First in a series that will run each and every Friday!
Enjoy!
Friday Fact 12-11-2020
Smallmouth Candy-The Crayfish
Chances are if you fish for Smallmouth in the Ozarks, you’re fishing some type of crayfish imitator a good deal of the time.
Why not! Studies have shown that crayfish can make up well over 50% of a smallies caloric intake! Some river studies have shown that they make up over 70% of the bronze bombers diet from March until late October.
Here are some interesting tidbits on this tasty morsel.
35 species in Missouri
26 in the Ozarks Region alone.
Nearly 60 species in Arkansas
30 species in Oklahoma
(Below reflect species in MO)
Largest-Long Pincer
Found only in the White river region in Missouri and grows to 6” or longer.
Smallest -Neosho Midget Crayfish, 3/4” up to 2” and is found only in the Elk and Spring river drainages of the Missouri Ozarks where it’s quite prevalent.
The Ozark, Spothanded and Ringed Crayfish are most prevalent prey species in Southern and Sw Mo/ NW Ar
Golden and Spothanded are most prevalent smallmouth treats in the North and eastern Missouri Ozarks
Crayfish become most active when water temps reach 50 degrees F.
Crayfish breed in the spring (when spring water temps hit 50F) and fall, young come in the spring, and a female can carry up to 500 eggs.
The fall breeding period see's the most activity (made up of all mature adults) but is often overlooked by Bass fishermen.
Adults can molt twice in year, while young can molt up to 12 times in their first year. The molting process leaves them very susceptible to predation, therefore most craws will hunker down in a crevice or in the rocks and activity levels will be low.
Many fisherman think the spring molting period (for some species) is cause for the high catch rate on craw imitations but studies have shown its likely due to the spring spawn. The spawn is also one of the only times male crayfish will actively walk on top of rocks in search of a mate, leaving them vulnerable to predation.
Interesting note; one study put on by Pure Fishing showed that crawfish baits with no pincers or legs got the most strikes. (But Marketing Studies showed we wouldn't buy such a bait!!!)
Fishing Tip; fish crawfish patterns parallel with rocky banks, changing depth until you find feeding fish.
Scouting Tip; Set crawfish traps the night before you’re going to fish a body of water and check on color, size etc before you launch the next day(please check local regs beforehand).
Favorite patterns for the fly rod
Hadas Creek Crawler
Near Nuff Craw
Scrat
Nancy P
Favorite baits for gear
Ned rig (my personal faves are Molten Craw and PB&J Finesse TRD from ZMan)
Baby BrushHog(Watermelon Red and Watermelon Orange are my preference, fished on a finesse head like the Spot Remover)
Rage craw
Skirted Jig and trailer
Wiggle wart
Any crawfish square bill crank from Live Target, YoZuri, Strike King etc.
Crayfish are an important part of a Smallmouth's diet, and understanding their habits will help you become a better Smallmouth angler!
Many thanks to Tyler Goodale and Cody Holloway for their input!
Free. The. Fighter!!
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