Crawfish Lures & Soft Baits

Crawfish is a smart baiting choice for freshwater fishermen since it tricks fish into biting something that is already a part of their natural diet. A crawfish is a crustacean with a hard exoskeleton, pincers and ability to breathe underwater. Live and artificial crawfish bait is available to purchase at bait and tackle shops. Fish generally hunt soft-shelled crawfish that have just molted their skin. However, fish also dine on hard-shelled crawfish.

  1. Live Crawfish

    • Since crawfish is a part of some fishes' natural diets, using live bait is great for freshwater fishing, says the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. Thread a fishing hook through the back or forward end of the crawfish's body in order to avoid puncturing vital organs. A dead crawfish is not effective in catching fish. A less risky way of hooking a crawfish is placing the hook in its tail, which does not have any vital organs. Be sure not to get pinched while hooking the crawfish. Use crawfish less than 3 inches long to catch fish.

    Crankbait

    • When a lure resembles a live crawfish, it is known throughout the fishing industry as crankbait. Crankbait also applies to lures that resemble live fish or insects. Crankbait lures are made of wood or soft plastic and are approximately 2 to 3 inches long. Add a weight to the crankbait in order to make it fall to the bottom of the water; a lake or river's bottom is where fish hunt for crawfish. One method of catching fish with crankbait is to pull the lure backwards once it reaches the bottom since crawfish naturally swim backwards.

    Catching Crawfish

    • Crawfish traps are available for catching specimens in lakes and rivers. These traps have small entrances and ramps leading to the traps' bases. Place bait at the bottom of the trap. The trap's ramp has a drop-off, making it impossible for crawfish to escape from the trap. After setting the bait -- possible bait items are fish eggs or small fish -- lower the trap into the water. Make sure the trap is made of metal so it will sink to the bottom of a lake or river. Crawfish will enter the trap's entrance and pursue the bait. Leave the trap overnight and remove the trap during the day.

    Fish

    • Many large freshwater fish include crawfish in their diets. Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, catfish and bluegill are freshwater fish that eat crawfish. Many freshwater fish spend their time scouring for food, including crawfish, near the bottom of a lake or river. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says crawfish makes up 70 percent of the food found in the stomachs of freshwater fish such as largemouth bass and rock bass.