Redclaw in winter in Southern Qld

Submitted: Friday, Apr 11, 2014 at 20:33

ThreadID: 107212 Views:6865 Replies:3 FollowUps:2

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kcandco

Hi
I am interested in peoples experience with catching redclaw in the cooler months. My question is do the redclaw go off their food in colder water, or move to deeper or shallower water and still feed? Silly as it sounds should I take a temp probe with me and look for warmer water.

thanks Kc

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Reply By: Jeffrey B2 - Friday, Apr 11, 2014 at 23:37

Friday, Apr 11, 2014 at 23:37

Hi ! kcandco.

In response to your query, the temperature of the water may be critical but with Red Claw there don't seem to be any rules.

We have just recently returned from a caravan tour to a dam north west of Brisbane.

Early last year (April - May 2013) we were able like many others to catch a large number of red claw just after the big flood which filled the dam we visit. The water was very milky and probably not too hot.
Can't remember the temp. But we did get hundreds, very good size. Weather cool.

Went back to the same dam end of October 3013, exactly same places, very small crays and numbers right down. Temp ????????

This year 2014, same place, numbers and size up a bit, temp 80 f. or 26 c.

Local resident said 71 f. or 22 c. is the ideal temp.

So I probably would say, lower temp down to 22 c. may be the go.

There are so many variables with red claw that to get a pattern is very hard.

Haji-Baba

AnswerID: 530365

Follow Up By: Jeffrey B2 - Friday, Apr 11, 2014 at 23:53

Friday, Apr 11, 2014 at 23:53

In my opinion there don't seem to be any rules for catching RedClaw.

Depth of water : from 1meter to 8 meters.
Right against the bank, around trees, in amongst the lilly pads,
under logs, around rocks, and well out on the silt.
Temp who knows, been all over the state and caught them every where, hot or cold.
Bait : Almost any thing in the way of fruit, or as the best catches we recently saw, just home brand woolies dog nuts.
This bloke out fished us all with only dog nuts.
It seems to me to be a lottery, we arrive with rockmelon,
water melon, potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, zukini, passionfruit,
manderins, bananas, you name it we have tried it all.
I gurantee if you have not got it that is what they will want.
Have Fun Haji-Baba

FollowupID: 813279

Reply By: kcandco - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 15:00

Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 15:00

Thanks for your replies. I had been told that numbers drop of I'm winter but wondered if that was because they eat less or move into deeper water. I have just bought a sounder so will keep a log of depths and temps and see if there is much change. Cheers

AnswerID: 530474

Follow Up By: Jeffrey B2 - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 16:07

Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 16:07

If you try up north, Flinders, Cloncurry Norman rivers etc. you will catch Cherabin. Same pots, same bait.

A bit of pork goes well for the Charabin.

There are limits to numbers up there also.

The water temperatures I recorded this trip were at the surface and varied about 2 degrees F. depending if we were down wind or up wind.

High winds blow the higher temps down wind which is to be expected.

As temp. rose the last few days we were there numbers dropped.

Others who stayed on at the dam experienced the same thing.

Have fun Haji-Baba

FollowupID: 813383