Catching crayfish can be done with hands, fishing, zakidushka, zherlitsy, rachevny (rakolovka), nets and nets. Let's tell how to catch crayfish the ways listed.
Fishing with hands is the most primitive and easiest way. This method is suitable only for those who are not afraid of crayfish claws. Catching broad-toed crayfish (lat. Astacus astacus ) hands occurs at a depth of no more than 1.5 meters. Crayfish come out of their holes at night and then they can be caught, but it is necessary to illuminate the bottom of the reservoir with a lantern. It is necessary to move carefully in the water and at the same time carefully lift branches, stones, etc. At night, the bottom of the reservoir is illuminated by a lantern. Crayfish should be grabbed quickly, until he hid in a shelter or ran away. To bait crayfish, you can use a fire that is bred on the shore.
A photo crayfish and tench
If the depth of the reservoir is several meters and the water in it is clear, then in this case you cannot do without wooden crustacean mites (from 1 to several meters long). Cancer mites should be hollow (so as not to damage the cancer). Catching ten-legged crustaceans with ticks requires great skill, because. crayfish, sensing danger, run away very quickly. If this method seems too complicated, then you can use a long stick, the end of which is split with a small stone or stick. Such a stick presses cancer to the bottom. Then he raises his hand.
Figure 1. Devices for manual catching of crayfish
a - crustacean mites; b - a stick with a split end.
underwater fishing
For underwater fishing, you will need a breathing tube, special goggles and gloves. If fishing will take place at night, then you will also need a flashlight. In this case, crayfish are caught by hand.
Sachkom
It is very convenient, by the light of a lantern at night, to catch crayfish with a net.
All the above methods of fishing are made without bait, so the catch depends only on the case.
Photo of a successful catch))
Bait fishing for crayfish
What is the best way to catch crabs? The answer is simple - to catch crayfish on a bait that will hold them, after which they are easy to collect with your hands or with a net.
Fishing crayfish
The best fishing method is angling. A fishing line is tied to a stick 1-2 meters long, and a bait is attached to the fishing line. The end of the stick is sharpened and stuck into the bottom or into the coastal slope of the reservoir. The bait is placed in the place where the crayfish live. You can use several fishing rods at the same time, which are located 5 meters apart. The distance between the rods depends on the density of living crayfish in the pond. Usually the nozzle well grafts crustaceans in stagnant water in an area of about 12-14 square meters. m. Fishing rods are checked 3-4 times per hour. A sign of a cancer attack on the bait is the swaying of the tip of the crayfish stick, to which the fishing line is tied. Fishing for crayfish can be quite effective and sometimes 10-13 crayfish are pulled out. If during the evening the catch has dropped significantly, then move the gear to a new place.
Figure 2. Fishing rod for fishing crayfish
When fishing crayfish, no hooks are used, which distinguishes this process from fishing.
And therefore, when checking the fishing rods, the stick is carefully pulled out from the bottom and removed slowly, without jerking, so that the crayfish, clinging to the bait, could not offensively unhook at the very last moment. At the surface of the water, prey is picked up by a net lowered into the water.
Zakidushki and zherlitsy
You can fish for crayfish with the same type of tackle - a snack and a vent. The fishing line in such gear usually has a length of 1.5 meters. A bait is tied to one end of the fishing line, and a float is tied to the other. A sinker is also attached to the vent near the bait.
Figure 3. Zherlitsa
1 - buoy; 2 - sinker.
When catching crayfish with crayfish sticks, a short piece of fishing line is tied to a long stick, and a bait is tied to a fishing line.
The line may or may not be used. The bait in this case is tied directly to the stick. The stick is stuck into the bottom so that the bait remains free to lie on the bottom.
Rachevnya (rakolovka)
The most popular means for catching crayfish is rachevnya. Rachevnya is a cylindrical mesh, which is stretched over a metal round hoop. Hoops are made of wire treated with galvanized coating. The diameter of the hoop is half a meter. 3-4 thin cords are tied to the hoop.
Figure 4. Rachevnya
a - with one hoop; b - with two.
To avoid distortion, the cords should be tied at the same distance between them. The cords are connected by a common knot, into the loop of which a strong cord is inserted so that the tackle can be lowered and raised. The cord is attached to a long stick. The bait is tied to the net, to a stretched cord (according to the diameter of the hoop). The cord can be replaced with a stick, which is also attached to the hoop. The trap sinks to the bottom. You can catch crayfish on crayfish, placing several of them at a distance of 4-9 meters from each other. At the first sign of cancer falling into the trap, the barn rises immediately.
Crayfish catching with a barn will be more effective if you use a barn with two hoops. With this option, the crust, lying on the bottom, develops, and when pulled out, the mesh stretched between the hoops does not allow the cancer to crawl out of the trap.
Nets
In addition to rachev, large nets can be used. The edge of the net is a wooden stick (or a metal rod), to the middle of which a handle is attached. A mesh bag is attached to the hem. The mesh may be spherical or conical in shape. A net is used for catching broad-toed or other crayfish in the dark. The net can be dragged along the bottom from the river bank or from a boat. The bottom of the reservoir, where you want to catch crayfish, in this case should not have stones and branches, as the mesh can easily break.
Catching crayfish
The most common model of mering is domed with a round bottom. Such a lace has a rod for tying the bait and a "collar" made of plastic, birch bark or tin. The diameter of the hoop of the bottom of the treadmill is approximately 40 cm, and the diameter of the neck is 15 cm, the height is 15-30 cm.
The frame for standing framing, in fact one of the types of shells, is made as follows. The lower hoop is connected to the neck hoop with pieces of wire in 4-6 places. In the domed mesh, the rods that bind the hoops are bent inward. In other forms of merging, the rods are straight or slightly curved. On the inside of the neck, a round, necessarily slippery (so that the caught crayfish could not get out), "collar" with a diameter of 10 cm, which can be made of tin, plastic or birch bark, is glued. Many rakolov make the neck removable: after removing it, the crayfish spill out of the netting with ease. The upper part of the neck can be made of mesh, and the "collar" can be transferred to the lower tackle.
To extract the crayfish from the netting, it is turned upside down, and its “collar” leaves at the same time, as a result of which a funnel is formed through which the caught crayfish fall.
Folding hemstitches
Folding laces are very convenient. They are easy to store and transport to the place where you will catch crayfish. They are installed vertically, while the neck is attached to the upper bow. There are no supporting bars of the frame in folding merezhe. The neckline is made of mesh, a wire ring is attached to the bottom edge. When lifting the rope from the reservoir, the ring is pulled out and the neck is straightened. For folding hemstitch, you can use removable "collars".
Figure 5. Merezhi
1 - conical; 2 - domed; 3 - semi-cylindrical; 4 - trihedral; 5 - folding; 6 - wooden; 7 - easy to fit; 8 - improved model.
In order to attach the bait to the standing nets, a twig with a bait is passed across the nets. The twig is attached to the mesh with a split end. Hang the bait on a hook or on a piece of fishing line right in the middle of the netting. The bait either hangs tied to the fishing line (the fishing line is pulled across the neck), or lies, fortified at the bottom of the netting.
A twig with bait can also be attached to the neck in its lower part.
Crayfish are taken out of the merezha through the neck, while the merezha is turned upside down. Also, crayfish can be taken out through a special opening valve.
Lying nets sink to the bottom in a horizontal position. Such merezhi have 1 or 2 necks and an oblong shape. The neck at the railings is located parallel to the bottom of the reservoir. Lying meshes can be cylindrical, semi-cylindrical and trihedral.
Cylindrical meshes
Cylindrical railings are mainly used in reservoirs with crayfish, where there is a rocky uneven bottom. They are placed vertically. Such meshes are made of rods. New models of cylindrical meshes are made of mesh. From the ends of the hemstitch there are necks, the diameter of which is about 10 cm. In order for the hemstitch to be in a straightened form, its necks are connected to each other with 3-4 laces. The laces usually run straight or criss-cross through the lace. The laces also create an additional obstacle for those crayfish that, having already been caught, are trying to get out. The length of the tread is half a meter, the diameter is 20 cm.
The neck of the cylindrical mesh is a narrow slot. The gap is formed due to the laces that are attached to the hoops (the laces are tightened). Crayfish easily fall into a trap, and a cancer can no longer get out of it through a mesh narrow gap.
triangular mesh
The disadvantage of the triangular mesh is that it does not add up. But thanks to the wide and straight edges, such fencing is stacked during transportation and storage. Triangles and supports act as a frame for such a fence. Triangles are made of metal rods or wooden slats. The supports connect the sides of the triangles and, accordingly, there should be three of them. The frame is covered with mesh. The necks of the mesh are located in the middle of the triangles. Merezha height - 20 cm, length - half a meter.
Semi-cylindrical mesh
The frame of a semi-cylindrical mesh is made of 3 semi-circular wooden hoops. These hoops are interconnected by bars. The frame is covered with mesh. This merezha can have 1 or 2 necks. Merezha length - half a meter, height - 25 cm.
To fix the bait in recumbent strings, it is strung on a rod. A twig (or lace) is attached in the middle of the hemstitch and always across. The crayfish bait can also be hung on a wire hook. The hook, in turn, is attached to the support hoop.
The mesh for standing and recumbent meshes must be durable and strong. In addition, it must withstand boiling. The mesh is made of artificial fiber, cotton or linen threads.
Indicators of the most catchy mesh model:
- The frame consists of twigs and wooden sticks (or the lace is made of cotton or linen fiber).
- A mouth in the form of a narrow crack.
- Slippery collar.
- There should be two necks in recumbent hemstitches.
- The bait is tied tight.
- The cells of the grid should be 18-20 mm.
If several fences are used, then they are placed 5 meters apart. On a large fishing area, the nets are interconnected with one long cord. So that the cord does not catch on the unevenness of the bottom, buoys are tied to the cord, between the fringes.
Photo catching crayfish in winter with a crayfish
|
Read the article |
What is the best bait for catching crayfish
The best bait for catching crayfish on crayfish and other devices is fish, frogs and naked. Sometimes snails serve as bait. The best bait is bream, roach, silver bream and other carp fish. The bait is cut along the back to the vertebrae, the meat is turned out. This is necessary so that from the fish, located as bait where the crayfish are, a strong, crayfish-friendly smell emanated. In addition, the bait must be fresh and resilient. Burbot, pike and perch are absolutely not suitable as bait.
Crayfish are found in almost all rivers, and larger specimens live in reservoirs with a sandy bottom. They are very tasty, and they are also used as bait for fishing.
The following types are known:
- thick-fingered;
- narrow-toed (this species has long and narrow claws);
- broad-fingered (has powerful and short claws).
The external structure of crayfish
The body of the arthropod is covered with greenish-brown chitin, which protects the soft parts of the animal. The body consists of a massive cephalothorax and belly, which in males is narrow, and in females - wide. The head of the crayfish is cone-shaped, elongated and ends with a sharp awl. It has movable eyes on both sides. A pair of short antennae acts as organs of touch.
The organs of smell are two long whiskers. The mouth opening is located at the bottom of the head, and at the top it is surrounded by a lip and jaws, which are necessary for the digestion of food. The crayfish has eight pairs of limbs. The front three are short mandibles that help the arthropod feed. The rest - serve for movement, three pairs of them with claws, which are the most important tool. Thanks to them, cancer defends itself or, conversely, attacks the victim.
reproduction
The period of caviar gestation in crayfish is long. Two pairs of anterior abdominal legs participate in reproduction. Fertilized eggs are attached to them. Starting from autumn, the female wears it all winter and spring, and only in June-July does the offspring appear.
Moult
At this time, the chitinous cover is replaced, the gills and digestive organs are updated. Juveniles change their appearance more often than adults. Molting occurs in the summer, when the reservoir warms up. In the first and second years of life of arthropods, it is carried out several times. This process lasts several minutes, usually no more than 15, in an open place. After the change of cover, the arthropod hides in a mink so that the shell hardens and gets stronger.
What do crayfish eat?
Both soft and hard plants are eaten. A favorite delicacy is the rhizome and stalk of reeds, sedges, reeds. During the day, they eat food, the mass of which is equal to 2.5% of the total weight of the arthropod. Crayfish are happy to absorb animal food:
- water worms;
- insect larvae;
- small snails;
- tadpoles;
- small fish.
Arthropod nutrition depends on age. The larvae prefer mainly animal food, which occupies about 80% of the diet. Young growth, which has reached a length of 2 mm, loves chironomids and daphnia. When they reach two years of age, daphnia leave the diet. Crayfish, body length 2 cm, begin to absorb the larvae. In the future, as the growth increases, the use of amphipods increases. They do not swallow their prey, but bite off in small pieces and slowly send it into the oral cavity.
Habitat
For a comfortable stay, crayfish require certain conditions:
- fresh water;
- oxygen concentration should be at least 5 mg per liter of water;
- pH 6.5 and above;
- a sufficient amount of lime in habitats (otherwise, the growth of crayfish is significantly reduced);
- hard rocky bottom with low silt content.
Where do crabs live? River counterparts prefer to live on the borders of hard and soft bottom, in coastal pits or slopes of coastlines at a depth of one and a half to three meters. The best places for permanent housing are captured by large and strong males. Females and weak males live in less adapted conditions. Juveniles - in shallow water near the shore, under snags and stones. Crayfish are hermits and each of them has a shelter in which he hides from his relatives.
Arthropod hunting
Where is the best place to catch crabs? In clean rivers with warm water enriched with oxygen. In some reservoirs, you can catch crayfish at a shallow depth (50 cm), while in others - from two to three meters. In rivers with a clay bottom, they dig holes, about a meter long. And also many shelters are found by arthropods in places with a rocky bottom. In the first month of summer, crayfish with a strong shell can be found on condition of a warm spring. In the case of a cool or cold summer, hunting should be postponed until autumn. Where is it useless to catch crayfish? In shallow water, in reservoirs with a sandy or muddy bottom covered with dense algae.
The best time to fish
In some regions of the country, crayfish fishing is limited or completely prohibited. They cannot be hunted during the period of bearing future offspring. In some areas, the allowable size of cancer is set, after which they can be caught.
A complete ban on these actions exists in the Moscow region and directly in Moscow itself. Therefore, you may not be interested in the question of where crayfish are found in the Moscow region. During the fishing period, no more than three traps or traps with a diameter of 80 cm and a mesh pitch of about 22 mm can be used per person. Hunting by hand by diving or wading is prohibited. For illegal fishing in each region, a fine is provided, the amount of which is different in the regions.
Places where you can find arthropods
Mastering the knowledge of where crayfish are found is a prerequisite for a rich catch. There is an opinion that they live in rivers with stagnant water, as well as in swamps. However, these arthropods prefer clean flowing water bodies with a gentle current.
Each of them has areas that these animals have chosen for permanent residence:
- Coastline with stones. This is the most attractive place where crayfish are found, as they can live near the surface of the earth under the cobblestones. At the bottom of the reservoir, they build burrows and hide in them during the molting period.
- Cliff coast. In cases where the depth in the river varies, and under the coastline it can reach two meters, crayfish settle in these places. A prerequisite is the presence of peat or silt on the bottom surface in the reservoir.
- backwaters with snags- these are places where crayfish are found in large numbers. It is there that you can find quite large specimens.
- Sandy bottom of the reservoir. It is very easy to hunt for crayfish in these places. There are few algae, the bottom is transparent and well visible. Successful hunting awaits everyone in these reservoirs.
- shell rock. The bottom dotted with them and the presence of areas with reeds indicate the presence of crayfish in these places.
- Holes and holes in the ground. In places with steep banks, small holes with a diameter of about five centimeters can be observed. Crayfish live in them.
- Banks in the water. The presence of beer bottles and other containers in the water are places where crayfish are found, they hide in them. When fishing, you should check each of them.
Conditions for a quality catch
- Well ventilated and illuminated pond. In a cloudy and dark environment, crayfish will move very quickly and be difficult to catch. When hunting in such conditions, special traps are placed at noon, which are checked in the morning.
- Certain times of the day. And how to catch crayfish in the summer? In the daytime, arthropods hide and are not active. During this period, you can find those individuals that are not very well hidden, and catch them with your hands. After sunset, crayfish begin to peak activity. This time is considered ideal for setting traps. Some prefer to hunt them at night, using lanterns to search for them. When hunting in the warm season, a rich catch awaits you. In late autumn and winter, crayfish live in their burrows and do not come out until hot days.
Arthropod hunting
How to catch crayfish in the summer or in another period? First you need to find the reservoir in which they live.
- Most of the beaches have places where reeds grow, where, as a rule, people do not swim and do not scare crayfish. Slowly swim along the reeds and carefully inspect the bottom, as they hide perfectly in the reeds.
- Catching crayfish in quiet places with tree roots and snags is a real pleasure, the main thing is to know the bottom. Hunt them, it is necessary resolutely without making sudden movements. In such places, as a rule, large individuals live. They are quite slow and are not difficult for experienced catchers.
- In rivers with a rocky bottom, there are many natural burrows for crayfish, in which they often hide from danger. It is better to grab them by the whiskers than by the claws. Do not stick your hands into the holes, there is a chance of injuring them. There are cases when large stones pressed down the upper limbs of the catchers.
- In reservoirs, where the bottom is strewn with remnants of reeds, as well as river mollusks, crayfish are frequent guests. It is necessary to swim carefully, inspecting the bottom. Be careful, as you can easily injure yourself on shellfish shells.
- The most successful place for both beginners and professionals is the sandy river bottom.
- Catch crayfish in a hole must be very careful. If you find a place where the depth is two to three meters near the shore, then you can see several passages under the water. Live crayfish in such holes are very rare, these holes belong to musky rats. In crayfish, the houses are small, up to five centimeters in height and eight in width, depending on the size of the arthropod.
- Favorite place is broken bottles, in which the whole bottom remains. Most jars and flasks contain crayfish. There are a lot of such containers in almost any reservoirs.
In case you are not interested in independent hunting for cancer, then you can buy it. When choosing, pay attention to the tail. In a living crayfish, it is tightly pressed to the body.
- this is a completely different side of fishing, which not all fishermen can understand, and for some reason many simply ignore it and have never even tried to engage in such fishing. However, those lucky ones who at least once felt the pleasure of catching crayfish remain "crayfish" for life and will never miss the opportunity to catch crayfish if they get into a reservoir where these arthropods even live. For those who don't know how to catch crayfish or wants to increase their knowledge in this matter, this article has been written, thanks to which you will quickly learn the skill of catching these unusual creatures.
Article content:
Catching crayfish with crayfish is the most catchy method of catching them, which is why the article is devoted to a greater extent to catching crayfish in this way. The article is structured in such a way that after reading it, you have as few questions as possible about this type of fishing. If you still have questions, you can ask them in the comments under the article and you will receive an answer in the next 24 hours. We are glad to help you!
- the most common, catchy and convenient type of catching crayfish, which, moreover, is not poaching and is a completely legal way of catching. The main thing is that the number of crayfish per fisherman does not exceed the limit established by the fishing law. This limit may vary by region. Usually you can put from 3 to 10 crayfish per person.
So, let's find out what we need to know for catching crayfish with crayfish and here we have 4 main questions:
- How to fish with crayfish;
- When to catch crayfish;
- Where to catch crayfish;
- Lure for cancer.
How to fish with crayfish
Let's go in order and start with the question of how to catch with crayfish. In fact, this is elementary and even a fisherman who has never encountered catching crayfish and, in general, catching traps can cope with this. There are many different types of crayfish, in principle, they are all effective. You can choose the most effective crayfish already during the fishing trip, because few people catch on one crayfish, and if you catch on several, you can buy different types of crayfish and draw conclusions on the catchability of each of them. If you are making do-it-yourself crayfish, also try different designs and variations.
Once you've chosen a rake, you can proceed directly to fishing. The design of the crayfish is understandable, it is arranged in such a way that the cancer can easily climb into it in search of food, but cannot get out. In order for the cancer to climb into the crayfish, it is necessary to lure it there, for this we lay a bed inside the crayfish. A rope should be tied to the crayfish, if there is none or it is too short, as is often the case, you need to tie a rope of the desired length.
The free end of the rope is tied to a tree, to a stick or to a specially driven peg on the shore. You can also drive a peg by going knee-deep or waist-deep into the water and tie the cradle there. When the crawfish is already equipped with bait and the free end of the rope is securely fastened so that the crab is not lost, you can cast. You can cast directly from the shore, or you can go into the water and install in a specific place, depending on the design of your crayfish. After the casting is done, we give time for the crayfish to find and get to the bait. This can take from half an hour to several hours, everything will depend on the population of crayfish in a particular reservoir. Most often, crayfish are placed at night and they are checked for a catch only in the morning.
When to Catch Crayfish
So we smoothly moved on to the topic of when to catch crayfish. As you already understood, they catch crayfish at night, capturing morning and evening. During the day, crayfish sit in holes and practically do not show activity, but with the onset of evening, crayfish slowly get out of their shelters and scour the pond in search of food. Putting crawfish for the day makes no sense and it will only be a waste of time and bait. And by setting the crayfish with the onset of the evening, you increase your chances of success and after a while you can check the crayfish for the first catch. But still, I would not advise checking the crayfish too often, since you can scare away the bulk of the crayfish that could be trapped in you by your actions. I would advise you not to touch the shell for at least the next 1.5-2 hours.
So, we found out that cancer comes out to hunt at night, and during the day it hides in burrows, under tree roots, in aquatic vegetation, under stones and in any other shelters where you can go unnoticed.
Where to catch crayfish
The next question that interests us is where to catch crayfish. As you know, crayfish live in burrows on steep, steep banks, and naturally there are more of them near such banks. On gently sloping banks, it is much more difficult to meet crayfish. Accordingly, crayfish should also be placed near steep banks. It is not at all necessary to cast the crayfish far, at night the crayfish can crawl very close to the shore and you can catch them literally half a meter from it. In order to determine at what distance from the land there are more crayfish, it is better to arrange the crayfish, respectively, at different distances from the coast.
So we decided where it is better to install the crayfish. I just want to add that if reeds grow nearby, you can put several crayfish closer to it, since crayfish love such places and perhaps there will be more of them. You can find out about crayfish bait by reading an article on the Rybkolov website dedicated to this particular topic, I gave a link to this page above.
Catching crayfish with crayfish video:
Catching crayfish with crayfish from a boat, video:
Now on the market, you can buy everything. Rakovka including. But you can do it yourself. Its principle is simple. The frame is usually cylindrical, but it can be any other, and there are two entrances on both sides of the cylinder (one entrance is possible). These entrances must be made in such a way that the cancer could get inside, but could not get out in any way. You can see more clearly and in detail about how to make a rakolovka with your own hands in the video below.
Video: "How to make a crayfish"
Other ways to catch crayfish
So, you have already learned how to catch crayfish with crayfish, then we will talk about other ways to catch these arthropods. If the reservoir is rich enough in crayfish, then catching them can be quite successful with a bait. And if you have enough fortitude, you can dive and catch crayfish with your hands.
Crayfish fishing
In general, cancer can fall for any bait. Personally, I caught crayfish on corn, and on a dung worm, and on crawling out. However, most of all, crayfish love the missing, maybe slightly rotten fish, you can use it. So, for a cancer bait, you can catch a small fish, dry it in the sun so that it dries a little. You can put it on the hook as you like, even along, even across. In principle, you can do without a hook at all. The crayfish simply clings to the fish with its claws and you can gently pull it out of the water, only without sudden movements. You can use an ordinary stick instead of a rod, and some kind of cord or rope in general instead of a fishing line. On the contrary, you can not refuse the hook, but attach a large tee, so that when the cancer gets to the bait, it has no chance not to catch on the hook.
Catching crayfish with your hands
Catching crayfish with your hands is also a fairly popular way to catch them, which consists in diving and searching for crayfish holes, which are usually located on the steep banks of a reservoir, under water, some crayfish do not dive, but by touch look for crayfish holes on steep banks under water. Having found a hole, one or two fingers are thrust into it and it is determined by touch whether there is cancer there or not. Crayfish sit with their heads towards the exit of the hole, so you must rest your fingers either on his claws or on the spines on the muzzle. Groped? - grab it by the shell with two fingers or the whole five and pull it out.
Cancer can simply crawl along the bottom, or sit there in place. When he notices that you are approaching him, he, as befits cancer, will begin to back away. By the way, in the water, crayfish move quite quickly. So it's important not to lose sight of it. But it’s still easy to catch up with him, because it’s not every day that a crayfish has to run away from a diver in a mask. 🙂
In addition to the classic fishing for pike, perch, crucian, carp or any other fish, many are fond of no less interesting activity - catching crayfish. It is no secret that these animals are found in freshwater reservoirs with clean water and appropriate conditions for burrowing. If you know how and where to catch crayfish, then the next exit to the reservoir will give a good catch.
Habitat and life cycle
Crayfish are particularly demanding when it comes to choosing a habitat. They are not interested in dirty, salty or muddy water. These animals need the same supply of oxygen as the representatives of the salmon family, and their full life cycle is possible only at oxygen values of 5 mg/l for the warm period.
Ordinary river species reproduce freely in light and dark water, provided that its acidity is neutral and does not exceed pH 6.5. If the reservoir is depleted in lime, then the development of the crustacean organism will slow down significantly. Animals are particularly sensitive to water pollution. Despite the ability to survive in various conditions, a significant part of the population is found in clean rivers.
When choosing a place of residence, crayfish prefer areas with a hard and clean bottom, where there is no silt. Terrain with a muddy bottom, near rocky or sandy shores, these animals are not interested. They "like" shelters with a rocky bottom, where they manage to equip a suitable home.
Crayfish burrows are so cramped that they can hardly fit an adult. Such sizes allow crayfish to displace larger representatives of the species, and also protect them from potential danger.
Cancer spends a significant part of its life at a depth of 50 centimeters to three meters. The most convenient points are often captured by adults with impressive body size. Young growth occupies coastal areas with shallow depth, arranging shelters near the coastline.
Given the lifestyle of the animal, it can be called a real hermit. They are uncharacteristic of a family lifestyle, so each representative of the species tries to create its own shelter, not letting close relatives go there. During the day, the crayfish does not come out of its hiding place, preventing other individuals from entering its hole and closing it with its claws. He goes to feed late at night or at dusk. Moreover, if the weather is cloudy, the exit from the dwelling may shift to noon.
Fishing methods
Since ancient times, crayfish have been caught in a variety of ways. By the way, there are historical facts that confirm the catching of these animals in antiquity. Until the Middle Ages, they were of great value and were used for medicinal purposes. It is known that they were burned, and the resulting ashes were used to treat wounds from the bites of a rabid dog, snakes or scorpions. Boiled animals were also eaten, for example, to combat exhaustion.
There is evidence in the historical literature that in Sweden at the royal court already in the 16th century crayfish were considered a special find for culinary purposes. The taste of the meat was highly appreciated by nobles from Finland and other European countries. Representatives of the rural population did not use the "armored beast" for food, but sold it for a minimal fee to noble citizens.
Currently, the inhabitants of Finland are engaged in catching crayfish from July 21 until the end of October. Already in the middle of autumn, the chances of catching trophy specimens are sharply reduced, and in late autumn they are completely absent. In addition, according to local laws, a ban on fishing begins in October.
In turn, the beginning of the season is a good opportunity to get decent crayfish from the water depths. At the same time, the success of such a lesson directly depends on the temperature conditions and the methods used. For example, if the end of May and the beginning of summer are accompanied by warm weather, the water warms up to a comfortable temperature, and the food supply becomes extensive, animals can be especially active. Also at this time, many males and females are already molting, which increases the chances of a good catch.
The chances of catching crayfish in the cold summer are reduced, because insufficient temperature slows down the natural process of molting.
Using a crayfish
For centuries, several basic methods have been used to catch crayfish. Among them:
- Hand fishing.
- Fishing with bottom gear.
- Crayfish fishing.
The latter method is considered the most popular, because it is characterized by a minimum of effort on the part of the catcher and good results regardless of the time of year or weather conditions.
The design of such gear is very simple: it includes a strong wire frame covered with a metal mesh, to which a reliable rope is tied. In the basic configuration, the upper part is slightly narrower than the lower part, and as a result, the crayfish cannot get out of the trap and remain there until a person arrives. It is not difficult to make a good crayfish with your own hands, although most people prefer buying store-bought products.
As for the principle of operation, it is also very simple and understandable even for a beginner. The animal climbs inside the trap, trying to try the bait that is there. Once in such a structure, he can no longer climb back out. If there is a large population of crayfish in the selected reservoir, then the chances of a decent catch will increase significantly. Based on such features, the crayfish can become a very promising tool for catching “armored creatures”.
The right time to "hunt"
In the cold season from mid-autumn to the end of the winter period, these animals do not leave their burrows and remain passive. It is not advisable to go out to catch crayfish on crawfish at this time.
In March or April, a serious catch should not be expected either, because the animals are just beginning to wake up seasonally from hibernation. In May and June, fishing does not bring good results, because the "armored" creatures begin to molt and get rid of the old shell, as well as spawn.
In July, a full-fledged fishing season begins, when the results can be very good. After shedding the old shell, the cancer remains active for a long time. Now his main task is to find a source of food, so with the right approach to choosing a bait, the result of fishing can exceed all expectations.
Baits and Lures
The biological description of the animal mentions its predilection for clean, flowing water bodies with an abundance of places for arranging shelters. To understand where to catch crayfish, you need to pay attention to the main features of their behavior and life cycle. Animal is currently widespread in the following places:
- Ponds.
- Clear lakes.
- Calm rivers.
Equipping shelters, crayfish prefer areas with a rocky bottom, where it is possible to reliably hide from possible dangers. The main share of the crustacean diet is occupied by food of animal origin, or rather, dead carrion. The smell of such prey attracts him in a special way. At the same time, the opinion that cancer feeds on decomposed fish or animals is erroneous. He will try to find fresher food.
But in order to arouse the animal's interest in the bait and provoke it to swim into the crayfish, it is necessary to slightly incise the carcass of the fish and rub the walls of the metal structure with it. As a result, this will give the latter a special smell and attract crayfish from a long distance. Often the bait is flavored with Borodino bread with garlic. The last ingredient is of incredible interest to creatures.
As bait to be placed in the trap, you can use:
- Fish meat.
- Animal meat.
- Frog.
- Insects.
As for the freshness of the bait, many people disagree on this issue. Someone argues that rotten-smelling foods attract crayfish better than fresh ones, while someone takes a completely opposite position.
In any case, there is no definite answer, because everything depends on the preferences of prey in a particular reservoir at a certain time of the year. If the food base of crayfish is extensive, then they are unlikely to react to rotten meat. If the diet is limited, then the animals will not be particularly picky.
A good bait can be a mollusk that lives in a local reservoir.
Seasonal features of luring
Depending on the time of year, the baits used should differ from each other. For example, in the spring, fish meat is well suited, or rather, fresh fillet or a small fish that is cut in several places and emits a special smell. An excellent bait will be ordinary crucian carp, gobies or other small fish. You can catch it with your own hands or buy it frozen. Before applying the bait, it must be brought to the appropriate state until the aroma appears.
In summer, it is difficult to attract crayfish with anything, because during this period the range of food is so diverse that animals begin to fatten. To increase the chances of a decent catch, it is necessary to use animal or poultry meat, offal, and any other ingredients with an intense smell as bait. The purchased product is pre-aged for some time under the scorching sun.
To catch a large number of crayfish, it is not necessary to put a lot of fish in the crayfish. 1-2 small individuals will be quite enough, because the goal is not to feed the crayfish, but to lure them to the smell of food.
At the same time, in addition to carrion, any living creature living in the reservoir is also used. It can be snails, small frogs and other creatures.
After choosing the right bait, it must be properly prepared and presented. Otherwise, the expected effect will remain in dreams. If the option is used in the form of a cut dead fry, then it must also be cleaned of offal with an air bubble and scales. Such actions significantly increase the chances of productive crayfish fishing.
When using meat products from the offal set, you do not need to cut them, because a specific smell is present initially. To avoid premature eating of the ingredients used, it is better to wrap them with gauze or a rag.
As for the suitable type of crayfish, you can choose any of two types:
- Open. They are considered the simplest designs that are easily made from improvised means. Even a beginner can create an open shell without spending a lot of time on it. It consists of a round or square frame and a metal mesh, reminiscent of a colander.
- Closed. Such traps are effective in a wide variety of conditions, but the manufacturing process takes much longer than in the previous case.
Catching crayfish on crayfish is really interesting. But the process will bring the expected success only if important subtleties, rules and recommendations are taken into account even before entering the reservoir.
Crayfish live in rivers, lakes, ponds, under the obligatory condition - clean water.
crayfish habitat
It is necessary to pay attention to steep banks up to 3 meters. Deeper crayfish are almost never found. Also reservoirs with a rocky bottom, with separate large boulders, snarled banks with a sticky or muddy bottom. Rarely, crayfish are found on the sandy bottom.
Crayfish are nocturnal. After sunset, they crawl out of their holes and hunt until about 3 am, less often all night. The rest of the time, crayfish sit at the base of their hole with claws facing forward, guarding their home from the encroachment of their brethren.
Crayfish eat insect larvae, dead fish, toads, pythons, but 50% of the diet consists of aquatic vegetation.
Methods for catching crayfish in the summer. How to catch crayfish?
Method one- simplest. Hand fishing. Along the cliff, you need to explore the corner of the bottom and the cliff in search of holes. Sensing danger, the cancer instantly crawls deep into the hole, which can be up to 1 meter long.
The hand must be inserted into the hole carefully so as not to prick on the claws or the hard base of the head.
If the length of the arm is not enough, then you need to put a stick in there and the crayfish will grab it with its claws. After that, slowly pull it out and intercept it by the shell at the base of the hole.
The same thing happens around large waves. They are surveyed around in search of holes.
There are several disadvantages in this method - even in warm water you cannot stay for more than an hour. And then you get hypothermia - you need a wetsuit like for underwater fishing.
If you catch crayfish in the summer at a depth of 1.5 -2 meters on a sandy bottom, you need a snorkel and a mask.
And the last most unpleasant thing is that the fingers get wet and scratches remain when the claws bite. The claw of cancer has curved points that can scratch to the point of blood.
When diving in crooked places, you definitely need someone to come to the rescue in case your hand gets stuck, etc.
And a partner is also needed in order to carry the prey, which greatly interferes with the swimmer.
The second way to catch crayfish in the summer- after sunset, crayfish crawl out into shallow water, even ashore. For such fishing, you need a flashlight, a stag from any stick on the shore. If the cancer notices danger, then with the help of the tail it will quickly swim away to shelter or grass.
Therefore, it is carefully squeezed with a horn to the bottom and then taken with hands.
The third way to catch crayfish in the summer is a crayfish. This primitive tool for catching crayfish is very effective. And you don't have to soak in water for a long time. A metal or thick wire fixed in a hoop is covered with a sagging mesh.
Soil is laid inside - stone, pebbles, etc. and tie the bait. Pieces of fish (heads, intestines - fishing waste) can act as bait. Frogs with a cut skin and other living creatures of this reservoir.
Garlic bread also lures crayfish well. Garlic is crushed together with the peel and placed inside the crumb - this is wrapped in gauze or nylon stocking or any other holey material. So that the bread does not become sour and float away.
Also tied in the middle of the shell.
The hoop itself is tied crosswise with two slings of large fishing line, nylon thread, etc.
Also, what would the crosshair be at a distance of 0.5 meters from the hoop. The main rope or fishing line is attached to this crosshair. A stick or float is attached to this rope - polystyrene foam, a plastic bottle.
A stick is used for fishing from the shore and a float for fishing from a boat. You need enough rope so that the hoop lies on the bottom.
Such fishing is very productive if you use 10-15 crayfish placed at a distance of no closer than 10 meters. And check every half hour, if there is no boat, then the crayfish with floats are thrown along the coast in such a way that it would be possible to hook the horn on the float and immediately pull out the crayfish horizontally.
At the same time, you should try not to make noise, if the cancer hears a knock, a light, it will simply float away.
There is another ancient fishing tool - the top. Three four hoops braided with a willow manhole like a barrel, with a gap as thick as a finger.
The quadruple ring is woven about a quarter of the length at an angle of 45 degrees. forming a so-called pocket. The bait is tied in the middle so that the cancer claw does not reach the bait through the cell. They also tie two circles so that the top lies on its side - this is a prerequisite.
The top is usually up to 1 meter long and half a meter in diameter - a very catchy tackle. And during the night she can catch up to a bucket of crayfish and small fish.
The essence of the top is that crayfish go for bait into a small hole like a ramp, and once inside they cannot get out, falling into a pocket. Modern tops are made of nylon mesh, but the design must be rigid and the top does not fold like an accordion.
Vershu does not have to be checked every half hour, you can put it on all night.
