Naturally unmasked - Successful fishing with crayfish
The protein-rich crustaceans have long been part of the diet of local predators. Fishing for zander, perch and pike with crayfish imitations is more popular than ever. The slow movement pattern and high protein content make crayfish the perfect fall and winter snack. Find out everything you need to know about fishing with crayfish and which lures we can offer you now!
The signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is an introduced species from North America that can endanger our native crayfish species.
Invasive species
Crayfish are found in almost all European waters. The native crayfish is currently being displaced by invasive species from America and Asia. The introduced species (neozoa) such as the camber crayfish are extremely voracious and carriers of diseases such as crayfish plague. At this point, we would like to appeal to everyone not to release any aquarium animals into the wild!
Fishing techniques
Crayfish often crawl slowly along the bottom of the water. If they feel threatened, they can make a big leap under water with a flick of their tail. Common finesse rigs are ideal for offering crayfish as close to their natural state as possible. Especially in the winter months, extremely slow crayfish with short, powerful jigs and longer resting phases in which the bait remains on the bottom are often the key to success.
Choice of bait
All crayfish imitations from SPRO are part of the Scent Series, i.e. they are equipped with the Instant Trigger Formula (ITF), an odorant that allows predators to keep the bait in their mouths for longer. The Insta Claw and Insta Craw are made of soft material and are ideal for Carolina, Texas, dropshot rigs or jigging from the bank or boat. In lengths from 2.6'' (6.5cm) to 3.5'' (9cm) and 12 appetizing designs, there is something for every body of water. New to the range this year is the Insta Hog 90. The wide but flat body profile has a super-flexible body, which reduces your miss-bite rate many times over. All models in the Insta series are made from a buoyant rubber compound. This delays the sinking phase and the crustaceans are directed upwards after hitting the bottom, which makes it easier for the predators to suck them in and imitates the natural defensive behavior of the crustaceans.
Bait color
The natural color spectrum of crabs in our latitudes ranges from light brown to mocha to light red and blue tones. They also adapt their shell coloration to their natural habitat, regardless of their species.
Crabs that live in clear waters are particularly dependent on good camouflage. You will therefore find somewhat paler crayfish in gravel pits and sandy lakes than in waters with murky water and a dark substrate. To make the rubber crayfish stand out from the bottom, you should opt for a dark pattern. This makes the bait stand out more under water and is easier for predators to see from a distance. Conversely, if you are fishing in murky water with a dark bottom, you should choose a light color pattern.
We wish you lots of fun and success trying them out
Your SPRO Team
Most important products of the blog
Insta Craw
Insta Claw
