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Why is summer the prime season for crayfish?
From June through September, water temperatures often exceed 15 °C, the threshold at which crayfish become significantly more active and voracious. Their metabolism speeds up, they hunt more, and they move around more, making them easier to attract with bait. Crayfish are primarily nocturnal and take advantage of summer evenings to hunt and feed, from dusk until the middle of the night.
Spring, often marked by the breeding season, gives way in summer to a period of heavy feeding, making crustaceans more receptive to bait. Finally, lower and more stable water levels make it easier to access the banks, riprap, and sheltered areas where they hide, making prospecting simpler and more effective.
On the Scales: The Star Technique of the Summer
Fishing with a dip net remains the most common and effective method for catching crayfish in the summer. It requires simple equipment: 1 to 6 traps with a maximum diameter of 30 cm and a mesh size of at least 10 mm, a pole or a forked stick, and a strong-smelling bait. The most effective baits are liver, offal, pieces of fish, sardines, or even dog kibble with holes poked in them. The idea is that the bait gives off a strong odor to attract crayfish from a distance.
Choose typical spots: gently sloping banks, under rocks, roots, submerged branches, riprap, and calm areas of streams and small rivers. Bait the trap, place it flat on the bottom, wait 5 to 15 minutes, then lift it quickly and vertically to trap the crayfish before they escape. In the summer, fish during twilight and at night; set out several traps spaced a few meters apart and lift them every 10 minutes to maximize your catch. This technique is simple, fun, and very productive when conditions are right.
Fishing with traps and by hand: some interesting alternatives
Fishing with a trap is another option, provided it is permitted in your department. It consists of a cylindrical wire mesh trap with a funnel; the crayfish are lured in by the bait and cannot escape. Set the trap in the evening in shallow, sheltered areas, and retrieve it in the morning. Always check local regulations, as the use of traps is sometimes restricted.
For a more fun and hands-on approach, hand fishing is ideal in clear, shallow streams. Gently lift the rocks and grasp the crayfish firmly by the back of its thorax, just behind the claws. You can also use a small bucket and a stick to coax it backward into the bucket, since crayfish swim backward. Wear gloves if necessary, as the claws of some species, such as the signal crayfish, can pinch hard.
Baits and Tips for Maximizing Your Catch
Scented baits are the key to success: liver, offal, pieces of fish, sardines, and dog kibble. The goal is for the bait to give off a strong scent to attract crayfish from a distance. Aim for late afternoon and early evening, as that?s when activity is at its peak. Approach quietly, avoid casting sudden shadows on the water, and handle the scales smoothly when reeling in to avoid scaring the crayfish.
Regulations: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Regulations are strict and vary by department. Fishing for native crayfish (white-clawed, slender-clawed, and stream crayfish) is prohibited. Only fishing for non-native species (American, Louisiana, signal, etc.) is generally permitted, and you are required not to release them back into the water alive.
In Category 1, fishing is often open from the second Saturday in March to the third Sunday in September. In Category 2, it may be open year-round, but prefectural ordinances vary. Equipment is limited to 6 traps with a diameter of 30 cm and a mesh size of ? 10 mm; trap fishing may be prohibited in certain areas. After catching non-native crayfish, you must kill them by removing the telson (central portion of the tail) to prevent any spread.
Summer combines warm weather, nighttime activity, and easily accessible fishing spots: it?s the ideal season for a successful, simple, and fun crayfish fishing trip?as long as you choose the right times, use the right bait, and follow local regulations.
