Crayfish Tails

[Stour Otter]

I recently had great success with crayfish tails amongst the chub on the Dorset Stour. Fish on a No. 6 or 4 barbless hook and presented freeline or on a light ledger into your own bank no chub could refuse them. I picked up a pack from my local Lidl store for less than £2.00.

Stour Otter

[Olly]

Strange this - because the use of crayfish or part thereof is illegal under EA Bye-Laws.

But what about whose available for human consumption?

Although those in the picture are a bit old!

[RBTraditional]

As I understand it they are still an illegal bait even if they've been farmed for human consumption. On the bank an EA official would have difficulty in differentiating,
therefore, the ban applies to all crayfish...

[Stour Otter]

Thanks Olly.
I have sent an email to Jim Allen at the EA. I would have thought the ruling applied to the native protected species. Not shop bought. But thanks for the heads up. I will keep you posted.

Stour Otter

[Bumble]

Very interesting thread thank you for starting it. I have used cooked tails for a number of years as I was under the impression as long as they were cooked it was ok however may have been wrong please keep us updated.
Bumble

[Dave Burr]

Stuff and nonsense - surely the powers that be can differentiate between an endangered white claw or a contaminous signal as opposed to a ready cooked, plastic wrapped food item. I've got a couple of packets in the freezer waiting for when the mood takes me.

[RBTraditional]

I've just checked the EA site and crayfish are banned as bait. I don't understand why people like to bend or break the rules......if that's the rule then that's the rule.....full stop. There will I suppose always be stroke pullers in angling but all they really do is devalue their catches in the eyes of us who stick within the given agreed parameters......

[Stour Otter]

Thank you Gentleman.
But until I hear back from Jim Allan I will be getting out the King Prawns!

Stour Otter

[RBTraditional]

Probably a good move Stour Otter. I didn't mean to offend you as you were unaware of the rule, but for those who do know the rules and decide to ignore them....there can be only be complete and utter contempt for their practices.

[Snape]

How about lobster tails instead...?

http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductVie ... 0001-90508