Yabbies are a tough little freshwater cray that turn up in dams, creeks and farm channels right across inland Australia. Anglers love them because they are easy to catch, great fun for kids, and one of the best natural baits you can get for native fish.
You will find yabbies in freshwater right through much of southern and inland Australia, especially in dams, billabongs, slow creeks and irrigation channels. They handle muddy bottoms, weedy edges and pretty ordinary water better than most critters, and they often burrow into soft banks when conditions get rough.
Yabbies are opportunistic scavengers that eat bits of plant matter, algae, insects, worms and just about any dead or easy food they come across. They mostly feed along the bottom and become more active when the light drops or the water settles down. If there is food scent in the water, they will usually find it.
Tide timing does not matter for yabbies because they are a freshwater species, so FishCast tide scores are not really a factor here. Low light usually helps, with dawn, dusk and night often seeing them move about more freely. Light to moderate wind can help by stirring food into the water, but strong wind can muddy small waters too much and make trapping awkward. Swell is not relevant in freshwater, though calm water levels and stable conditions generally make them easier to locate and trap.
Opera house style traps, lift nets and simple hand lines baited with meat, fish frames or dog food all work well in Australian freshwater. Use sturdy cord, keep your traps on the muddy bottom near weed or timber, and give them a bit of time before checking. If you want bait-sized yabbies for fishing, a small aerated bucket will keep them in good nick for the session.
Yabbies can survive harsh dry spells by burrowing deep into the mud and waiting for water to return.