Orconectes propinquus

Northern Clearwater Crayfish

Saugeen River Crayfish AAAA

A Saugeen River Crayfish.

DESCRIPTION:

This species, Ecrevisse a Rostre Careen, is the smallest of the Canadian species. It is easily identified by a prominent rostral carina. Colouring is basically brown-green with a broad dark mid-dorsal stripe on abdomen and chela with orange tips. An unusual white morph of this species has been found in Lake Simcoe (Dunham et al., 1979; Jordan and Dunham, 1980).

HABITAT:

Found in a variety of habitats. It can be found in small muddy or rocky streams, large rivers as well as shallow ponds and deep lakes.

DISTRBUTION:

Canada/Ontario

Canada/Ontario Ð The Northern Clearwater Crayfish is found only in Ontario and Quebec. In Ontario it occurs from the eastern shore of Lake Superior north to the Moose River drainage (James Bay) and south to Lake Huron, Ontario and Lake Erie (Crocker and Barr, 1968; Corey, 1987a, 1987b; 1988; David et al., 1994; Somers and Green, 1993; David et al., 1997). It has also apparently been introduced into northwestern Ontario (Nipigon River, Burditt Lake and Lake of the Woods near the Sioux Narrows) where it appears to be spreading (Crocker and Barr, 1968; Momot pers. comm.; Schueler pers. comm.). In Quebec its distribution remains unclear but it has been collected from the St. Lawrence river (at Montreal), Ottawa River and its northern tributaries (Ottawa region), Lake Dunford, Riviere Kinjevis and lac Kipawa. The species is also thought to be found throughout the region north of the St. Lawrence River (Dube pers. comm.).

North America
This species range centers in northeastern North America. It occurs in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (Page, 1985; Hobbs III et al., 1989; Taylor et al., 1996).

Fairy Lake Crayfish March 2017AAA

A Fairy Lake Crayfish.

ECOLOGY:

The Northern Clearwater Crayfish is found in a variety of habitats (Berrill, 1978). It can be found in small muddy or rocky streams, large rivers as well as shallow ponds and deep lakes. When on sandy, rocky or gravelly substrate it digs shallow depressions under rocks or woody debris but like many other “open- water” species, it is capable of constructing extensive burrow networks in clay bottomed streams where cover is scarce (Berrill and Chenoweth, 1982; Hamr, 1984; Hamr and Sinclair, 1985). In Ontario, populations of Northern Clearwater Crayfish have been found in warmer lower elevation, higher pH and more eutrophic lakes, as well as lakes having shallower maximum depths (David et al., 1997). The activity (and trapability) of this species appears to be affected by predatory fishes such as bass (Collins et al., 1983). Laboratory studies have shown this species to have a fairly high station holding capacity (35 cm/sec or 13.7 in./sec) in fast currents which is likely to enable it to live in fast flowing streams (Maude and Williams, 1983). In Ontario, the Northern Clearwater Crayfish has been found together with the Appalachian Brook Crayfish, the Robust Crayfish, the Virile Crayfish, the Papershell Crayfish, the Obscure Crayfish and the Rusty Crayfish.

Crayfish Inside Bass

A Crayfish Inside a Bass.

LIFE HISTORY:

In Ontario populations, mating occurs from mid July to September and again in early April, eggs are laid from late April to early June (water temperature > 5¡C/41¡F) and are carried for 4-6 weeks. Hatching takes place from mid-May to mid-July and young are carried for about 2 weeks. Maturity is generally attained at 16-20 mm (0.62-0.78 in.) CPL but the minimum size of maturity is 13 mm (0.51 in.) CPL. The average adult size is 23 mm (0.9 in.) while the average lifespan is 2 years. The largest specimen recorded is 35 mm (1.37 in.) CPL and the maximum life span is 3-4 years old. Moulting takes place throughout the summer in immature crayfish. Mature males moult to Form II in May and then back to Form I in Mid July. Mature females moult once in July (Crocker and Barr, 1968; Berrill, 1978; Corey, 1987a, 1987b, 1988). Maturity is attained at about 20 mm (0.78 in.) CPL and the maximum recorded size is 45 mm (1.76) CPL (Page, 1985).

A Guelph Lake Crayfish.

A Guelph Lake Crayfish.

CONSERVATION STATUS:

Although generally widespread in its Canadian range, it has recently faced severe competition for resources by invading or expanding species. In Ontario, the Rusty Crayfish which is closely related and occupies a similar niche, has eliminated this species from numerous watersheds in the south and north of the province (Berrill, 1978; Corey, 1988; Olsen et al., 1991; Barr, 1996; Hamr, 1997a; Momot, 1997). The Rusty Crayfish is larger, more aggressive, and has a greater fecundity as well as faster egg and larval development than the Northern Clearwater Crayfish (Corey, 1988). Competition between the two also occurs via hybridization and reproductive interference (Capelli and Capelli, 1980; Berrill, 1985; Schueler, 1988; DiDonato and Lodge, 1993; Gunderson, 1995; Hamr 1997a; Momot, 1997). Local declines and disappearance may also be due to water and air pollution and associated chemical changes in previously occupied watersheds. A study of crayfishes in lakes of the Canadian Shield in Ontario found decreases in the Northern Clearwater Crayfish as well as other native populations.

It was suggested that these declines may be linked to low pH and high aluminum concentrations (David et al.,1994).

Other studies showed that the Northern Clearwater Crayfish is absent in lakes with pH < 5.6 and that water at a pH of 5.4-6.1 is toxic to attached juveniles of this species and the Rusty Crayfish (Berrill et al., 1985).

Since the Northern Clearwater Crayfish is much less tolerant of acid conditions than either the Appalachian Brook Crayfish and the Robust Crayfish, the disappearance of this species (in the absence of other negative factors) may be a good indicator of lake acidification.

There appear to still exist many secure and dense populations of this species in Ontario. Local extirpation, however, appears to be an increasing problem.

Given the widespread, fast and continued expansion the Rusty Crayfish in eastern Canada the southern populations of Northern Clearwater Crayfish should be considered locally threatened or in some cases endangered.

Although there are many threatening factors acting on this species, given its apparent widespread distribution and abundance his species should be considered as “Vulnerable” in Canada.

(Used by permission: text by Premek Hamr, modified from “Baitfish of North America”2007
painting by Aleta Karstad)

Related Products
Ian 22 inch Grand River Brown Trout CC
Saugeen River Steelhead October 21st 2016AAA
Fairy Lake Crayfish March 2017AAA

Crayfish

Guelph Lake Largemouth Bass Ultra Tungsten 12 ounce Spinnerbait AAA

Largemouth Bass

Guelph Lake Rock Bass AAA

Rock Bass

Grand-River-Streamer-Smallmouth-Bass-300x225

Smallmouth Bass

bluegill (2)

Bluegill

Bowfin
Guelph Lake Bulhead Catfish AAA
Carp on the Fly Rod Thames River

Common Carp

Catfish Rapala Centerpin Float Reel AA

Channel Catfish

Creek Chub

Creek Chub

Upper Grand River Horny Creek Chub AAA
Crappie through the Ice Guelph Lake AAA

Black Crappie

Steve Freshwater Sheephead Drum Hamilton DDD
Mooneye Fishing on the Lower Grand Rver BBB

Mooneye

Saugeen-River-Musky
Perch Guelph Lake Ice Fishing A
Longnose Gar Pike Kawarthas A
Northern Pike Chartreuse Trout Bead Okuma Raw Float Reel Resized

Northern Pike

Upper Grand River Walleye on a Bead Head Nymph AA
Jim Boni Atlantic Salmon Petite Cascapedia 22lbs AAA.13
Early Lake Huron Chinook Salmon on the Centerpin Float Rod AAA
Common Shiner AA
steelhead-hls-uv-nuclear-chartreuse-beads-slider-aa

Steelhead

Sucker Float Centerpin Fishing Mad River Bead Raven Fixed Float BB

White Sucker

Sunfish and a Berkley Pink Worm

Sunfish

Waterworks Lamson Force Grand River Second Year Brown Trout AA

Brown Trout

Lake Trout Lake Simcoe Pearl XZone Swammer

Lake Trout

Resident Upper Saugeen Rainbow Trout BB
Brook Speckled Trout Erin Ontario CC
White Fish Lake Simcoe Gold Cotton Cordell CC Spoon Resized for Web
Services
RETIREMENT PHOTO
HLS Custom UV Beads and HLS Bead Pegs AA
Custom HLS Acrylic Reel Seat Butt Cap and Islander Handle Conversion Replacement A
Custom IMX ST1562 cw Jungle Cock Inlays Resized for Web
A GLX Centerpin Rod - Strip & Rebuild Cork Handle with a Custom Reel Seat and Hook Keeper.
Custom Sage One - 7116B-4 - Baitcast with a twist Resized
Float Centerpin Reel Bearings B Resized
streamrunner3
Custom-Rod-Building
Custom HLS Float Reel Rosewood Handles Slainless Palming Ring Red Front Resized for Web
Used But Not Abused Page Image
Weekly Guest Presenter Button
Clearance Page Image
Warranty Button
Sage One Custom 7136B-6 Custom Float Rod Build with Red Zeppelin with Butt Wrap to match
HLS-TFC-Gift-Cards
Line-Spooling-Machine
Swim Tank
Online Sales Button
Wedding Boutonniere Bombanieri - Resized
Vintage Spinning Reels Resized for Web
Cane Bamboo Rod Prior to Refinish AA
Lip-Locked-Baits-Soft-Plastic-Assortment
Simms Custom Breathable Wader options
2017 Simms Vibram Boot Fit Kit
Baitcast professional over-run A
Custom-Feathered-Treble-Hooks-
HLS and TFC T Shirts A
Spey-Head-Loaner-Program-Airflo
Fly Line Welding Repair Machine Sage 6010 Fly Reel AAA
mudhole-logo

We are the leading provider of Fly Fishing Lessons, Corporate Team Building, and Guiding on the Upper Grand River, the Upper Credit River, and the Conestogo River.

No Guelph, Fergus, Kitchener or Cambridge Fishing Tackle Retailer will boast as complete and diverse a store inventory, including a vast selection of Centerpin / Float Fishing Reels, Rods, Clothing and Accessories.

Order a HLS or TFC Gift Card – We will put one in the mail for FREE!

Fly Shop Flyshop Flyfish Grand River Fly fish Grand River Guide Grand River Lesson Grand River Fergus Ontario Canada