Cray fish problem

[andrew kennedy]

I'm fishing a lake in France that would appear to have a large community of cray fish (the small type). It is quite obvious there are a good number tench in the spot I am fishing but using luncheon meat is also good for the cray fish. Has any one out there any 'take' on this problem? Would for example tench let a cray fish have his way with the bait, or would the tench muscle in and get his way? I had thought of using Pop-Ups but if the bait is ....lets say 6" off the bottom......would that be to much off the bottom so as to not be taken by tench? Andrew

[Bungz]

imitation/plastic baits such as plastic sweetcorn or pellets?

[BoldBear]

These imitation baits that BungZ suggested have come a long way since their first introduction.

You can now buy plastic corn which as well as being softer can also be soaked in flavour and which are semi bouyant, to counter the weight of the hook so that it reacts much more natural when sucked or blown up off the bottom, but still stays secure on the hook.

[the pyromaniac]

I personally don't care for float fishing most of the time, but a float will keep your bait off the bottom out of the reach of the langoustes. You might want to try that.