I’m not much of a freshwater fishing guy. There are so many varied saltwater fishing opportunities for me, there’s plenty to keep me occupied being salty. That said, last year I caught one largemouth bass. It was a respectable one, too. A buddy took me out and he had live crayfish. I flipped one next to a dock piling. Before it hit bottom, I got smashed.
Crayfish are one of my favorite live baits for smallmouth bass in late spring and throughout summer. Rather than catch them as needed, I like to keep a few dozen on hand for impromptu floats down the river or short trips to a local stream. Unlike some other live baits, crayfish are very easy to keep and don’t require a large fish tank with a filtration system. If you’ve got a drill and a large rectangular plastic storage container with a lid (the kind you might store sweaters in), you can keep crayfish for weeks in the garage or basement.
Skinny Water
Fill the container with just enough water to cover the crayfish three-quarters of the way. They do not need to be completely submerged. Using a 1⁄4-inch bit, drill rows of holes in the container lid.
Photos: Field and Stream (top); Aqualife For You (above)
