Species profile
Northern Clearwater Crayfish
Faxonius propinquus
Identify Northern Clearwater Crayfish (Faxonius propinquus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 15 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Northern Clearwater Crayfish (Faxonius propinquus) is an IUCN Least Concern crustacean regulated in 18 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 20 (Montana); the most generous is 150 (Missouri).
Confirmed by 1,894 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Michigan, and New York the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Native to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America.
- Prefers cold, clear streams and lakes with rocky or gravel substrates.
- Body length typically reaches 7–8 cm.
- A critical prey item for smallmouth bass, walleye, and other game fish.
- Molts its exoskeleton several times per year to grow.
Where Northern Clearwater Crayfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Northern Clearwater Crayfish
Background
Faxonius propinquus, the Northern clearwater crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae found in Ontario, Quebec and the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Northern Clearwater Crayfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Northern Clearwater Crayfish?
Northern Clearwater Crayfish (Faxonius propinquus) is an IUCN Least Concern crustacean regulated in 18 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Northern Clearwater Crayfish?
Northern Clearwater Crayfish is Faxonius propinquus.
Is Northern Clearwater Crayfish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Northern Clearwater Crayfish has fishing regulations in 15 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Northern Clearwater Crayfish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Northern Clearwater Crayfish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.