Personally, I catch crayfish in a variety of ways and am very much looking forward to the end of the ban on catching them. I can say that crayfish on our table is not a delicacy, but a familiar dish, and practically free at any time of the year, even in winter and autumn. I make the shells myself, with my own hands, and I take the drawings from books, the Internet, some left over from my grandfather.
The success of my fishing largely depends on the fact that I know where to catch crayfish in a river or lake, in what places to place crayfish traps and what baits are needed. There is nothing particularly complicated, and after reading this article, you will learn a lot of new things and can successfully fish anywhere on your own. The main thing is not to break the law, which I consider quite fair, since it contributes to an increase in the population of these crustaceans, which are unfortunately rare in our area.
How to catch
Nowadays, crayfish is a much rarer catch than fish. Crayfish meat is tender and tasty, and more and more beer lovers prefer it as a snack. In addition, crayfish is often used as bait when fishing for large predatory fish.
Crayfish with beer
A large crayfish can reach a length including claws of twenty centimeters or even more! The weight of large individuals is up to 200 grams - 5 crayfish is already a kilogram! Catching such specimens in our time is real luck; catching one is a great success! Usually you come across crustaceans a little more than ten centimeters in size, even in those places where crayfish are found in abundance. We will describe in more detail how to catch crayfish using a crayfish trap in order, starting with their manufacture.
Is it possible to catch crayfish with crayfish in Russia?
» Copyright According to the current fishing rules, catching crayfish in the Volga-Caspian basin, which includes the Samara region, is permitted from July 15 to August 10.
Then there is a month-long break - it is believed that at the end of summer the cancer molts, shedding its old shell, and becomes too vulnerable. Well, then, from September 10 until January 1, there is a second “wave” of fishing. At the same time, the same rules stipulate that catching crayfish can only be done using crayfish traps, the size of which does not exceed 80 cm in three dimensions, the mesh is 22 mm.
The number of crayfish per person should not exceed 10 pieces. It turns out that collecting crayfish by hand, with nonsense, and especially with multi-section Chinese traps is strictly prohibited. However, in reality, many vacationers on small rivers and lakes in the region witness such fishing every day.
And okay, if the fishermen were content with a couple of kilograms so that they could help themselves to freshly boiled arthropods by the fire, but no! Where they are still found in abundance, they select everything, down to the last crustacean, and then take the prey to the market.
By the way, any product (including crayfish) that ends up on the counter is required by law to have a veterinary certificate and an invoice stating exactly where this batch was caught. But you must admit, which of us, at least once, when buying fish or crayfish at the market or from a car on the side of the road, asked the seller for these documents?
The thing is that lovers of this delicacy are driven by the desire to save money, and sellers are driven by the desire to earn money as quickly as possible without catching the eye of the police. On the other hand, violation of trade rules (Art.
6. 1 of the Samara Region Law on Administrative Violations) provides for a fine of only 1,000 rubles. How long do you think it will take the seller to recoup these costs and continue selling illegally caught goods?
In fact, cancer on Samara shelves comes both from neighboring regions and from local reservoirs.
Many fish farms in our region breed this aquaculture themselves.
How and when is crayfish fishing allowed?
Everyone knows that properly cooked crayfish is exceptionally tasty, especially with beer, and therefore the question of when it is allowed to catch crayfish and whether it is possible to catch crayfish at all worries not only crayfish fishermen, but also ordinary people. But it is worth knowing that there are regions in which crayfish fishing is prohibited at all, regardless of the time of year, such regions include Moscow and the Moscow region. Those who violate this law may be prosecuted. So before you go catching them, find out whether it is possible to fish for them in your region and in what months, i.e. When can you catch crayfish? On my own behalf, I can give advice that since these representatives of the order of crustaceans are very rare, refrain from catching them at a time when the females are carrying eggs, and if you accidentally catch such an individual, release it. Much is not known, but crayfish mate in winter and at this time their eggs appear.
You also need to know that there are restrictions on their catching and size. It is allowed to catch crayfish nine to ten centimeters long. The measurement is carried out as follows. The body itself is measured from the eye line to the tip of the tail. It is allowed to use no more than 3 shells per person. The diameter of each tackle is no more than 0.8 m, the cell pitch must be no less than 2.2 millimeters. Probably many people don’t know, but catching crayfish by wading or diving is also not allowed. You will be fined for such an act.
Choosing a crayfish trap
There are several types of clamshells. The simplest models consist of two hoops covered with mesh. A rope is attached 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.
Make it a rule, on every fishing trip, the first thing you do is start.
Crayfish can easily leave such a trap after eating the bait , so 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 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
Fishing with a crayfish
Open type of shells
Raklovki, or otherwise crayfish or racheshni, are quite convenient and catchy fishing gear. They are inexpensive, and if necessary, you can make them yourself. These gears may have different designs. For the simplest one you will need some mesh, wire and wood. The easiest to make is the so-called crayfish - a grip very similar in appearance to a plate. It can be made from wire or a regular wooden circle. If the crayfish is round, then its optimal dimensions are from fifty to seventy centimeters. You need to stretch the net over this circle so that it can sag in the center.
Open type shells
If you need a crayfish trap for deep fishing, then you need to tie 3 or 4 ropes to it and connect them with a knot to which a rope is tied, with the help of which the tackle will rise and fall. A float is attached to the end of foam or other material. This gear is suitable and crayfish can also be caught in it in winter.
For fishing in the shallows, another tackle is better suited; its difference from the one described above is that the float needs to be replaced with a pole, which will need to be stuck into the ground during fishing. The bait must be tied to a pole or directly to the center of the net.
A rack has a similar design, which consists of a circle (wire or wooden), a cone-shaped bag in it with a sinker fixed in the center. Typically, such tackle is baited with ordinary worms (preferably dung), they are strung on a thin wire and attached to a circle. This type of clamshell is lowered and raised using a rope.
Catching crayfish using crayfish traps is a very easy task, but you need to know that if you lift such gear slowly or it tilts, the crayfish will have time to scatter. Therefore, it rises quickly and sharply. It is better to fish with crayfish from a boat. Just immerse it in the place where the crayfish may be. Gear is checked approximately every twenty minutes. This crayfish catcher can be used almost the whole year, and even catching crayfish in the fall using this gear will be successful. The only thing is that the bait for crayfish should be different, and we will tell you which one later.
Closed shells
Closed crayfish traps are very catchy and are sometimes called night or crayfish houses. Fishing with them is much more convenient, but they are more difficult to manufacture than open ones. They are often made so that they can be folded. The main advantage of such crayfish traps is that they do not need to be constantly checked. You need to remove them and check them no more than two or three times during the night, or you can even leave them until dawn.
The simplest closed shells
There are many designs of night crayfish traps. The simplest ones are made from a wire frame (the sizes may be different, but we recommend the following: the diameter of the lower circle is forty to fifty centimeters, the upper circle is twenty-five to thirty-five centimeters, height is 15 centimeters). You need to stretch the net over the frame so that there remains a hole with a diameter of about six centimeters. Sometimes closed racks are made higher, up to twenty-five centimeters; at the entrance, depending on the design, one or more necks are made of wood. The entrance hole must have a diameter of at least five centimeters. They are secured with guy ropes to the bottom circle. Tackle with several necks is more catchy. And if you have chosen this one, then you should know that it is better to place them obliquely. This will significantly increase catchability.
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 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.
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It is better to place other types of crayfish shells of non-standard shape from a boat, since they need to be lowered evenly.
Video “Crayfish climb into the crayfish trap”
This video shows how crayfish, sensing bait, climb into an open crayfish trap.
Approximately the same principle applies to crayfish traps of a slightly different type, which are called butchi or gobies, which are crayfish traps with two necks. Their shape can be arbitrary; both square and cylindrical are allowed. The maximum length is 70 centimeters, diameter up to twenty centimeters. They are made from pine splinters. Secure to six circles with wire. There are 2 necks at the ends. The diameter of the inlet is from five to seven centimeters. A door is made at the top, which is necessary for pulling out caught crayfish and laying bait with a stick.
Rachevnya from a plastic bottle
This gear is considered the simplest of its kind. But despite the simplicity of execution, it can please you with a good catch.
To make a crayfish shell with your own hands from a plastic bottle, we will need:
- 5 liter plastic bottle
- Scissors
- Fishing line or wire
- Awl
- Nail
- Rope
So, let's start assembling the shell.
- First of all, take the bottle and cut off the top part of it (along with the neck). This is approximately 5-7 cm from the beginning of the neck.
- Turn the top part over and insert the neck into the inside of the bottle. Thus, the cancer will crawl into the bottles and fall into the middle, and to get out it will have to try really hard.
- We need to connect these halves together using fishing line or wire. We make holes for connections with an awl.
- Now you need to make holes in the bottle itself for better air release. To do this, heat the nail and start making holes.
- At the bottom we attach a weight and a hook for bait. It is more convenient to do this by removing the top part of the shell and then fastening it again.
- In the place where the two halves join, we tie a rope or thick fishing line, 3-5 m long.
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Already near the reservoir, we attach the bait to the hook, hold the trap by the rope and throw it directly into the water. On the shore we tie the cord to a peg or tree. We are waiting for the catch.
What's the best way to store crayfish?
In the summer, the caught crayfish are placed in a cage, the hole of which must be tied up and kept in running water while you are fishing. If you catch crayfish at night, then you can keep them not in water, but on land, just in a basket.
In the case of long-term fishing, you need to know that crayfish quickly die in direct sunlight, as a result of which they need to be kept in a shaded place.
Crayfish stay only in water in winter because frost is destructive for them.
Some of the best gear for catching crayfish are night crayfish, which do not require constant monitoring and make it possible to simultaneously engage in crayfish fishing along with fishing.
This video shows successful fishing with crayfish
Types of crayfish
There are several types of crayfish:
- From a plastic bottle
- Screen
- Versha
- Inkwell
All of the above can be done with your own hands. Only for some you will need some parts; if anything, they can be found in any hardware store. All cures are time-tested, just some are more effective.
Catching crayfish with a fishing rod
After we have discussed how to catch crayfish using crayfish traps, let’s look at the next piece of gear, a crayfish fishing rod. To catch crayfish with a fishing rod, you need to make a special tackle; it is very easy to make. You need to take a wooden stick, sharpen one end and, after attaching the bait, stick it into the ground. The bait is wrapped in fine mesh or fabric; even an ordinary women's nylon stocking may be suitable. Having found the bait, the crayfish will grab it with its claws, and at this moment it must be pulled out. As a rule, the crayfish holds onto its prey well, but you still need to pull it out of the water very carefully. If you pull sharply, the crayfish will simply fall off the bait.
One of the options for catching crayfish with a fishing rod
For convenience, a fairly long piece of fishing line or twine is often tied to the bait, with a float attached to the end of it. If the bait does not sink, then you need to hang additional weight. The rod is periodically removed from the water to check the presence of prey and the condition of the bait.
What bait to catch crayfish with
Opinions often differ on the best crayfish bait, so it's worth reading the tips and using them to your own discretion. Or maybe, by experimenting, you will discover your own unique bait for crayfish and you yourself will give recommendations on which bait is best for catching crayfish:
- Tip 1. It is best to use fresh fish as bait for crayfish, not rotten fish, as many people believe. Experienced crayfish fishermen also add a little dill with the bait and, in a mesh bag, a piece of cake and a slice of rye bread, the crust of which has been rubbed with garlic.
- Tip 2. Fish, meat, frogs or grasshoppers are also suitable as bait for crayfish. Moreover, the more spoiled and smelly the bait, the better, since crayfish feed on carrion. The smell that attracts crayfish will be stronger if the carcass is cut along the back to the vertebrae and the meat is turned outward.
Distribution of bait by season
Bait for catching crayfish in spring
In the spring, fish meat is better suited for catching crayfish, in particular the sirloin or small fish, cut so that the meat emits a smell. Of all the breeds, crucian carp and bulls are best suited.
Bait for catching crayfish in the summer
Summer is the best time to catch crayfish, but you need to know that in the summer season, when water bodies abound with various foods, the best bait is meat. Crayfish have an excellent sense of smell and willingly go for the entrails, namely the liver, stomach, as well as the ears or cheeks of animals, which are very cheap at any market.
Bait for crayfish in autumn and winter
In autumn and winter, when it has become colder, the amount of food in reservoirs decreases and it becomes more difficult for animals to obtain it, so catching crayfish in October or even November can be more successful than even in the warm season. Many will be surprised, but at this time the best bait is bread with garlic. You need to do the following. Take a piece of rye bread and press unpeeled garlic cloves into it, which must be wrapped in gauze or other thin cloth. Otherwise, the bread will simply become soggy and the crayfish that are in the crayfish can simply pull it apart. It is equally permissible to use meat and fish, but preferably stale ones. The fish used for bait should have a smell that attracts crayfish. To do this, the carcass is cut and the scales are peeled off a little. Catching crayfish in the fall is also more profitable because at this time the price of crayfish is slightly higher than in the summer. Crayfish are especially expensive in winter.
What seasons are the best for catching crayfish?
Cancer is very sensitive to changes in weather conditions, as well as to water temperature. And that’s why it is caught differently at different times of the year. Fishing times:
- January and February are very cold times of the year and cancer practically does not leave its shelter. So fishing is reduced to a minimum or absent altogether.
- In March and April it is caught, but very poorly. Since he is just starting to get out of his holes after the big cold.
- In May and June, the crayfish begins molting and is caught, but not well enough yet. But immediately after molting, he begins to eat.
- July and August are good for fishing as they gain fat before spawning.
- But September and October are considered the most favorable and trophy fishing periods. The shells do their job perfectly. Before winter he gets hungry again. Caviar begins to appear.
- November, December are good times for fishing. The crayfish becomes fatty, and the females gradually accumulate eggs.
- In the period from October to May - caviar crayfish.
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Fishing methods
There are different ways to catch crayfish. With the right approach, each of them is effective and allows you to get a considerable amount of these underwater inhabitants. The most common are:
To this day, in the outback they use the original method of fishing for crayfish on a shoe. To do this, put bait in an old tarpaulin boot and lower it into the water near the crayfish’s hiding places. After a certain time, the “tackle” is lifted with the catch inside.
How to catch crayfish by hand
You can catch crayfish by hand from May to early October. At night they crawl out of their shelters onto shallows and sandy shores. They may be attracted to a burning fire or headlights. In fact, an angler only needs to walk with a flashlight in the dark to count on a catch.
During the day, crayfish are searched for in burrows or under stones. To do this, they are equipped with a mask and dive under the water, carefully examining the area. This is not an easy hunt, you need to behave carefully so as not to get injured or drown. Experienced fishing enthusiasts can catch up to hundreds of adult fish.
Catching crayfish with your hands does not like careless people, so be sure to follow basic safety rules:
- Don't do this while drunk.
- Do not dive into water where there are a lot of snags.
- Don't go hunting alone. A partner is required.
- Always remain calm and don't panic.
If your hand is stuck in a hole, rest your feet against the cliff and begin to work vigorously with your hand, trying to widen the hole. As a rule, such a simple technique helps to quickly free yourself.
Fishing with crayfish
A crayfish catcher is a device for catching crayfish, which is highly effective and practically does not require the participation of the fisherman directly in the fishing process. It is enough to install it in the right place, throw the bait there and, after waiting a certain period of time, remove it from the water.
There are two types of shells:
The open type is simple in design and easy to make with your own hands. It can be made with a net or in the shape of a cone. As a rule, it is installed at shallow depths. When hunting with this device, the fisherman is required to quickly and vigorously rise so that the catch does not have time to escape from the trap.
Closed-type crayfish traps are gear with a complex design. They are also called night lights, since the device is used mainly at night. One of their advantages is the absence of the need for frequent checking. It is enough to remove the device from the water in the morning after collecting the catch.
Lures for crayfish
Choosing the bait to put in the crayfish trap is not a difficult task. Many anglers prefer to use bait of animal origin, in particular:
- poultry or animal meat;
- fish;
- frog;
- large worms.
Some people add clams or snails after removing them from the shell. Grasshoppers, other large insects and their larvae are also used.
There are two diametrically opposed camps of crayfish hunters. Some believe that the best results are shown by bait that is spoiled and already has a specific smell. Others believe that fresh bait is more effective. Both approaches have their place and are successfully applied.
To enhance the taste, you can add vegetable ingredients to the bait. Garlic, oil cake, and a sprig of dill performed best. Their aroma can attract crayfish from a long distance. Bread works well, especially Borodino bread with cumin, as well as canned corn and green peas.
How often to check the tackle
An installed open-construction clamshell must be checked every hour to hour and a half. More often, as a rule, it does not make sense. In this case, the device is removed with a quick, energetic movement, so that the cancer caught in it does not have time to escape from the trap.
Closed crayfish traps, on the contrary, can be safely left in the dark. As a rule, tackle with bait is installed in the evening before sunset and checked at dawn. If the population of crayfish in the hunting area is large, then it is recommended to take it out one or two more times during the night, removing the catch and refreshing the bait.
On the fishing rod
In some regions, fishing for crayfish with a fishing rod is practiced. To do this, take an ordinary wooden stick up to three meters long. One end of it is pointed. A bait is placed on it, which is wrapped in a fine mesh or gauze, and the tackle is stuck into the bottom of the reservoir.
The crayfish, sensing easy prey, comes out of hiding and grabs the bait with its claws. This is where you should take the fishing rod out of the water. To prevent the catch from falling off, the stick is pulled out carefully, without sudden movements, but with slight acceleration in the last lifting vase.
Hunting with a spear
Another original way to catch crayfish. It is carried out in clear water at shallow depths, for example, among a rocky bottom. It requires an elastic stick with a cleft at the end. Its length should be no more than two meters, otherwise it will be inconvenient to catch.
In the hunting area, bait is thrown onto the bottom. This could be pieces of fish or meat. All that remains is to wait until the cancer crawls out of its hiding place. Now the spear is carefully brought towards it and stuck into the ground, holding the prey. Next, the angler takes it with his hands or uses tongs.
