[James]

  I've been meaning to try fishing w/ crawfish (I've read people using them here, and heard they're really good for spring bass fishing). I was wondering if I caught them in my local lake and used them in another, if that could spred something or if it's unacceptable for any reason? Do bait shops do something to them to know they're safe? This may sound like a dumb question. I always wash my waders before going to differant places, and I just don't want to do anything that could be damaging. I live in estes park, and don't know of a bait shop anywhere close or I would have asked them. Some people on this site have talked about catching them and saving them for later fishing days, and never said if they were going back where they caught them to fish.   ??? Sorry again if this is a dumb question.

 

[McFish]

I would not worry about it.

 

[mikinaak]

One of the best baits there is for Bass.

 

[James]

Hey, Thanks.

 

[epic]

Actually this is a very legimate concern. Crayfish can carry fungus sometimes and maybe some other diseases but I have never seen any alerts about it in Colorado, this is mostly an overseas concern.
So you should have no worries taking bait from one lake to another, I would suggest only using them in lakes that have crayfish as a natural resource in the lake.
If you are still kind of worried about it you may fill a bathtub with water and throw a fish tank aerator in it and drop the crayfish in there over night and it will clean their systems out a little bit.

 

[OURAY]

Not a stupid question. Very feasable that a undersirable organism could be passed to different waters via a host. I Just dont know of any thing specific with crayfish. The D.O.W. is especially concerned with such issues. Just look what whirling disease did to the Rainbow  populations in our rivers.  I think if there was a risk with crayfish they would have addressed the problem. Here is the latest risk to Colorado Fishing. http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2756438,00.html  :-[

 

[iron chef]

note to self...check with wife BEFORE putting crayfish in the bathtub

 

[epic]

note to self...check with wife BEFORE putting crayfish in the bathtub

Or add bubble bath and tell her you drew her a bath, then run!