Question for creek fishermen...
 

that have been out this year.

Have the crayfish gotten real active yet?

They were very active at Fall Creek over a month ago.

Great, thanks Sambolie.

I am needing to get some bait and didn't want to waste my lunch breaks if no use.

I went way up the east fork of the stones last weekend and caught a bunch of smallmouth and redeye. I bet two-thirds of the fish had crawfish sticking out of their throats.

Yea, crawdads are active. Salamanders are out too.

Thanks guys, i found some craws and some dobson fly larva. No salamanders though. I know they are in there. Didn't use the larva instead let them go and watch them wiggle/swim away. Truly awesome bugs from beginning to end lifecycle.

Dobson Fly larva AKA helgramites are truly a cool bug! I've heard and read that there is literally not a more preferable food to a smallmouth than a helgie. The one or two times I've come across a live helgramite and put them on a hook, I literally had a fish on within seconds. They will give you a nasty bite if you aren't careful.

Case Plastics makes an AWESOME helgramite plastic bait that is super fun to fish on a UL rod in the creeks. You'll catch everything from bluegill, tons of redeye, and the occasional smallie. I know Creeksmallie uses them on the regular, but the Jack's Worm is a savage bait. Give case plastics a try.

I have used the Case versions quite a bit and they work. I believe Trout Magnet has a version as well.

The presence of them in a creek shows a sign of a creek's water quality as they demand better water. At least it what I understood. Most around here if familiar with them only know them as the worm looking version with a pincher mouth. Go east and check out the full grown flying adults since they are more commonly seen. Wicked bugs and leave a wicked bite.

I looked up pictures of them earlier and they are pretty creepy.

Where do you guys get your case plastics? I've heard nothing but good about them for years, and have never tried them.

http://www.fishingcompleteinc.com/

I ordered them online. They used to send a mixed bag of their other soft plastics along with your order to generate more business.

The Hellgrammites are good in (large/black) not small, Jack's worms are good and the Mad Tom's are deadly in small water. The Mad Tom's make a great sculpin imitation in the right colors. Get a shade of brown to match a sculpin then take a sharpie add a few stripes. The banded sculpin is a common variety around here in creeks.

I've heard great words about their Flukes mainly that they sink better than the Zoom and other name brands. So Flukes, Hellgrammites, Jack's Worms and Mad Tom's is on the list. I want to do more small river and creek fishing this year.

Me too.

There are a lot of small streams full of fish which a kayak hopping in and out of throughout would make for some enjoyable days.

Yep, and I have a new reel coming I want to spool with 6lb test and get into some Redeye, and smallmouth with.

2 lb.