfish can be areas of reservoirs where water is pumped from one reservoir to another. During the operation of the pumping system of such water pumps, small fish are injured and there is always a large amount of food for crayfish in such places.

To fish near water pumps it is not necessary to stock up on bait, you can catch a fish floating upside down with a fine-mesh net, cut it, and secure it in a trap to catch large numbers of arthropods.

Crayfish have a highly developed sense of smell, so all baits used in catching crayfish must emit a smell.
The garlic smell is especially attractive to arthropods. You can check the effectiveness of such aromatization by rubbing a piece of brick with garlic and placing such bait in a trap. After a short time, arthropods will definitely “enter” the crayfish trap, attracted by the pleasant aroma. If the smell is not strong enough, especially for vegetable baits, then they must be additionally flavored with garlic juice.
In all cases, except for the use of shellfish, the bait must be securely attached to the bottom of the crayfish trap. For this purpose, a pocket of nylon fabric is sewn at the bottom of the trap. It is possible to attach a large bait with an elastic band, and if the structure is quite dense, then you can use a pin for this purpose.
The most favorable time for catching crayfish is from July to December. At this time, the crayfish gains significant weight, and caviar deposits begin to form in females. Almost any bait of animal origin can be used as bait at this time. You can use white bread rubbed with garlic and wrapped in cheesecloth.
When using fresh fish as bait for catching crayfish, it must be cut along the body. This must be done to attract arthropods with the smell of fish meat and blood.
Ponds near poultry farms may be promising places for catching arthropods. Meat production waste often ends up in such reservoirs, and there can be a huge number of crayfish in such places.

Crayfish are freshwater arthropods protected by an armored shell with an abdomen-neck and powerful claws. In male representatives they are large, and the tail is not too wide, unlike females, since with its help females protect eggs - their future offspring. But both male and female can be recognized only after they are taken out of the water. Given the habits and tastes of these hermits, they can be caught at any time.

The mustachioed inhabitants of the underwater world prefer clean water reaches enriched with lime. Favorite habitats are freshwater rivers, lakes, streams and oxbow lakes, where there is no strong current. They do not reproduce in salt and fresh-salt water. If the water in a pond becomes polluted, after some time the owners of claws and shells disappear from it forever.

Crayfish most often make their homes in the coastal zone, inhabiting places near large banks with cliffs (where it is easiest for them to dig holes). Being hermits by way of life, they hide in such shelters from relatives and hunters. Each cancer has its own personal refuge and practically does not change its place of residence. You need to remember this when going on a search.

Crayfish can be lured out at any time of the year, with the exception of January and February - in deep winter they prefer to hole up in their burrows. The arrival of spring is not very conducive to successful catching of these representatives of the aquatic world - they are just waking up from hibernation. But sometimes pleasant exceptions happen.

May-June is a special period for those with claws - they molt, shedding their old shell and taking care of procreation. During this period, a strict fishing ban is introduced, as they become completely defenseless.

From July (in different regions and reservoirs these dates may be pushed in one direction or another, because conditions in the Kuban and Ladoga are noticeably different), arthropods begin an active search for food, quickly migrating along the bottom. At night and early in the morning, they annoy fishermen by eating baits on hooks. In September, crayfish rush to leave their burrows in search of food, but they gain special taste qualities in late autumn, so it is at this time that their catch is considered the most productive.

Catching crayfish in October is not too difficult and very exciting. If you know the places and features of successful catches, you can always count on luck. In autumn, arthropods begin their breeding season, which requires abundant nutrition and frequent forays into shallow water in search of food. The ability to choose the right tackle will help you catch rich catches.

There are many ways to catch crayfish:

hand fishing;
fishing with a float or special fishing rod;
use of crayfish traps and other devices.

Catching by hand is considered the most primitive of all methods, but in October-December this method of catching is not only uncomfortable, but also harmful to health due to the low water temperature.

How to catch a crayfish with a fishing rod

It is much more convenient at this time to try to catch the hermits with a fishing rod. To do this, use either ordinary float equipment, attaching not one, but three hooks to the fishing line (additional ones reduce the likelihood of prey getting lost), or a special fishing rod. When there is a crayfish bite, the float slowly and with an incline goes under the water. As soon as it sinks to depth, it is necessary to quickly raise the tackle without cutting or letting go of the line. Whether the cunning inhabitants of the underwater world will peck and be caught depends on the knowledge and skill of the fisherman.

There is nothing complicated about a special fishing rod - a small fish, shellfish or frog is placed on a wire (the point of a stick) and tied to a fishing line on a long rod. For reliability, the bait is wrapped in a nylon stocking or other net, and as soon as the crayfish catches on it, it is quickly hooked. To keep the gatherings to a minimum, it is advisable to place a net near you and use it in time.

Rakolovka - no way out

Fishing with net baskets is a fairly common and effective method. This device consists of a wire frame, metal mesh and reliable rope. The upper part of the trap is made narrower - this way the crayfish will not be able to crawl out once they get inside it. The principle of the device is quite simple: the crayfish crawls into it in search of food, but due to the design features, it cannot get back out to freedom. The trap allows you to catch not just one crustacean at a time, but a lot of prey and is an effective and inexpensive means for hunting arthropods.

Open traps

According to their design, shells are divided into two types: open and closed. The first ones are the simplest in design, appearance and manufacture. Any fisherman who decides to try his luck in catching crayfish can build one. In appearance, the device resembles a colander and consists of a frame in the shape of a square or circle, on which a strong metal mesh is attached. A rope is tied to the top of the structure, with the help of which the crayfish is lowered into the water and pulled back.

Closed traps

Open traps are difficult to transport due to their size, so many fishermen use closed-type devices, which are more effective, but difficult to manufacture. It’s not so easy to design them yourself; it’s easier to buy them in a store or market. The most popular in this category is the crayfish inkwell, which folds conveniently and is easy to transport.

Such traps can be set either directly from the shore, lowering them on a rope into the water, or using a boat. The place where the tackle is immersed is marked with a circle of thick foam (you can also use an empty but closed plastic bottle), tying it to a rope. If several devices are used simultaneously, they must be installed at a distance of at least 10 meters from each other. You can check whether the crayfish are entangled in the equipment after 2-3 hours.

Lures for catching crayfish

The quantity and quality of the catch depend on the food used, and what to use to catch crayfish in crayfish traps is up to each angler to decide for himself. In most cases, arthropods prefer food of animal origin, willingly picking up from the bottom everything that has ceased to live. But even among carrion they look for the freshest food.

To force the hermit to eat bait on a fishing rod or in a crayfish trap, they use small fish, worms, frogs, bird meat (animals), slugs, grasshoppers, and mollusks that live in the reservoir. The best bait for crayfish in a crayfish trap is the food to which they are directly accustomed.

On spring days, those with claws and shells give preference to small fish (crucian carp, perch, goby, roach). It is desirable that the bait be “scented”. In summer, crayfish have no problem finding food at the bottom, but they can be interested in rotten offal (offal, liver, stomach). After the end of summer, the appetite of arthropods becomes simply brutal. With the first cold weather, you can attract them by even getting them interested in ordinary black bread with the addition of chopped garlic. Such bait must be well wrapped in gauze, otherwise the crumb will become limp and will no longer attract crayfish even as ordinary bait.

In order to successfully catch and not leave the water field empty-handed, you need to properly secure your bait in the trap. In crayfish traps, they use a kind of pocket made of nylon stocking or gauze, into which complementary foods are placed. You can secure any bait tightly either with an elastic band or using wire - there are many options, but don’t just put it on the bottom of the fishing device.

How to recognize the habitat of crayfish

Having decided on the fishing method and how to seduce the arthropod’s food receptors, it is necessary to take into account the conditions and characteristics of the reservoir in which the crayfish live. They can be found in the following places:

in a creek with reeds;
on a reservoir with a rocky bottom;
on a pond with shellfish;
on a sandy bottom;
in cancer burrows;
in backwaters with logs and roots;
in cans and bottles.

It is believed that backwaters with reeds growing in them are of little use for swimming and fishing, but the clumsy barbels really like them. Here they are perfectly camouflaged, which makes it quite difficult to detect them; in addition, thickets of reeds complicate the fishing process.

Quiet pools with logs and tree roots are both attractive and dangerous, especially if the water is murky. Experienced crayfish hunters claim that it is in such places that large trophy specimens can be found - mostly old, sedentary arthropods with dark brown shells. Young crayfish prefer other places.

Reservoirs with a rocky bottom create excellent conditions for shelter, allowing crayfish to hide in case of danger. If you take them out of such places with your hands, you need to grab them by the whiskers protruding from the hole (grabbing the arthropod by the claw, you can only get it, and the crayfish itself will remain in the shelter). Pitfalls are fraught with danger for the catcher, since you can get bruised, wounded or broken fingers.

Hermits like to set up their homes in those reservoirs, the bottom of which is covered with shells and small parts of reeds. Crayfish feel quite comfortable among mollusk colonies and willingly set up their burrows there. It is even easier to detect and catch crayfish in ponds and river creeks with a sandy bottom. The water in them is usually clean, and only the utmost attention of the angler is required.

Knowing about the presence of crayfish burrows in the coastal zone, arthropod hunters should also remember that muskrats and water rats choose the same places for their homes.

If you confuse a crustacean's hole with a rodent's home, you can seriously injure your hands. To prevent this from happening, you should remember that crayfish dig out dwellings up to 5 centimeters high and no more than 8 centimeters wide. They do not live in large burrows.

Often, crayfish don’t particularly bother setting up their secluded places, crawling into empty cans and bottles that people throw into the water. It is not difficult to get arthropods from such dwellings - you need to lift a tin can or glass bottle, pointing it towards you with the hole. It is difficult for crustaceans to crawl out, and they become easy prey.

Night hunting for arthropods

Catching crayfish at night in the fall is one of the most interesting activities. At this time of year (especially in November), the water cools down greatly and warms up only during the day in shallow water; frosts accompany the night. Crayfish go to places where the water is much warmer in the dark to warm up and feed. If you take this circumstance into account, you can catch a lot of arthropods virtually at the water's edge.

In order not to leave the reservoir empty-handed, it is advisable to go for crayfish in two or three, stretched out in a chain. It is necessary to stock up on a good flashlight, which can be used to illuminate the water column. The presence of crayfish will be revealed by their eyes - under the beam of a flashlight in the darkness of the night they will glow ruby. The second of the participants in the “expedition” can easily pick up the red-eyed fish with a net and either put it in the bag themselves, or give the opportunity to a third person to collect the prey. The fishing net must be strong so as not to break under the weight when scooping out prey.