Been having trouble getting smallies to hit any crawdad that isn’t little lately, any idea why?

[Ohioguy25]

Is that really true that they’re mostly fed at this point? I sure hope not, the water is just clearing up in these past few weeks.

 

Even as recently as a week ago I was having success with medium sized live crawdads that I catch in the river, but when I went yesterday they literally wouldn’t touch em. They hit every single little one I threw in there though, all of the fish I caught were on tiny crawdads. What do you think is up with that?

[Heartland]

I think I would round me up some more of them small crawdads.

[Ohioguy25]

1 minute ago, Heartland said:

I think I would round me up some more of them small crawdads.

Yeah for sure lol, just kinda hard to do it seems random. Where do the smaller ones tend to be?

[Heartland]

1 minute ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah for sure lol, just kinda hard to do it seems random. Where do the smaller ones tend to be?

In the bellies of fish......   Seriously I have no idea.

[TnRiver46]

Smaller tube jigs always work way better than big ones in my area. Kind of led me to believe they eat small ones more often . If you are trying to catch crawdads, night time is always best . Washing camp dishes always brought thousands out of the wood work 

[Ohioguy25]

23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Smaller tube jigs always work way better than big ones in my area. Kind of led me to believe they eat small ones more often . If you are trying to catch crawdads, night time is always best . Washing camp dishes always brought thousands out of the wood work 

Yeah I need to set up my crawdad trap again, do those ever work?

[Team9nine]

Optimal Foraging Theory

[Ohioguy25]

1 minute ago, Team9nine said:

Optimal Foraging Theory

What’s that 

[Team9nine]

You can Google it as it gets somewhat detailed, but studies show bass will selectively feed on certain sizes of crayfish based on how abundant, as well as how easy it is to catch and eat them. Once the easy ones are gone or less abundant, then they often move on to another size class of craws. I’m guessing for whatever reason, probably environmental, the smallest craws are the most abundant or easiest for them to catch in your waters right now. It may last or it may be temporary.

[Sphynx]

They could be keying in on the little ones because they are almost assured a meal for the energy expended to pursue them, this time of year fish have a full time job just trying to be comfortable in water that is holding less and less oxygen, easy pickings are a sure thing and require little risk

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

You can Google it as it gets somewhat detailed, but studies show bass will selectively feed on certain sizes of crayfish based on how abundant, as well as how easy it is to catch and eat them. Once the easy ones are gone or less abundant, then they often move on to another size class of craws. I’m guessing for whatever reason, probably environmental, the smallest craws are the most abundant or easiest for them to catch in your waters right now. It may last or it may be temporary.

Makes sense, I wonder if I try taking the pinchers off if they’ll go for the big boys.

[waymont]

Your sentence syntax in the title is wacky dude.

[Ohioguy25]

6 hours ago, waymont said:

Your sentence syntax in the title is wacky dude.

Lol fixed

[Team9nine]

12 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Makes sense, I wonder if I try taking the pinchers off if they’ll go for the big boys.

Only one way to find out ?

 

scientists often base this on carapice length, but no telling how a bass judges things.

[J Francho]

Try worms or leeches.

[BassNJake]

Watching the elite series event going on right now, Jamie Hartman commented on how small the craws were that the smallmouths were spitting up.

 

The fish are telling you what they want, most people wouldn't try to force feed them something else.

You hear stuff like match the hatch, which may apply here.

Me, I'd throw a toad just because I love topwater bites

[Smokinal]

Some days I don't feel like a large pizza but will snack on chips

[Spankey]

On 7/30/2020 at 3:47 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Is that really true that they’re mostly fed at this point? I sure hope not, the water is just clearing up in these past few weeks.

 

Even as recently as a week ago I was having success with medium sized live crawdads that I catch in the river, but when I went yesterday they literally wouldn’t touch em. They hit every single little one I threw in there though, all of the fish I caught were on tiny crawdads. What do you think is up with that?

Did you ever try using a topwater plug in the early fall at sun up? Pop-R’s, prop bait, chug bug? Perfect time of day for that nice one to hit. Those baits get their curiosity going early. That’s a bite you don’t want to miss. Over the years I’ve found the smallie bite window closes as early as 8:30 in the morning sometimes. Not to say you can’t catch one at noon.