Missouri River Crawfish

[exiledguide]

Does anyone have a good reference book about SW MO crawfish

[Al Agnew]

Crayfish of Missouri, from MDC.

Mitch, that actually looks a lot like the golden crayfish, which is by far the most common one on Ozark streams but usually isn't found in the kind of water where you caught it. I wish I had my Crayfish of Missouri book out here with me.

[Al Agnew]

I did spend a bit of time on the MDC website...still thinking it's a golden. They are pretty widespread according to MDC, so could be in the Missouri.

By the way, crayfish colors usually match whatever color the bottom is in their habitat. Goldens from clear, clean-bottomed Ozark streams are usually very light yellowish olive with dark brown bands. The yellowish olive color matches the color of clean gravel quite well, and the dark bands make the crayfish match gravel with crevices and shadows very well in clear water. It would stand to reason, though, that goldens in waters that are usually murky to muddy would be a darker olive, with the dark bands not quite as prominent.

Which is why I always pick out colors for my bottom lures that might be intended to imitate crayfish that match the color of the bottom where I'm fishing as closely as possible. In clear Ozark streams, I like colors that are lighter brownish yellow or olive yellow. In streams that are typically a bit murkier, I like brown, like a pumpkin color. In murkier streams with algae covered bottoms, I like olive green.

[Mitch f]

Al, on one of my trips to the Menominee, as I was backing my boat in the water I could see crayfish scattering everywhere. We picked a few up and noticed they were all a variety of colors. Some were blue, some were red, some looked like the pic I posted. It got me wondering because we were there the first week in June, which was pre spawn. I wonder if I was seeing the different stages of "coming out" or something.

[Al Agnew]

I believe that some species change colors at different times during their molting cycle and breeding cycle, but I don't know of any Missouri species that do so to that extent. I've seen some with blue pincers that were otherwise olive colored, but not on Ozark streams.

[Haris122]

Always thought Crayfish were something of a cleaner smaller stream type occurrence. Didn't figure the Missouri would have them, or at least be able to see them good enough to catch them.

[Flysmallie]

Always thought Crayfish were something of a cleaner smaller stream type occurrence.

I grew up in Oklahoma so I can say without a doubt that they will live in any type of water.

[MOsmallies]

Always thought Crayfish were something of a cleaner smaller stream type occurrence. Didn't figure the Missouri would have them, or at least be able to see them good enough to catch them.

Yeah they can live just about anywhwere with water.... I've seen some monster crayfish in a small fountain/pond at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis. It's only about 8-12 inches deep, made out of concrete and there are no fish in it. Not sure how they got there.

[Greasy B]

The resilience of some aquatic life is amazing. I work in north St. Louis county where the streams are concrete channels or are severely polluted. I often see Mayflies during the day and Caddis swarming the lights in the evening.

[Haris122]

I never personally saw any outside of little clear creeks, and the Black River at Johnson shut-ins. I must not be a good crawfisher. That's why I wondered.