Homemade baits or highly odorous food scraps
Various baits can be used to catch crayfish: pieces of fresh fish (sardines, herring, pieces of white fish), pieces of meat (liver, tripe), mussel meat or other shellfish...
These baits are placed in scales, pots or traps at the bottom of the water. Their strong odour quickly attracts crayfish, which feed on them within minutes.
To maximize your catch, opt for meaty, fragrant and hard-wearing baits, sometimes combining natural baits with crayfish-specific croquettes.
Crayfish fishing with croquettes
Use dog food, preferably round with a hole in the center for easy attachment to the scale or trap. Kibbles are highly appreciated by crayfish anglers for their attractiveness and low cost.
Simply thread one or two croquettes onto a safety pin or wire attached to the center of the crayfish scale. You can also form a string of croquettes by threading them one after the other. Then, using a forked hard-on or a stick, carefully place the baited scale on the bottom of the water, making sure it lies flat.
Crayfish, with their excellent sense of smell, are quickly attracted by the scent of the kibble. Generally speaking, you only need to wait between 5 and 10 minutes for the first crayfish to enter the scale and start eating the bait. We strongly advise you to lift the scales every 10 minutes or so to retrieve any crayfish caught, and then replace the croquettes to continue fishing.
Also, space your scales well to cover a wider area and maximize the catch. Use a long, straight pole to lift the scales vertically, so as not to lose any crayfish.
The croquettes are easy to store, making them a practical and economical bait.
Dog food is a simple, effective and economical bait for crayfish fishing, particularly suited to scale fishing. They quickly attract crayfish thanks to their scent, hold well on the hook or pin, and enable short, productive fishing sessions.
