Help and advice

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:55 am

Hi Guys. Happy New Year to you all.
Need some advice on 2 baits. frozen mussels and crab. have never used these as bait before, how do i bait them up and whats best rigs to use them on.?
Be most greatfull for any advice please.

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:18 am

Mussel and crab need to be secured to the hook with bait elastic which all tackle shops will have in stock. It is a killer bait for flatfish such as plaice, dabs and flounders and I would use this on the bottom hook. Crab needs to be secured in the same fashion.

The rig I would suggest is a running ledger with a 2 hook flapper above the weight and use the crab on the 2 top hooks.
Cheers
keith big grin

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:40 am

Ty rabbi (keith) for your help and advice on rigs for crabs and mussels. will try them out on next trip. Martyn

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 2:12 pm

Let me know how you get on as this never fails me when I can afford crab.
Cheers
keith big grin

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:16 pm

hi martyn. was just reading some tips on crab and muscle and it sugests that if you freeze the bait on to hooks in a ice cube holder and attach still frozen it stays on your hook while casting and the ice melts once in the water

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:34 pm

Problem is that you have to have a cool box or thermos flask to stop t melting before you are ready to use it.
Cheers
keith big grin

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 6:43 pm

Ty rabbi and hatter for help and advice. have a cool box and them cool blocks that you keep in freezer, but no ice trays, plus the bait was already frozen in packets when bought from shop.

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:45 am

Frozen Peeler Crab is a killer bait on the Holderness Coast during the summer months for Thornback Ray & Smoothounds. Cod, Bass etc can all be caught on Peeler Crab though and is often used during the winter months too.

What species are you targeting will determine what rig to use not to mention the sea state, the sea bed that you are fishing over etc etc.

I always use a whole frozen Peeler Crab that is peeled and de-lunged before wrapping it around the hook shank with baiting elastic, even been known to put 3 Crabs lol and caught some great fish in 2009 at Out Newton.

I only take enough Crab with me for the day and keep it in a little cool bag but often they will defrost but still be in a good enough state to refreeze if not used.

My mate has had Crab in his freezer for over 2 yrs that has been defrosted and frozen several times and it still is a killer bait.

Can't help you with the other bait as never used it.

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:53 am

another way is to use finger bandage just stuff it with mussel then ty off with elastic thread also good with cart bait. used it on filey brig you can buy crab cart at bill costins at scarborough, cheers ian.

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:19 pm

The plan was to try using different baits at king george dock. as last time blanked with frozen worms, and get accustomed to using different baits, instead of just normal worms.