Many people in childhood loved to catch crayfish with their bare hands, but few of them thought that this should not be done. Below in the article various negative aspects of this activity will be discussed.

Why can't you catch crayfish? Legitimate side

In summer and autumn, there is a ban on catching crayfish, because it is during this period that they begin to molt. This ban is in effect due to the fact that at the beginning of summer, a new shell is formed and strengthened by the crayfish, and this activity takes a whole month and a half.

For violations and catching crayfish, citizens face administrative liability in the form of a system of fines, which can cost a lot of money.

In addition to all that has been said, citizens who violate the law will have to pay an administrative fine, and along with it also monetary compensation established by law for each river resident caught.

Catching the long-awaited delicacy will be possible only after the end of the ban, with minor conditions. No more than 30 fish are allowed per citizen. However, the ban applies to catching crayfish at night using light and any luminous objects.

After all, for crayfish, light is one of the bait options. That is why many companies, sitting around the fire, could see cancer crawling out of the thick of the water and crawling towards its glare in the dark.

Also, you cannot use more than three special devices, namely crayfish traps.

A fish catcher is a special device for catching river inhabitants using a mesh square or a circle similar to a cage for anglers who have several entrances. As a standard, this trap has two entrances.

If, nevertheless, a citizen wanted to catch a river delicacy within the period prescribed by law, then one resident should have no more than 2 kilograms of crayfish per day. A large mass of crayfish will be considered a violation of the law, and therefore an administrative offense may be charged to the citizen.

If citizens are concerned about the legal side of the issue regarding fishing, it is best for them to become familiar with the laws by asking a representative of the administration water resources in your region. After all, each region has its own restrictions and prohibitions. You can also inquire about the system of fines and permits.

Methods of catching crayfish

Fishing with a rod

To fish with a fishing rod, take a stick or a block with a pointed end. A rope or fishing line is attached to one side of the device, from which the bait hangs. And on the other there is a rope that holds the stick. The trick is that the bait is placed in a cover, which will not allow the crayfish to get to the desired prey. That is, while the crayfish is trying to feast, all you have to do is raise the fishing rod and the catch will be on your hook.

The most common method of catching shellfish. The bait is placed in the center of the crayfish, in some cases with a weighting agent on the bottom. The cancer has climbed into the crayfish trap and will try to feast on the bait, and it is at this time that the trap will need to be raised or closed.

Hand catching

Catching crayfish by hand is one of the most ancient ways of catching crayfish. Fishing is done with bare hands using a mask, and in some cases, for convenience, they swim with fins. While holding his breath, the swimmer dives to the desired depth and examines the bottom. The aquatic hunter especially carefully examines various snags, long stones, holes and crevices. Most often crayfish can be seen on sandy and rocky reservoirs.

Thus, whether to catch or not to catch residents of water bodies is the choice of every citizen. But if he nevertheless decides to fish during the prohibited period, he should be prepared for a list of administrative fines.

Anyone can catch fish, but what about catching crayfish? Where and how to catch crayfish and show off to your friends and bring home this unusual delicacy? We will analyze all possible methods and give the best guide to catching crayfish on the Internet, and also mention the ban on catching crayfish.

Where to look for crayfish

Cancer cannot resist powerful currents, so it lives in rivers with weak currents, or in reservoirs with standing water – ponds, lakes, small streams. The cleaner the pond, the clearer the water, the more chances you have of finding crayfish, because... It is in such reservoirs that there is a greater amount of oxygen in the water column, and this cannot but attract it. The advantage of such a reservoir is that it will be easier for you to spot crayfish in crystal clear water.

Crayfish love to live near rocky bottoms, preferring clay bottoms, because it is in them that the crayfish can huddle and dig holes. We do not recommend looking for crayfish on a hard sandy or muddy bottom, especially if it is infested with algae.

Crayfish can also be found in abruptly breaking banks, in such places it is best to dig those very holes. Mostly small individuals live near the shore, while large ones are found deeper and in more secretive parts of the reservoir. Accordingly, the further the tackle or crayfish is thrown, the greater the chance of catching a large or trophy specimen.

They catch crayfish in the evening, after sunset and until the morning. But with great luck, you can catch crayfish during the day, when some individuals may “lose fear” from hunger strike.

Before you go fishing for crayfish, remember that in all regions of Russia there are bans on catching crayfish in certain time. For example, in Moscow and Moscow Region you cannot catch crayfish at any time.

Catching crayfish using a crayfish trap

We already have it, but we’ll still look at it again.

Types of crayfish

Depending on the fishing conditions and the preferences of the fisherman himself, the types of crayfish are selected. Which one to choose depends on the situation and the expected catch, but any of the crayfish traps should be used at a depth of 1.5-2 meters.

Open type

They are an extremely simple design that you can also make yourself. As a rule, when opened, it is a ball or cone that is attached to a stick pointed at the end and stuck into the bottom. An alternative option is to attach a weight to the bottom of the cage that is heavy enough to prevent it from being washed away by the current. Well, of course, a strong rope is tied to each crayfish trap to easily remove the structure back from the water.

Closed type or night light

Closed crayfish, also known as nightlights, generally provide the best results for crayfish fishing. There are several types of such crayfish traps, their design is much more complex than open-type traps, but they are all made of an aluminum or steel frame. Dimensions: bottom 30-55 cm, upper part 1.5-2 times narrower, that is, 15-25 cm. The height of such traps can reach 25 cm. The hole for the “entry” of the crayfish should be at least 8 cm.

There are also such types of “night lights” as gobies. They can be cylindrical or rectangular. They have more pharynx windows, but the principle remains the same. Large dimensions are a disadvantage of such crayfish traps, since they are difficult to transport and use in very small bodies of water. Sinkers are placed inside - stones are best suited. In the center is the bait.

Trick: if the trap slams shut in the water, tie a rope to the edges of the windows, from which there will be a strong float that will keep the trap doors open. You can measure the depth with a marker float or a coastal wireless echo sounder.

Such traps are checked 3-4 times during the entire fishing period, or every 1-2 hours.

Video on catching crayfish using a crayfish trap:

What to use as bait

Some claim that crayfish are attracted to rotten, stale bait, but this contradicts even common sense; fresh food fibers are better absorbed by crayfish, while rotten food can harm it. Yes, the crayfish will easily smell the smell of such bait, but it will “bite” on it quite reluctantly, if at all, because it may not be so hungry. Therefore, let’s consolidate and destroy stereotypes - the fresher the bait, the more willingly the cancer will bite on it.

It is worth attracting cancer with fresh pieces of fish, rolled, pressed balls of bread; garlic, worms, frogs, cake, peas, corn, meat of birds or small animals, shellfish, large insects, larvae, elodea are also suitable. Crayfish is quite omnivorous, but there is one rule: in spring (April, May) and summer (June, July, August, September) it is more inclined to choose plant baits, while in winter (December, January, February, March) and autumn ( October, November) – animals. But this does not mean that, for example, in May you cannot catch a perch, skin it and catch a good crayfish.

Place the bait in the core of the trap in large pieces so that it does not leak and fall into the pond.

Catching crayfish with your hands or a net

The main condition for such fishing is maximum pure water. The place is fed with chopped fish, lying under the sun for 1-2 hours, this is enough for the smell emanating from the bait to attract crayfish. When fishing with a net, as well as with your hands, you should avoid sudden movements and wear gloves. You can try to find their burrows, in which other individuals will be hiding.

Such a catch can be carried out both from the shore and from a boat. At night, it would be wise to take a flashlight and illuminate the water while moving along the shore. You should look for them near snags, between stones and in burrows. In some cases, crayfish even come to land. They are attracted to light, so divorced on the shore a fire can stimulate their foray onto land.

Ostrogoy

A spear is a long spear or pole, at the end of which there are several points, on which, in fact, the crayfish are mounted. The fishing method is the same as catching with your hands. 2-3 hours after sunset, walk along the shore with a flashlight and look for individuals. Until the last moment, behave as discreetly and carefully as possible.

Catching crayfish with tackle (rod)

The tackle requires a stake. It is stuck into the ground, sometimes at an angle. From the stake comes a fishing line with a peculiar equipment. The equipment is a container tied with nylon stockings or mesh (for greater grip). Bait is placed in the container itself - the same bread, garlic or pieces of fish. A weight is also placed on the bottom so that the tackle does not float or “wander” along the bottom. At the moment of “biting,” the crayfish grabs the nylon with its claws and gets hooked. At this moment, you need to slowly lift the tackle. For greater effect, you can wait for other individuals to come together.

Crayfish are also caught using feeder feeders and many hooks. The tackle is non-standard, but interesting. More hooks mean a greater chance of catching crayfish. The feeder is connected using a swivel.

How to keep crayfish fresh

If you catch a crayfish almost immediately, and intend to spend a lot of time fishing, the question arises of how to store the crayfish so that it remains fresh and alive until the end of fishing.

If you catch crayfish in the summer, then protect the caught trophy from direct sunlight, the crayfish will quickly fry and dry out in the sun, and may even die. It is best to store it directly in water, in a closed structure, from which the cancer cannot get out and escape. If this is not an option and there is no container, then place it in the shade and occasionally rinse with water.

If you catch crayfish in winter, there is a chance that they will freeze to death, despite the fact that crayfish are cold-blooded animals. The best option will leave the crayfish in the water, in a structure from which it cannot escape, or place it in a place that barely exceeds the temperature of 1-2 degrees Celsius.

• Go fishing in the evening; the deeper the night, the more crayfish come to land;
• Don't forget your gloves, don't underestimate crayfish;
• Remember that there is a ban on catching crayfish during the spawning season (early May);
• If the crayfish clings to something, then lower its tail into the water. Having felt it, he will unhook.

Crayfish are almost caught all year round. But it is believed that they can only be harvested productively in summer and early autumn. Although this, to put it mildly, is not entirely true. In the literature about crayfish, you can find the statement that those caught in months that do not have the letter “P” in their names are “May, June, July, August.” This, of course, is a complete profanation of the question. After all, crayfish were still caught long before the advent of writing...

But this is true, by the way. Catching crayfish itself has several “secrets”. They say that crayfish are more willing to come to catchers before rain or thunderstorms, especially in the late afternoon. Although this is also far from the truth. Like any living creature, first of all, hunger drives crayfish out of their holes to hunt. By nature, cancer is a nocturnal predator. Therefore, the most suitable period for fishing is from 10 pm to 3 am. There are reservoirs where crayfish go out to fish early in the morning.

To increase the night catch, they lay out a large fire or several small ones on the shore of the reservoir (when fishing from the shore) or take an electric torch with them in the boat (if they are fishing far from the shore). Oddly enough, crayfish really love such illumination and are quite good at attracting bait if you “flirt” with them with bright light. And crayfish that have just acquired a new shell are generally easy to catch. At this time they are hungry and go for any bait. Even during the day.

It is worth paying attention to the recommendations related to the display of gear. In silted water, which does not allow enough light to pass through, gear can be placed in the early evening. The word tackle means a crayfish trap into which a piece of rotten meat is placed, big fish. Those who are not squeamish can use a dead dog, cat or chicken as bait. This is how villagers used to catch crayfish. The gear is placed in clear water after dark. As a rule, closer to midnight, the activity of crayfish weakens. Good catches can be obtained in rainy weather, as well as on warm and dark nights. During a thunderstorm, as well as during a full moon (except in late autumn), the catch is much worse.

Our ancestors caught crayfish with their hands. More often to the master's table. Back then the ponds and streams belonged to the landowners. This, by the way, is the origin of the saying “I’ll show you where the crayfish spend the winter!” So in winter, a master could scold a serf (who dared not do something) and then, as punishment, send him to the river to get crayfish. Of course, with diving into an ice hole. Although, it is true, smart men knew how to catch crayfish directly from the ice, they wound underwater mud and algae on a pole. The catches were quite good...

But in the summer, catching crayfish with your hands is an exciting activity for both children and adults. They still catch people like that today. Carefully probe the coastal burrows with your hands (be careful, crayfish are very nibble), where crayfish most often hole up during the day. You can “feel” for crayfish among stones or snags, under tree trunks lying in the water. Whatever you say, catching crayfish is an exciting hunt!

Igor Poloz

Crayfish are found in almost all rivers, and larger specimens live in reservoirs with a sandy bottom. They are very tasty and 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).

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 abdomen, which in males is narrow, and in females it is 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 act as organs of touch.

The olfactory organs are two long whiskers. The mouth opening is located at the bottom of the head, and at the top it is surrounded by the lip and jaws, which are necessary for digesting food. Crayfish have eight pairs of limbs. The front three are short jaws that help the arthropod feed. The rest are used for movement, three pairs of them with claws, which are the most important weapon. Thanks to them, the cancer defends itself or, conversely, attacks the victim.

Reproduction

The gestation period for crayfish eggs is long. Two pairs of anterior abdominal legs participate in reproduction. Fertilized eggs are attached to them. Starting in autumn, the female wears it all winter and spring, and only in June-July does the offspring appear.

Shedding

At this time, the chitinous cover is replaced, the gills and digestive organs are renewed. Young animals change their appearance more often than adults. Molting occurs in the summer, when the pond warms up. In the first and second years of arthropod life, it is carried out several times. This process lasts several minutes, usually no more than 15, in an open place. After changing the cover, the arthropod hides in a hole so that the shell hardens and becomes stronger.

What do crayfish eat?

Both soft and hard plants are eaten. A favorite delicacy is the rhizome and stem of reeds, sedges, and reeds. During the day they eat food, the weight of which is equal to 2.5% of the total weight of the arthropod. Crayfish also happily consume animal food:

• water worms;
• insect larvae;
• small snails;
• tadpoles;
• small fish.

The nutrition of arthropods depends on age. The larvae prefer mainly animal food, which accounts for about 80% of the diet. The young, which reach a length of 2 mm, love chironomids and daphnia. When they reach two years of age, daphnia leave the diet. Crayfish, 2 cm long, begin to consume the larvae. In the future, as they grow, the consumption of amphipods increases. They do not swallow their prey, but bite it off in small pieces and slowly send it into the oral cavity.

Habitat

For comfortable stay crayfish require certain conditions:

• fresh water body;
• oxygen concentration must be at least 5 mg per liter of water;
• pH 6.5 and higher;
• a sufficient amount of lime in habitats (otherwise the growth of crayfish is significantly reduced);
• hard rocky bottom with low silt content.

Where do crayfish live? River brethren prefer to live on the boundaries of hard and soft bottoms, in coastal holes or slopes of coastlines at a depth of one and a half to three meters. Best places Large and strong males are captured for permanent housing. Females and weak males live in less adapted conditions. Young animals are in shallow water near the shore, under snags and stones. Crayfish are hermits and each of them has a shelter in which it hides from its relatives.

Hunting for arthropods

Where is the best place to catch crayfish? In clean rivers with warm water, enriched with oxygen. In some reservoirs you can catch crayfish at a shallow depth (50 cm), and in others - from two to three meters. In rivers with a clay bottom, they dig holes about a meter long. Arthropods also find many shelters in places with a rocky bottom. In the first month of summer, crayfish with a strong shell can be found if the spring is warm. In case of 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 thick algae.

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 they install permissible size cancer, upon reaching which they can be caught.

A complete ban on these actions exists in the Moscow region and directly in Moscow itself. Therefore, you don’t have to be interested in the question of where crayfish are found in the Moscow region. During the fishing period, no more than three traps or crayfish traps with a diameter of 80 cm and a cell 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 there is a fine, the amount of which varies in 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 standing water, as well as in swamps. However, these arthropods prefer clean flowing water bodies with gentle currents.

In each of them there are areas that these animals have chosen for permanent residence:

1. Coastline with stones. This is the most attractive place for crayfish to be found, as they can live near the surface of the earth under cobblestones. They build burrows at the bottom of the reservoir and hide in them during the molting period.
2. Coast with cliffs. In cases where the depth in the river varies, and under coastline can reach two meters; crayfish live in these places. A prerequisite is the presence of peat or silt on the bottom surface of the reservoir.
3. Backwaters with snags- these are the places where crayfish are found large quantities. It is there that you can find quite large specimens.
4. Sandy bottom of the reservoir. In these places, hunting crayfish is very easy. There is little algae, the bottom is transparent and clearly visible. A successful hunt awaits everyone in these bodies of water.
5. Shell rock. The bottom dotted with them and the presence of areas with reeds indicate the presence of crayfish in these places.
6. 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.
7. Banks in 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 quality catch

• Well ventilated and illuminated pond. In a murky and dark environment, crayfish will move very quickly and be difficult to catch. When hunting in such conditions, special traps are set at noon and checked in the morning.
• A certain time of day. How to catch crayfish in the summer? During 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 in activity. This time is considered ideal for setting traps. Some prefer to hunt them at night, using flashlights to search for them. When hunting in the warm season, you will find a rich catch. In late autumn and winter, crayfish live in their burrows and do not leave them until the onset of hot days.

Hunting for arthropods

How to catch crayfish in the summer or at other times? First you need to find the body of water in which they live.

• Most beaches have places where reeds grow; as a rule, people do not swim there and do not scare the crayfish. Slowly swim along the reeds and carefully inspect the bottom, as they hide well 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. To hunt them, one must resolutely avoid making any sudden movements. Large individuals usually live in such places. They are quite slow and do not present any difficulties 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 put your hands into the holes, there is a possibility of injuring them. There are known cases when large stones crushed the upper limbs of catchers.
• In reservoirs where the bottom is strewn with remnants of reeds, as well as river mollusks, crayfish are frequent guests. You must swim carefully, examining the bottom. Be careful as you can easily injure yourself on the clam shells.
• Most good place, for both beginners and professionals this is a sandy river bottom.
• You need to be very careful when catching crayfish in a hole. 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 burrows are very rare; these burrows belong to musk rats. Crayfish houses are small, up to five centimeters high and eight centimeters wide, depending on the size of the arthropod.
• My favorite place is broken bottles with the whole bottom left in them. Most jars and bottles contain crayfish. There are quite a lot of such containers in almost any body of water.

If you are not interested in hunting for crayfish on your own, you can buy one. When choosing, you should pay attention to the tail. In a living rakon, it is pressed tightly to the body.

Cancer is a ten-legged representative of the animal world, living in bodies of water almost all over the world. It has a very tasty delicacy of meat called kuliin. The popularity of this product is confirmed by literary classics - just remember Citizen Pivoraki from Leonid Lagin. The most common use of boiled crayfish meat is with this foamy drink.

In Russia, crayfish is widespread both in lakes and rivers. It should be looked for in bodies of water with clean, clear water, preferably with a gentle current. It prefers to settle on a rocky bottom, where it is easier for it to find or build a shelter in the form of a hole. Also, a favorite habitat is areas of a reservoir with a hard clay bottom, where crayfish settle in burrows. You should look for them in the walls of clay slopes at a depth of half a meter. For crayfish, muddy bottoms and hard sandy bottom formations are unacceptable, as is stagnant water in ponds and lakes. They live here extremely reluctantly. Catching crayfish in the spring is productive due to their increased activity at this time.

Behavior of crayfish in spring

For the winter, these animals go into the depths of the reservoir, looking for holes up to 5-8 meters, and lead a sedentary lifestyle. And only with increasing daylight hours do they begin to go out into shallow water.

The optimal water temperature in summer for crayfish is 18-22 degrees, so shallow water is attractive to them, where the river bottom quickly warms up. This also contributes to the rapid development of river vegetation, which accounts for 50-80% of the crayfish’s diet. Females actively wash and ventilate the eggs laid under their own tail since the fall - the gestation period is up to 8 months. Therefore, the reason for moving to shallow water is also the need to place the offspring in more favorable conditions. In total, the clutch contains from 80 to 150 eggs.

Catching crayfish in April causes serious damage to the population of these animals, so going out onto a reservoir with a crayfish trap is fraught for such a would-be hunter with troubles not only from the fisheries inspection, but also from amateurs fishing. Cancer is a delicacy, not an essential food. In the southern regions, where spring begins earlier, fishing begins in March, after the ice cover melts. Here, catching the first crayfish on crayfish traps begins in early spring.

Crayfish fishing becomes most productive in May and early June. By this time, the eggs of the females have ripened and they, sometimes in unimaginable quantities, crawl out into shallow water, where aquatic vegetation, the main nutritional base of these animals, is already rapidly developing. In addition, the water here is saturated with oxygen, which is important not only for adult fish, but also for juvenile crayfish.

Active behavior of crayfish is observed immediately before spawning. Hunting for larvae and insects attracts crayfish so much that they often crawl ashore in search of prey. These animals are most active at night, from approximately 10 pm to 3 am.

Ban on spring crayfish fishing

In Rus', the people have always been sensitive to the world around them, protecting it in every possible way from their interference. During the spawning season, no one thought about fishing, and churches didn’t even ring their bells. Nature generously responded to this attitude with an abundance of animals, birds and fish. And, of course, crayfish.

Female crustaceans mate in the fall. Males deposit containers of sperm under their tails, after which females lay eggs there. The incubation period is up to eight months, during which fishing is prohibited. After spawning, these animals begin molting, which lasts several months. During this period, crayfish fishing is also prohibited.

Thus, the duration of the ban period is up to 10 months. Fishing is possible only in August-September. However, these standards are set at the regional level and may differ significantly.

Attention! In ponds, lakes and rivers of the Moscow region, catching crayfish is prohibited all year round.

Each fishing region sets rules for catching crayfish based on the actual state of the resources taken into account:

1. In the Astrakhan region, fishing is prohibited from April 1 to June 30.
2. Bryansk and Vladimir region– you cannot catch these animals from October 1 to June 30.
3. In the region of Volgograd and the region and on the Tsimlyansk reservoir, the ban was established from January 1 to September 15.
4. IN Vologda region Fishing is not allowed during the gestation period and during the molting period, as well as from June 15 to July 31.
5. In ponds, lakes and rivers of Kaliningrad and Kirov regions The ban is valid from October 1 to June 30.

As an example, here is a video about the ban from Saratov:

A restriction on the size of trophies has been introduced everywhere - the crayfish must have a length from the tip of the head to the tail of at least 9, less often 10 centimeters.

From the data presented it is clear that the approach to preserving the population of these arthropods is the same almost everywhere. The period of gestation and molting of animals, when they are weakened and most vulnerable, is protected.

There are also restrictions during the periods of time when crayfish fishing is permitted. Thus, the size of the crayfish should be more than 70 centimeters, and the maximum number of them per hunter should be no more than three.

Private entrepreneurs who breed crayfish in specialized farms have the right to independently determine the policy for the sale of their products, including the time of catching. But it’s hard to believe in their profitability, because the growth time of a commercial specimen is at least 8 years, and very impressive specimens can often be found on the shelves.