Cusk Traps

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Kourcha - When I mentioned can't actively fish I was referring to the set cusk traps.  You're supposed to set it & forget it versus bouncing it off the bottom.

AA - Yeah I agree, rule sucks.  I didn't even bother bringing my cusk lines last year on the Moosehead trip.  Seemed odd that ME has that rule in place yet they are so much looser than NH when it comes to Lakers & Salmon.

Completely agree

[Kourcha]

thanks guys that clears things up a bit, so you guys can set 6 additional cusk lines as well as the lines you can legally fish, I think I get it now, I generally don't mind checking my traps here every hour here in Maine, In my experience a lot of the smaller cusk don't set my flags off and seem to chew the bait right on bottom but as someone that loves the taste of cusk I can definitely see the perks to having cusk lines set like that

[zwiggles]

You can still check them every hour as well. I usually end up leaving the jig rod alone by the end of the night, and just do rounds. You get 3-4 guys out there, and you wind up with a nice batch of chowder fish.

[Ravo Himself]

Heading up for derby weekend again this year but this time I'm determined to catch my first cusk. Definitely over engineered them a little bit but I like having the marker stick attached and the fact it can fold up.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Nice! I’ve had days I wished I had a marker the next am lol

[Steve H.]

I use cheap snelled eagle claw #4 bait holders the way I rig them to the weight it leaves them at 6” or less of leader which is required, then removing fish is as simple as cutting off any keepers or swallows and snapping a quick new snell on in freezing temps or night it’s appreciated.

I’ve posted pics of them before. Take note: IF YOU JUST SNAP SWIVEL ON A SNELLED HOOK FROM Eagle claw it’s not legal. It’s to long

Something like this?

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Yep, very similar. That’s the just of it anyhow. I’ll get a fresh pic this weekend if I’m fortunate enough to fish derby and not just hope my ticket gets pulled for cash lol

[HuntnFish603]

Yep, very similar. That’s the just of it anyhow. I’ll get a fresh pic this weekend if I’m fortunate enough to fish derby and not just hope my ticket gets pulled for cash lol

I'll call your bluff. Fresh pics needed 

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I'll call your bluff. Fresh pics needed 

Haha I like your thinking

[MadSledder]

Speaking of cusking, I've been out a half dozen times on Sunapee this winter and haven't seen a single one yet. I've been trying different depths and diff access points but no cusk. I haven't been leaving my lines overnight, just letting them soak for a few hours while I jig. 

Anyone else cusk on Sunapee and have any tips to share on it? I'm rather disappointed in the action, I've put a lotta cusk under my belt in Maine and would rarely see a skunk.

[SHaRPS]

#2 eagle claw baitholders for me. Like Frank said, cannot attach them right to weight or they or over 6" but if you connect them to the same side as the handline then thread through the other side, they are legal. Xlarge shiners and small suckers for me if I can get both but never noticed a difference on catch ratio. I prefer them live and hooked through the back as far down as possible without a spine shot. I have seen depth matter but for me, 25-60' has produced year after year just the same. No bells, no lights and yes, dark is way better than during the day. I do think that stank and the vibration a live bait puts off helps big time. Lastly, stinky balls. 

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Forgot I was going to take a pic of mine   Give me a second

[AQUAASSASSIN]

So if you run the eagle claw snells through a “Smelt” weight ( different names this is what I call them) through the top and then the bottom of a 1oz or bigger it gives you a exact 6”

[wally]

Speaking of cusking, I've been out a half dozen times on Sunapee this winter and haven't seen a single one yet. I've been trying different depths and diff access points but no cusk. I haven't been leaving my lines overnight, just letting them soak for a few hours while I jig. 

Anyone else cusk on Sunapee and have any tips to share on it? I'm rather disappointed in the action, I've put a lotta cusk under my belt in Maine and would rarely see a skunk.

Same here for me... Not a single one in a couple sets..

[zwiggles]

Speaking of cusking, I've been out a half dozen times on Sunapee this winter and haven't seen a single one yet. I've been trying different depths and diff access points but no cusk. I haven't been leaving my lines overnight, just letting them soak for a few hours while I jig. 

Anyone else cusk on Sunapee and have any tips to share on it? I'm rather disappointed in the action, I've put a lotta cusk under my belt in Maine and would rarely see a skunk.

It certainly doesn’t help now, but if you go out in the fall and look for some cabbage and rocks adjacent to some deeper water with a good decline it tends to produce well. My go to for bait is 2-3 shiners hooked on the same hook facing different directions. They fight against each other, and I think the noise/movement brings them in.

[SHaRPS]

It certainly doesn’t help now, but if you go out in the fall and look for some cabbage and rocks adjacent to some deeper water with a good decline it tends to produce well. My go to for bait is 2-3 shiners hooked on the same hook facing different directions. They fight against each other, and I think the noise/movement brings them in.

Truly don't think this matters as much as location and a "untouched: school of fish