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Collecting crayfish

Started by Guest_Gambusia_* , Jun 13 2008 05:13 PM

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15 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 13 June 2008 - 05:13 PM

What is your favorite method of collecting crays in low density waters?

Thanks

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#2 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 13 June 2008 - 05:16 PM

What kind of waters? In riffles, kick-netting works well. In deeper waters, crawfish traps or minnow traps baited with dry cat food work.

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#3 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 13 June 2008 - 05:23 PM

The crayfish numbers are in low density? If that is the case I would expend your effort trapping. Like Nathan said, the habitat also dictates how you collect. In slower, deeper water dragging a seine upstream slowly also works but you have to deal with snagging or ripping it. My crayfish seines are either scrap netttings with a ton of patches or I pay for the green vinyl coating.

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#4 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 13 June 2008 - 05:29 PM

Thanks

Yeah low density riffles.

Your lucky to find a handful of crayfish in a day on this stream.

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#5 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 13 June 2008 - 05:43 PM

Is it important they be from this stream? Seems to me the population in that stream doesn't need any more trouble if they're so rare already, and you can surely find a higher-density population nearby.

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#6 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 13 June 2008 - 07:21 PM

If they are in 'low densities' you may not be looking for them in the right place. The bigger the rocks the better for alot of stream dwelling species.

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#7 Guest_critterguy_*

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Posted 14 June 2008 - 02:45 PM

What is your favorite method of collecting crays in low density waters?

Thanks

Flip and grab. In low densities...
flip flip flip flip flip flip flip...grab!

Edited by critterguy, 14 June 2008 - 02:46 PM.

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#8 Guest_AppStateBimmer_*

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Posted 15 June 2008 - 11:30 PM

I just spot them and grab them. Always works. No need for a net really

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#9 Guest_pes142_*

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Posted 16 June 2008 - 09:42 AM

Whenever i catch crays, it is by accident in my seine. When i was little though, i used to flip rocks and grab them no problem.

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#10 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 16 June 2008 - 10:34 AM

That is what I normally do but I thought maybe something else was better.

When I was little we used to collect crayfish abundantly in streams in PA.

Lot more fertile water I guess.

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#11 Guest_pes142_*

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Posted 16 June 2008 - 02:31 PM

PA still has a ton of crayfish, at least in my area. I haven't taken any pictures of them, maybe my next trip out i will take some, and try to find out what is in my area.

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#12 Guest_diburning_*

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Posted 17 June 2008 - 09:48 PM

well, I flip and net because the substrate is infested with E coli and Fecal Coliform :grin:

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#13 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 17 June 2008 - 10:50 PM

well, I flip and net because the substrate is infested with E coli and Fecal Coliform

So, what's the problem - you don't lick your hands, do you? [-X

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#14 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 18 June 2008 - 11:12 PM

I was out today looking and no dice at the spots I surveyed.

Did find two dragon fly nymphs and mayfllies

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#15 Guest_critterguy_*

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Posted 18 June 2008 - 11:50 PM

I've been to places where I can't find crayfish. So I just assume they aren't there at the moment.

Maybe a modified minnow trap or another baiting method would be appropriate. In a stream the current should carry the smell to any crayfish downstream that are hungry enough.

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#16 Guest_JohnO_*

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Posted 12 July 2008 - 08:26 AM

Never know what you'll find. The creek that cuts through my farm is jam packed with them, enough to open a cajun restaurant. Typical swipe with a pool net will get maybe one darter and about six or seven craws. So I can't tell you how to catch them when they're scarce. For me, it's more a question of how to not catch them when they aren't scarce.

OTOH, I found a stream in the Red River Gorge that yielded three varieties of darters, and no craws.