Mussels as Bait
Mussels as Bait
I've sourced mussels from the local fishmonger and used them straight from their shells, however, find it difficult to keep them on my hooks for any length of time. Wondering what others might do re: sourcing mussels, preparing them and in particular how they're attached to your hooks.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, pedro@cliftonsprings. :water:
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, pedro@cliftonsprings. :water:
- 4liters
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Re: Mussels as Bait
never used them myself but I've seen 2 things posted from time to time that might be of help:
first is to take them out of their shells a day before and put them in salt to toughen them up
the second is to get the NZ green lipped mussels (or whatever they're called) because they're cheaper and tougher and work just as well as the local ones
as I say, that is second hand info so hopefully someone else has tried them and can vouch for their usefulness (or lack thereof)
first is to take them out of their shells a day before and put them in salt to toughen them up
the second is to get the NZ green lipped mussels (or whatever they're called) because they're cheaper and tougher and work just as well as the local ones
as I say, that is second hand info so hopefully someone else has tried them and can vouch for their usefulness (or lack thereof)
2015/16 Fisting Victoria Species comp total: 289cm
Brown Trout: 37cm
Flathead: 51cm; Squid: 36cm; Australian Salmon: 51cm; Snapper 46cm; Silver Trevally 23cm; KGW: 45cm
Major Sponsor: Rim Master Tackle
Brown Trout: 37cm
Flathead: 51cm; Squid: 36cm; Australian Salmon: 51cm; Snapper 46cm; Silver Trevally 23cm; KGW: 45cm
Major Sponsor: Rim Master Tackle
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Re: Mussels as Bait
I've heard that you open them at home, Salt them and pop em in the fridge. They toughen up and stay on the hook better.
- Fish-cador
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Re: Mussels as Bait
Steal you wife's sewing threads. Do not use elastic baitmate. It will ruin your mussels
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Re: Mussels as Bait
Clean them and put them in szive drain them of most of the liquid and salt heaps put in freezer , they wont freeze they work a treat
- 4liters
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Re: Mussels as Bait
what does the elastic do to them?Fish-cador wrote:Steal you wife's sewing threads. Do not use elastic baitmate. It will ruin your mussels
2015/16 Fisting Victoria Species comp total: 289cm
Brown Trout: 37cm
Flathead: 51cm; Squid: 36cm; Australian Salmon: 51cm; Snapper 46cm; Silver Trevally 23cm; KGW: 45cm
Major Sponsor: Rim Master Tackle
Brown Trout: 37cm
Flathead: 51cm; Squid: 36cm; Australian Salmon: 51cm; Snapper 46cm; Silver Trevally 23cm; KGW: 45cm
Major Sponsor: Rim Master Tackle
- FishnMiss
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Re: Mussels as Bait
My experience with the elastic bait mate is that it is too thick and stretchy and just cuts through the mussels and destroys them.4liters wrote:what does the elastic do to them?Fish-cador wrote:Steal you wife's sewing threads. Do not use elastic baitmate. It will ruin your mussels
I use a very fine bait mate called Black Magic that is $5.95 a roll (more than the elastic stuff but better) and is like fine silk/cotton to tie my Pippies, Mussells, Pillies (if they're not toughened by salting them) and when you snap it you don't rip your bait in half and you don't need scissors t cut).
" For Evil to triumph, all that Good people have to do is - Nothing "
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Re: Mussels as Bait
Use the thread and twist method when putting it on the hook. E.g. Thread then twist then thread then twist till it's all on
- Fish-cador
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Re: Mussels as Bait
that will work too but you there is a big chance it will fly when you cast.Misheen wrote:Use the thread and twist method when putting it on the hook. E.g. Thread then twist then thread then twist till it's all on
Use sewing thread ($1 for 500m) or bait buddy as shown in the photo. Both works just fine. I can cast as far as I can when chasing KGW from the beach.