The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

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.

I've had quite a few of the little buggers on that stretch too

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

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!

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

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?

Dave Burr wrote:Boiling them first would kill off anything but leave a good bait - Kelly Kettle on standby?

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.

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

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.

Tengisgol 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

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 downstream