Hitting Ellacoya for an overnight for cusk.

[sincityrednek]

Planning on Friday night. I have never fished over that way, any tips? Myself and my friend Dave will be out in an Eskimo QF6 if anybody wants to stop by.

Leo

[nixstyx]

Use something that glows. On long tapering flats like Ellacoya they can see it from a long ways away and will come in to investigate. I like to use a glow jig head with a dead shiner.

[BrookieSlayer99]

Planning on Friday night. I have never fished over that way, any tips? Myself and my friend Dave will be out in an Eskimo QF6 if anybody wants to stop by.

Leo

Please report back with ice conditions, I'm debating whether to go to Ellacoya or Newfound.

[30-06guy]

I would recommend getting there with some daylight if you can. It will help with checking the ice conditions. I haven't been over that way for a couple weeks but there was still some open water there when a lot of the rest of the lake was frozen over.

X2 what NIXSTYX said.

[sincityrednek]

Use something that glows. On long tapering flats like Ellacoya they can see it from a long ways away and will come in to investigate. I like to use a glow jig head with a dead shiner.

Thanks for the advise bud.

Please report back with ice conditions, I'm debating whether to go to Ellacoya or Newfound.

No problem.

I would recommend getting there with some daylight if you can. It will help with checking the ice conditions. I haven't been over that way for a couple weeks but there was still some open water there when a lot of the rest of the lake was frozen over.
Definitely. I hate new areas at night, especially areas on big lakes.


X2 what NIXSTYX said.

Thanks guys.

[NHSlabbinCabin]

Let me know if you want some company. I've never fished over there but it's probably only 15 minutes from my house. I rarely get out night jigging for cusk.

[sincityrednek]

Let me know if you want some company. I've never fished over there but it's probably only 15 minutes from my house. I rarely get out night jigging for cusk.

I'll let you know when we head up bud.

[ishoot308]

Just an fyi...

I live across the street from Ellacoya and there was a bob house put out there on Sunday. Not saying that makes the ice safe just letting you know.

Also, unlike years past, that part of the lake froze over fairly quickly and evenly this year with no open water remaining for weeks like last year. Again not saying its safe just giving you some info.

Good luck fishing if you go!

Dan

[sincityrednek]

Thanks for the info ishoot308, that's awesome.

[Maineiac2]

I have never fished the Ellacoya for cusk but I do well other spots with a glow buckshot rattle spoon single hook with cut bait.

[Togue-hunter]

we have a house on alton bay. and swing by Ellacoya during the summers. thinking of fishing there in the coming weeks.
question is:

- any parking in the state park during winter? need a permit?
- hows the fishing? ( general ? i guess )

[30-06guy]

Yes there is parking in along the side of the campground. If it's busy it can get filled up in there kind of quick. I have also seen people park along side of the road. When there is snow on the lake a lot of snowmobilers park and access the lake from there.

[sincityrednek]

So we had a good time out there for the overnighter. ~8 " where we were fishing. I finally managed to jig up a cusk, been getting them on set lines just never a rod. NHslabbincabin came out with us, it was great meeting you bud. A lot of shacks going out there now. There is a burm or ridge along the launch area that will make it tough to bring a hard side.

Leo

[NHSlabbinCabin]

Nice to meet you guys too! Had a good time out there. We will have to meet up again to get on some whites!

[herecuskycusky]

Have not been fishing yet this year. Just been crazy busy. But I got the itch so I'm heading the lake tonight. I'll be sitting on a bucket until I freeze or my beer freezes.

[ice fisher]

How deep are you fishing for cusk at night ? Just wondering

[sincityrednek]

My sets were in roughly 20fow I was jiggin in 10-12fow, did much better with the sets.

[ice fisher]

10 to 12 feet of water ? Do they come in that close during the day or is that night fishing ? I haven't fished for them at night myself but maybe that is y I don't get many ?

[BrookieSlayer99]

They come up on shallow sandy beaches/reefs during the night as long as it is adjacent to a deep water basin. At least that's what I've heard. But I know a spot on Winni that is pretty productive and usually I can get 4 or 5 cusk on traps and the water is only 8-17 fow

[TheOutdoorsman]

I've caught them in 8 to 80 feet of water.  I've caught them over hard bottom and sandy bottom.  I've caught them in shallow, sloping areas and on steep drop-offs. 

The biggest common denominator is not surprising since they are mostly nocturnal, so probably 95% of the cusk I've caught have been at night.  The largest cusk have always come on the jigging rod as well, and the best bait has been fresh smelt on a glowing spoon.  Yes, they like dead, smelly stuff too, but IMHO, you can't beat a fresh smelt when those cusk are chowing down on live smelt, which is often.

[ice fisher]

Thank you for sharing info how to target cusk I appreciate it