Do pike eat crayfish?

[JohnLucas1316]

I always assumed that when I throw baits in at the end of a session, I am feeding pike and getting them used to picking up deadbaits. It did not occur to me that I might be feeding crayfish.
Crayfish seem to be a "double whammy" to pike because not only do they eat fish eggs, but in some areas they are eating discarded baits that could be food for pike.
I know that otters eat a lot of crayfish, but does anyone have any evidence that pike do ?

[Jason Skilton]

Yes, pike will eat crayfish.......on some rivers its their staple diet......add to that earth worms, frogs/toads, voles, ducklings....infact they eat just about anything that enters the water

[MelvinPercy11]

I have had them from both rivers and loughs with Crayfish in them. In one case it was so pronounced the belly felt like a giant "beanbag". Fish were in super condition as well.

[JohnLucas1316]

Interesting. It would be nice if pike could distinguish between our native crayfish and the American invaders........and then just eat the American ones.

[Jason Skilton]

Interesting. It would be nice if pike could distinguish between our native crayfish and the American invaders........and then just eat the American ones.

The Signals are already virtually sorted that one out by wiping out the white claw.......the whites can't complete with the signals simple either from protection to the plague they carry or in speed in which they breed.

[BruceTurnbull2076]

My fishing buddy catches them on rubber crayfish lures, does that help the debate??

[JohnLucas1316]

Ha ha, thanks for that Bruce. I think when some pike are really feeding well, they will take almost anything.
I remember Mick Brown once suggesting a wobbled banana would work in some swims.
I also remember a lure like a small Budweiser can, and one called a "Big Crappie" which was basically a plastic turd with hooks!
I caught a very small pike once just reeling in a bare single hook.