Warren,

good thinking mate, but how many chub do you think it would take to keep a Crayfish population of 1 million in check.

Carp are meant to love Crays as well but they aren't preventing the onslaught or even holding it up.

Worth investigating though, I'd rather catch a big Chub than a Bream any day. See you at the fishin.

Bspit

Warren it is a good idea, but it never worked on the Kennet. lots of chub, lots of barble, lots of carp, lots of crayfish!

HI Warren,

I think that we have to use chub,catfish,nets and cages as a package of ways to control a crayfish population...

But we need action !!!

I cant say that i have heard of a water that is actually doing anything about the crayfish...

Korda has a few traps, but we need lots more traps and a porper strategy to keep the numbers down..

Early part of the season the crayfish where nowhere to be seen in 14ft of water in silt, now im getting baits taken off in hourse in 14ft of water they are getting out of hand on places like Korda, once they get a hold its even harder to get the population down....

I too don't think the chub idea would work. Let's face it carp will munch there way through a lot of crays and a few more chub are not going to have much if any impact. However it is possible to control numbers, but I doubt you will ever achieve total eradication.

It is possible to control numbers by the use of Fyke nets (need EA permision). My own water has been successful in this respect. It takes some effort and cost but can be done (at least for Turkish). We have suceeded in reducing numbers so that they are only a minor irratation in the summer, whereas two years ago you couldn't keep a bait in the water for more than twenty minutes irrespective of wether it was netted, air dried, or an anti cray mix bait. They took the lot. Currently the levels are OK, and sort of in balance, but the fishery owner is ready if they get out of hand again. Try discussing the problem with the EA they are normally pretty helpful.

Cy.

Warren,

I was not knocking your suggestion, it is a perfectly valid point, but I do think there are problems associated with it that concern me and although it maybe be possible to control cray fish numbers with chub these other issuess I think need thinking about.

First, it is not generally a good idea to introduce one alien species to control another. Chub are alien in the sense that they are not normally found in lakes (I assume you are talking about lakes or at least enclosed waters). I know that of course chub can and do survive quiet well in lakes, indeed I have caught them in Wraysbury 1, but it is not there natural environment.

Second, you would have to introduce large numbers to have any effect. It would be difficult to get the numbers of the size required and I am sure there would also be problems getting the required permission from the EA.

Third, there is the nusiance problem to carp anglers which should not be underestimated.

Fourth, if the crays are brought under control what would the chub eat then, similar food to the carp most likely and that could have an impact on the carp.

Overall all I am saying is that netting/trapping is a proven method of control and has minimal environmental impact. Introduction of chub is not proven (to my knowledge) and has possible adverse affects.

Just my views, not a dig mate.

Cy.

Mr Yates,

I think you probably have the answer, I have obtained permission to remove them from our water so I guess with some work in the closed season we may see a reduction in problems next season.

Warren, nothing wrong with a bream or two except the slime, or a shoal of them ploughing through your lines all night.

Cheers

Bspit