Crayfish

[shandy]

Anyone in Manchester/Lancashire been bothered by Crayfish lately?

At the risk of opening a can of worms on my first post, I'm after a few signals for the pot, but am not sure my regular river (Rawtenstall) has any.

[BoldBear]

I dont know about the rivers up north but they are a real nuisance in the south, we have the big Turkish ones with long pointed claws in our estate lake and in a reservior further up the stream; and all around us are waters which have Signal Crayfish in them. They erode the banks while burrowing into them, eat the fish eggs and eat other food that the fish survive on etc. and are responsible in the almost complete erradication of our native cray which used to like clean unpolluted waters, and if you introduce any groundbait they home in on it moving other fish out of their way.
Whoever was responsible for puttng them in our waters needs shooting. the brainless idiots.

[fullcreel]

Last summer on the Frome, I trod on one of the beasties, which went 'crunch' under my wellies. A milky white fluid leaked out, and I'm sure I could see some shapes, investigating it. A bit like sharks following the rubby dubby trail. So maybe we should trap them, smash 'em up and hoof them in, in a special mesh bag. At least crush 'em up. Nasty buggers.

[shandy]

I agree that they are a terrible threat and that whoever put them into our waterways is a bloody cretin.

Rest assured, I intend to eat every single one of the little b******s I can find.

[Greenheart]

They do taste nice though

[geffski]

thers a couple of lads up in london that had the forsight to get sole rights to
trap them out of the park lakes! now they supply most resturants in london and
even export!
wish id thought of that ther now minted!!!

[BoldBear]

Originally Posted by geffski

thers a couple of lads up in london that had the forsight to get sole rights to
trap them out of the park lakes! now they supply most resturants in london and
even export!
wish id thought of that ther now minted!!!

As long as they don't actively encourage the blighters by returning any for their future stocking. B****y things.
The Turkish ones even come out of the water and perch on tree roots out of the water at night; so their spread to other waters (even to landlocked lakes) can be increased overnight via ditches etc.

[Greenheart]

I bought some Crayfish traps on Evilbay last year. Not got around to trying em out yet though...

[PlanktonBoy]

Might never happen to most but i know a guy who was fined for crayfish trapping, apparrently you need a licence.
Good old UK yet again, they dont want them in the waters but make you obtain a licence

[Greenheart]

I heard you only need a licence if you are selling them. Anyone else heard anything about this?