Thoughts on crayfish and crayfish patterns

[swampsinger]

It seems to me that I see a lot more crayfish in the eastern portion of the Rideau system, than I do in the upper reaches of the Mississippi. I believe this is due to the composition of the water. The Rideau flows over more shale and limestone where the Mississppi flows over more granite. Its my understanding that crayfish molt and grow new shells as they get larger and require dissolved calcium or lime or something to do this.
I've tried crayfish patterns a couple of times and don't have much confidence in them. I've had a lot more success with streamers, leech, large stonefly and nymph patterns.
Do you think I'm missing out on some action not fishing crayfish patterns in this area?

[banjo]

If the fish are feeding on crawfish...then you can't go wrong trying. I last used a crawfish pattern in Algonquin park years ago for specks after catching one and it spit up a crayfish in the canoe. I switched and didn't regret it. I only had a pretied crawfish pattern that I had bought for bass.

[swampsinger]

I like that rationale. I suppose thats why some would use a stomach pump.

[Todd B.]

Heavy olive woolly buggers work just as well.

[ShawnD]

It seems to me that I see a lot more crayfish in the eastern portion of the Rideau system, than I do in the upper reaches of the Mississippi. I believe this is due to the composition of the water. The Rideau flows over more shale and limestone where the Mississppi flows over more granite. Its my understanding that crayfish molt and grow new shells as they get larger and require dissolved calcium or lime or something to do this.

I don't fly fish but I definitely learned something new today