Abstract

Crawfish were trapped weekly in a 24-ha pond from late winter to mid-spring 1988. Several commercially manufactured baits were tested alone or in combination with gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, total per overnight set being about 112.5 g. Traps were set in two areas, the borrow ditch along the northeastern shore, maximum depth, 75 cm, and 50 m offshore in shallow water, maximum depth, 50 cm. Procambarus clarkii was the dominant species. Procambarus zonangulus (formerly P. a. acutus) was more abundant in the borrow ditch, 40% of total, than in the offshore area, 20%. Catch per unit effort increased dramatically in both areas when water temperatures reached 21°C and was first apparent in the shallow area. The mixture of fish and manufactured bait did not greatly increase catch although it improved catch when water temperatures were below 20°C. Variation in the effectiveness of manufactured bait was related to longevity in traps. During the first 2 weeks of May, the period of most intense crawfish activity, some baits, especially combination baits, were consumed so rapidly that they were not as effective as two long-lived manufactured baits. Species preference for a bait was not apparent.

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