Easy open cusk/Burbot traps

[surflizard]

I came up with a cusk/burbot trap design a few years back after losing too many fish and lines to chisel damage ! Here in NH we're allowed to have set lines for Cusk, only stipulation is that they have to be inspected once every 24 hours ! I use a scrape piece of 1/2 pvc pipe to prtect the line from the chisel and to help the line from freezing in. I use hole covers to keep the holes from freezing and it gives me a platform on top of the open hole to pile snow on for added insulation. I pour a splash of cooking oil in the plastic once the trap is in place and it allows me to check the line for a fish at anytime during the 24 hour period. The best part is no matter how cold it gets, to pull the trap to check it or move is very simple, I slide my chsel under the foam hole cover and lift, No chopping ! This set up has worked down to -34* below and makes checking the traps so much easier and it allows me to run more traps !

[webster]

how many of these traps can you set . I am hoping if the ice gets thick enough to try for cusk in Champlain this winter. We use to catch the odd one once in a while on eyes perch fishing. There must be some there. We cannot leave a set line in vermont.

[surflizard]

We are allowed 6 lines for cusk fishing, they do have to be checked once every 24 hours, meaning the hook must be pulled to the surface and visually inspected. We target them specifically with jigging rods in March during the spawn period, we locate rockpiles during the full moon period. They tend to be super aggresive during the spawn, flashy spoons with a piece of suckermeat or a chunk of shiner work well.

[RaveRo]

That's great info. The limit does take the fun out of it