Author Topic: Cusk Bait????  (Read 6511 times)

Offline dangerdave

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Cusk Bait????
« on: Jan 27, 2010, 09:12 AM »
Has anyone tried using freshwater mussels for cusk? What else other than our usual shiners and smelts?

Offline Thumber

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #1 on: Jan 27, 2010, 09:15 AM »
Sucker, Grayfish, Chicken Livers, if you have any of the stinky baits they sell like Gulp try that on 1 rig.
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Offline james

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #2 on: Jan 27, 2010, 09:23 AM »
An old timer I used to Know, swore by Mackerel.

Offline SmellsLikeFishNH

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #3 on: Jan 27, 2010, 09:26 AM »
An old timer I used to Know, swore by Mackerel.

I catch tons of cusk deep sea fishing with Clams, I wonder if they will eat that in the lake? I still have some in my freezer from this summer....anyone try that?

Offline draz

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #4 on: Jan 27, 2010, 11:09 AM »
question for you cusk guys

I am going to try it this weekend. Things I know:
6 cusk trap (with name and address)
1oz weight
hook (SIZE??) no longer than 6 inches away from weight.

Am I missing anything. Thanks for the help.




Offline JIGGIN-

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #5 on: Jan 27, 2010, 11:17 AM »
question for you cusk guys

I am going to try it this weekend. Things I know:
6 cusk trap (with name and address) ,,,Correct
1oz weight ,,,,should be at least 1/8 oz over 1 oz....go to AJ's.hook (SIZE??)
no longer than 6 inches away from weight ....Correct

Am I missing anything. Thanks for the help.

Not free spooling. Needs to be a set line resting on bottom. Sew on your bait if possible so the cusk dont take it off your hook. Run your hook through the tail the up near the head with the hook pointing back toward the tail. That way when they take it head first, the hook will be in it's mouth.

Good Luck Draz, Go Go Get Em!
JIGGIN.

Offline bobbybass

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #6 on: Jan 27, 2010, 11:17 AM »
This will be the first time draz and i go for cusk aswell I am making my devices tonight.  but a question about the bait can you use live bait.

Offline JIGGIN-

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #7 on: Jan 27, 2010, 11:19 AM »
This will be the first time draz and i go for cusk aswell I am making my devices tonight.  but a question about the bait can you use live bait.

Absolutely!

JIGGIN.

Offline Pail Rider

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #8 on: Jan 27, 2010, 11:31 AM »
I used chicken livers 3 years ago at the derby, and it was the first time ever that I didn't catch cusk.  After soaking for two days, the livers looked like a glob of snot, if I was a cusk, I wouldn't have eaten it either!!

I've heard crayfish are killer, most of the cusk I've cleaned were jammed with them.  Never tried them tho....

Offline bobbybass

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #9 on: Jan 27, 2010, 11:51 AM »
Thanks for the quick responce guys.  i was going to get chicken livers to use now i won't bother.  Can you by creyfish anywhere by winnie

Offline Riverat

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #10 on: Jan 27, 2010, 12:06 PM »
Tried chicken livers a few years ago, no good not one cusk.

Offline draz

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #11 on: Jan 27, 2010, 12:38 PM »
So you can run heavier than 1oz. So is it a 1oz minimum on the weight.

Thanks Jig

Hope to see you in Feb for the Newfound Derby with Bobbybass.

Offline -DEER

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #12 on: Jan 27, 2010, 01:08 PM »
Sweeeeet! getting so pumped for the derby. This is also my first time trying cusk traps.  From what everyone has wrote looks like I'm going to it right so far. lol    I'll see some of you at A.J's at 4am Sat... 

Offline NHSlabbinCabin

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #13 on: Jan 27, 2010, 01:39 PM »
Crayfish can be hard to come by, usually everyone's sold out

Offline draz

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #14 on: Jan 27, 2010, 02:13 PM »
I'll see some of you at A.J's at 4am Sat... 

You'll be late at that time. lol
good luck out there

Offline -DEER

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #15 on: Jan 27, 2010, 06:28 PM »
You'll be late at that time. lol
good luck out there

lmao,  god I hope not

Does anyone know if we are allowed to chum holes for cusk?  If so any good ideas for chum?

Offline Rollins76

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #16 on: Jan 27, 2010, 06:34 PM »
I've had good luck with large shiners so far this year, hey seem to catch the small cusk, which then get eaten by the big ones.

I'm going to try crayfish this year too. Whenever I gut cusk they always have crayfish in their stomach, I guess I should be fishing with it?!?  ;D

Offline james

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #17 on: Jan 27, 2010, 06:38 PM »
lmao,  god I hope not

Does anyone know if we are allowed to chum holes for cusk?  If so any good ideas for chum?

We have been using saltwater smelt heads for chum. It doesnt seem to attract the cusk, but the lake trout seem to like them. ;)

Offline -DEER

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #18 on: Jan 27, 2010, 06:45 PM »
We have been using saltwater smelt heads for chum. It doesnt seem to attract the cusk, but the lake trout seem to like them. ;)

Sounds good!  I was hoping that the chum will attract the crayfish that will than attract the cusk.

Offline nhbigdrake

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #19 on: Jan 27, 2010, 06:49 PM »
is there a web site that has pics on how to rig crayfish?
bad day fishin's better than a good day of workn'

Offline Orion7

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #20 on: Jan 27, 2010, 07:34 PM »
We have been using saltwater smelt heads for chum. It doesnt seem to attract the cusk, but the lake trout seem to like them. ;)

OK I know I'm a newbie but I have a trick that seems to work well.  I learned it as a kid for channel cats and have used it surf casting in the ocean.  Last year I did this as an experiment and some guys wouldn't acknowledge that it works.  I use live shiners, but thats not the trick.  The trick is 6- 12  inches above your weight loop a swivel into the line then take a green chem light, snap light or what ever you may call them  and attach it.  The green glow seems to draw cusk to the bait every time.  Now it wasn't quite scientific but I did this last year a few times and every line that had a chem light attached had fish on and out of the other three lines 1 had fish on and two had bait still. So without the chem light fishing was 33.333% affective.  With chem lights on 100% affective.  Try it, you may find it works.

Good luck this week end men....

Offline Pail Rider

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #21 on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:35 AM »
Using a light to attract fish is illegal in NH.  ;)

Offline hardwatergrampa

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #22 on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:38 AM »
Using a light to attract fish is illegal in NH.  ;)
its not a light its a glow stick
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Offline Pail Rider

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #23 on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:47 AM »
its not a light its a glow stick

I don't want to split that hair  ;)

Offline hardwatergrampa

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #24 on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:54 AM »
I don't want to split that hair  ;)
i would think it would fall under a glow luer ;)
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Offline Pail Rider

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #25 on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:58 AM »
I just sent an email to LT. Bryant to get his interpretation....beca use I like the idea, and if it's legal I'll be using it for not only cusk, but crappies as well  ;)

Offline hardwatergrampa

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #26 on: Jan 28, 2010, 07:01 AM »
iv tried them in Maine had so luck with them small capsule hooks to your line and you put the glow tube in it let us know what he says
in god we trust

Offline Thumber

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #27 on: Jan 28, 2010, 07:05 AM »
I think it OK to use, I have not seen a law stating it is not permitted. It will be good to hear a answer from the Lt.
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Offline Orion7

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #28 on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:29 PM »
Well I would like to know also as I have mentioned it before to friends with a fish & game officer present a few years ago and he said. "Hmm thats a good idea."    I think it's going to come down to interpretaion.  Just like having 6 cusk lines out and you can have an additional two tip ups as long as you are manning them.  So 8 lines in the water on a trout / salmon lake.  Myself and others went through this with fish & game last year and various officers all had their own interpretation of this law.  Go figure, many things are in that "grey area"...

Post if anyone hears anything....

Offline cusk killa

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Re: Cusk Bait????
« Reply #29 on: Jan 28, 2010, 10:01 PM »
is there a web site that has pics on how to rig crayfish?

Ya www.howtorigcrayfish.c om stupid

 



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