Crayfish for chub
- Mark
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Crayfish for chub
I have noticed in the past couple of weeks (for the first time) that the part of the River Soar that I fish is riddled with crayfish, which I think counts for the size of the chub in this little part of the river. I usually fish this part of the river in Autumn and Winter and have not encountered them before.
Has anyone had any success using crayfish as a bait for chub and if so what part of the crayfish do you use and how do you hook them.
I must stress that these crayfish are not indigenes to England.
Has anyone had any success using crayfish as a bait for chub and if so what part of the crayfish do you use and how do you hook them.
I must stress that these crayfish are not indigenes to England.
Mark (Administrator)
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
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The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
- Loop Erimder
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Re: Crayfish for chub
I've had quite a few of the little buggers on that stretch too
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- Tengisgol
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Re: Crayfish for chub
Acquaintances tell me amazing stories of the chub on the Wensum crashing through the water to get to a crayfish tail dropped in many feet away. He says they hit them like a rugby tackle! He uses the tails impaired on a large hook.
One word of caution though. It is illegal to set out to catch them (without applying and obtaining a special trapping licence) and illegal to use them as bait - natives or imposters. It's all about avoiding the spread of crayfish plague which is why the imposters introduction has wiped out poor little white claw.
This came direct from the EA (.gov) website, link below
https://www.gov.uk/freshwater-rod-fishi ... ou-can-use
One word of caution though. It is illegal to set out to catch them (without applying and obtaining a special trapping licence) and illegal to use them as bait - natives or imposters. It's all about avoiding the spread of crayfish plague which is why the imposters introduction has wiped out poor little white claw.
This came direct from the EA (.gov) website, link below
https://www.gov.uk/freshwater-rod-fishi ... ou-can-use
Last edited by Tengisgol on Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Snape
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Re: Crayfish for chub
Unfortunately it is illegal to use any part of a crayfish for bait (also to return them or their parts to the water.)
Undoubtedly a crayfish tail would be a very good bait on a crayfish infested water though!
Undoubtedly a crayfish tail would be a very good bait on a crayfish infested water though!
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- Tengisgol
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Re: Crayfish for chub
Found it! This is a trailer for Catching the Impossible. If you watch at 3:55 seconds you'll see what a perch does to a crayfish!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL1320 ... VuwVzOLHK4
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL1320 ... VuwVzOLHK4
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- Dave Burr
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Re: Crayfish for chub
The reason you cannot use them for bait is that the eggs can be released after death and will still survive. A cray tail must be one of the top baits for chub so its down to you. I reckon that done with due consideration it would be fine and that the ruling is for the benefit of the less caring masses. Breaking a rule for the right reasons is still 'wrong', its down to your conscience.
Boiling them first would kill off anything but leave a good bait - Kelly Kettle on standby?
Boiling them first would kill off anything but leave a good bait - Kelly Kettle on standby?
- Snape
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Re: Crayfish for chub
I was considering this a few weeks ago when I saw crayfish tails in the supermarket but was put off by the price. I would imagine if you boiled the tail then it is no different to any other cooked crayfish.Dave Burr wrote:Boiling them first would kill off anything but leave a good bait - Kelly Kettle on standby?
“Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers,” Herbert Hoover.
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- Tengisgol
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Re: Crayfish for chub
I have some really great artificial crayfish (flies) which I must confess I haven't used yet.
These look good too!
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/catalogsearc ... q=Crayfish
These look good too!
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/catalogsearc ... q=Crayfish
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- Mark
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Re: Crayfish for chub
Thanks for the comments chaps.
I was just thinking of using the crayfish in the same section of the river for the chub and not using them on other sections or on other rivers. But if it is illeagal I will stick with the luncheon meat, bread and cheese paste.
I was just thinking of using the crayfish in the same section of the river for the chub and not using them on other sections or on other rivers. But if it is illeagal I will stick with the luncheon meat, bread and cheese paste.
Mark (Administrator)
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
- Dave Burr
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Re: Crayfish for chub
I cast one of those rubber crays across the Bristol Avon then twitched it to some passing chub ..... I didn't se them again as they shot off downstreamTengisgol wrote:I have some really great artificial crayfish (flies) which I must confess I haven't used yet.
These look good too!
http://www.sportfish.co.uk/catalogsearc ... q=Crayfish