Understanding Crawfish

Crawfish are an excellent bait for bass. In addition, they become softer when they molt, making them a good meal for bass to inhale. Moreover, the bass is methodical hunters who can take their time swallowing their prey. Understanding Crawfish will help you catch more kayak bass.

Understanding Crawfish
Understanding Crawfish

Pre-Spawn 

If you are looking for a way to attract more bass during pre-spawn, try crawfish-type baits. Crawfish have a high concentration of minerals, which bass need to develop their eggs. Bass also like to feed on crawfish because they don’t have to move far to find them.

Pre- Spawn Bass
Pre-Spawn Bass

Crawfish are an excellent food source for pre-spawn bass, who spend much time combing rocks to find them. Try a Texas Rig Zoom Speed Craw on a 1/2-ounce wobble head. The flapping action of the bait hitting the rocks can induce a devastating strike from pre-spawn bass.

Larger Crawfish

Crawfish are native to all freshwater habitats and are often a popular target for bass fishing. Being bottom-dwelling creatures, they are easy to gather in reasonable numbers and can be harvested from your local water source. Crawfish are hardy and can survive long periods in captivity. Crawfish are categorized into three main genera, each with different habits and behavior patterns. Knowing which type lives in a body of water can help you better understand how bass responds to them.

Large Crawfish
Large Crawfish

Crawfish are often found in streams and rivers, and their color varies according to location. Crawfish in mountain streams are generally red, yellow, or orange. They molt once a year and spawn the following spring again. Water temperature plays a significant role in determining when they lose. Crawfish are a major part of the diets of many bass. 

Suitable structure

A suitable structure is critical to successfully targeting bass. A good kayak angler will look for a sharp break in the structure and 8 to 10 feet of water on top of the structure. The structure must be rocky or have some underwater structure, such as riprap, to provide the bass with an optimal environment.

Crawfish Structure
Crawfish Structure

Knowing which species are native to a particular body of water can help you understand the behavior of bass around crawfish. Crawfish Baits are also suitable for kayak bass anglers looking to entice bass. These fish are attracted to crawfish because they have high levels of minerals, and bass requires a high amount of minerals in their diets.

For the best crawfish fishing, you need to find a pond with a suitable structure. This is often determined by the type of pond and the time of year. A shallow pond with vegetation will be more conducive to bass fishing than a deep pond with rock substrate. A deep pond with no vegetation will be cold and too deep, and no sunlight will reach the bottom. High-elevation ponds will likely have rock structures such as boulders and creek channels.

Attractive bait

One of the best ways to catch bass is to use a lure. Largemouth bass is highly predatory, so it is essential to use an attractive bait that resembles the prey they are likely to eat. Using the right bait type will make you more likely to catch a trophy bass. Understanding crawfish and how they adapt to their environment will help you choose the right lure to fish with.

JIG
JIG

Understanding Crawfish Color Change

Crawfish color can change depending on the environment they live in. These crustaceans are generally red and black, but their coloring can also be blue or green. The color is influenced by the temperature and molting season.

In the spring and fall, crawfish molt. This molting cycle causes a color change from their natural color of brown or orange to a brighter shade. During this time, crawfish are more visible and susceptible to predators.

In the spring, crawfish are usually found on rocks. Their slender, wriggling bodies and distinctive clicking sounds are often the first indications of their presence. If they strike something, they will stop and fall to the bottom. When threatened, they will take a defensive posture. Once they are on the bottom, they will swim backward in short bursts. Typically, crawfish spend most of their time hiding.

The most important thing is understanding crawfish and how they change colors.

Understanding Crawfish

During the summer months, crawfish begin to change color. They are usually light brown or green, but they can also switch to red or orange. 

During the winter, crawfish are light to dark brown. During the mating season, crawfish are most active and molt frequently.

When the water gets warmer, crawfish turn more orange and red. Some species of crawdads can even switch from red to bright orange. But, if you want to know why crawfish change color, you must understand their biology.

While crawfish are not a popular lure for bass, if you have a good selection, you should be able to get a few bites. Using crawfish imitation bait can help make a difference in your bass fishing.

You can also match the colors of your crawfish imitation to the color of the water and the vegetation. For example, if the water is stained or dirty, you must use a bright color. Conversely, you can use a crawfish-colored crankbait if the water is clear and clean.

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