Chapter Five | The Crayfish Man | Reflections | Volume Two

Does your job help you in the pursuit of carp? Maybe your commute takes you along a snaggy section of canal or you spend your lunch break by the side of a park lake? Both of these scenarios could help you locate your quarry without even having a rod with you; but what if you were a crayfish trapper? Every day you spend sifting through endless pots of invasive species, at one with the water. Spending that amount of time surrounded by the pits of the Cotswolds is bound to help your angling, and this is just what we focus on in this piece.
Many years ago, Mitch Hammonds spotted a fish he dearly wanted to catch known as The Croc. Thankfully his occupation as a crayfish trapper helped him on his journey, culminating in the capture of this truly incredible creature.
Sticky Baits
www.stickybaits.com
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[@Deadlycalling]

Now this guys passionate,so descriptive about his angling,wonderful

[@brianfarrow7806]

I sat here absolutely rapt by his story. What a fantastic video.

[@stringsgb8833]

Stickys videos are above all at the moment

[@andykjohnsonjohnson7622]

Bang-on . I trap crayfish here in B.C 🇨🇦, eat most of them 😋. Then use the leftovers, as carp bait. Thay do luv them. Cheaper than peeld prawns.👍👍

[@BenLovesPlanes]

Next, on Deadliest Catch, Cotswolds Special ...

[@shaunkelly9565]

Tell you what that was good! Reminds me of Terry Hearn vids loads of emotion there👍

[@jamesrussell9261]

The passion, the effort, the challenge shine through this account. Effort equals reward has never been more apt. To get it you have to be a true carp fisher too, a brother. Only then if you are lucky enough do you get to feel that elation. Its our equivalent to winning the cup final, a grand prix, Wimbledon, the Ashes, the British Open. Its something we can do, our own challenge, and when it comes good it feels like this, like nothing in earth!! Great stuff!!

[@martinmullen71]

I finally got around to watching this video, absolutely fantastic, the sheer determination of the journey to catch the crock. Big well done to you my friend, absolute stunning fish.

[@cotswoldcarperkris4624]

Nice Mitch 👌

[@peterp4223]

A lot of fine tasting grub kray Fish great with garlic chill salt and pepper cooked flash fryed in butter served simply with a good crusty white loaf

[@leecallaghan5294]

so much emotion. amazing...

[@leesurman2331]

Brilliant video brilliant

[@josha6441]

Good vid 🐋

[@miserableedwards54]

Brilliant watch that Mitch. Inspirational stuff mate.

[@mitch2208]

Cheers andy

[@33kristell]

@@mitch2208 hi mate brilliant fishing loved it, we used to work on that park with bouncy castles, not sure if you remember us.

[@lukeframpton3671]

Well deserved top man

[@kurtseago6920]

Legend 💪

[@Nick-oh5dd]

i dont carp fish anymore. Dont have the time for it, but i do feel that lakes that hold special carp should have a close season this means no pre baiting etc let the lake and the fish rest for a while Peace

[@Alex.1739]

Dearly miss the close season

[@factsnothingbut.thefacts7700]

U ernt it Fella respect

[@lackit7347]

Lovly carp

[@carpanglerpopup3370]

preciosas carpasss👍👍👍👋👋👋🐳🐳🐳🐳

[@JackClark02]

always have a tea boii

[@brendananderson1238]

❤

[@mattiemclean9882]

Looks alroite for a bite alroite!

[@ollief1658]

Great video but what do you use for hookbait concealment to overcome the crayfish??? soaked wooden balls ,heat shrink bait bands etc ?? as we all know tiger nuts etc don't work !!!!

[@kurtseago6920]

💯💪🎣

[@chrisnelson5350]

Does it live in lake 32. Mainlake

[@ronwood355]

I’m interested in what hookbaits. You use to beat the crays nice video

[@mitch2208]

Plastic or wooden balls bud

[@ieradossantos]

Dude, What's the song dude 30:00

[@Smudgie]

What type of shelter is he using?

[@mitch2208]

Mk1 tempest boi

[@bwana4711]

Doing God’s work

[@vents82]

huh

[@blackswan8651]

Could he have got a smaller boat?

[@ronwood355]

What rigs and bait do you use to combat the crays ?

[@bigv4046]

A shotgun...

[@raymondsweeney5410]

armour mesh on your boillies works for me bro !

[@JLSGamingYT]

Chod rigs with heavy leads, try to avoid putty, the crayfish in my local park lake just love the stuff.

[@khumrycrowvalley5074]

Wooden ball flavoured same as bait

[@bigv4046]

Next week...the 6 pound Rudd from the Thames,s..........

[@rateman09]

The cray fish man hmm

[@jonmiller16]

Man can whack a lead 💪🏻 boom ting 💪🏻

[@markblacktit]

Sounded a bit far fetched to me it was like listening to a script from a Spielberg film

[@Daniel.McGinnis23]

Guy gas binoculars for eyes lol

[@thedrvn]

Shouldn't be taking these out imo. Its a valuable natural food source and maybe more importantly offers variability to the carps diet. Ive had countless carp from french rivers and the sack has been full of crayfish shells they love them

[@mitch2208]

I dont think you quite understand the volumes of cray fish in these lakes. I could remove a tonne a week with no impact at all, plus the small crayfish that the fish like to eat are able to get out the pots due to the mesh size of the pots. Its substainable fishing

[@KotoBish]

well, there's native crayfish, and invasive alien (American Signal) crayfish. The latter destroy habitat and royally feck up the ecosystem. So, if one could wave a magic wand and remove every single one of the aliens in a moment, I'll bet the fishery owners, environmental consultants, and even the carp would say yes please.