The Yabbie Pump

The Yabbie Pump, a handy crevicing tool.

The yabbie pump above has two PVC crevice attachments.

WHAT IS A YABBIE?

I have had several E-mails regarding this "thing" I call the Yabbie pump, so this page is dedicated to explaining what it is.
In Australia we get "Yabbies" that live in sand/mud along certain parts of the coastline. Fishermen get to these burrowing crustaceans by using the Yabbie Pump.Yabbies grow to about 10cm long and are soft bodied with small white claws. They are related to other crustaceans such as lobsters, crayfish but are more like crawdads or marons.

WHAT IS A YABBIE PUMP?

Basically, a yabbie pump is a stainless steel cylindrical tube that has a shaft through the center which has a plunger system attached at the end. The stainless tube is 770mm long and 50mm in diameter. The internal shaft is made from brass and is threaded at the bottom. At the bottom there is a wingnut, brass washer, rubber plunger, brass washer assembly. The closest similar device I can find in the Catalogues is a crevice sucker or crevice sniper, but these aren't nearly as long, or hold as much as, the Yabbie pump.

The yabbie pump and all its components.

HOW TO USE IT

When used by fishermen, it is inserted in the mud where Yabbie holes have been found and the operator pulls the shaft up to create a vacuum which sucks the little blighters out of their holes and into the tube. The tube is then removed from the sand/mud and "squirted" onto the ground. The yabbies thrash around for a bit and are then scooped up ready for use as bait. They are excellent for Bream and whiting. In Brisbane, yabbies sell for about 20cents each and the Yabbie Pump sells for about $40:00.

The same principle is used when sucking out gold and dirt from crevices where water is present. The pump can be used where there is only a little water as they don't require much more than a ten litre bucket to work in and the water can be recirculated.I shoot the gravel into a bucket once the pump is full of gravel and pan it off once it is full. The sucking action ensures that all the gravel is removed from the crevice, especially when it is combined with the blasting action when the pump is pushed down rapidly.

ATTACHMENTS

I have made a few attachments to fit over the end of the tube so that I can get down into the narrow crevices. They are made from PVC pipe that has been heated and flattened in a vice. I have made three flattened nozzles and they will fit into any crevices I have found. Two are flattened pipe and the third attaches , using a PVC reducer, onto a 13mm * 1 meter length of garden hose, giving me final access into any unusual crevices. All the attachments are fitted onto the pump with hose clamps and an old radiator hose.

I know it sounds a little bit "homemade" but I don't mind how I find my gold. :)

WHERE DO YOU GET THEM.

All the tackle stores in Australia should carry them as standard equipment and they go for around $35-$40 Aus. If you want a good starting point then try The Aussie Fishing and Lure Shop or Alvey accessories

A recent email has suggested that there is a way of making your own yabby pump from plastic fittings. Manuel sells the plans for $5 US and can be reached at Manuel's make your own plastic Yabby pump. If anyone makes one of these, please let me know how it turns out. His email is manuelz@netzero.net.

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