Mussels

[utfyrfytr]

Last week a friend and I fished Willard. We had heard many were using mussels so we took some with us. Question is how do you keep them on your hook? No matter how I tried they just fell apart. Would someone mind telling me how you fish them? Thanks
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[Therapist]

Keep em frozen! If they are fresh, the tough fringe will allow you to hookem.

[wiperhunter2]

You buy them precooked, Walmart sells them that way but buy them precooked in the shell.
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[RockyRaab]

I've never used them but I wonder if you could a small mesh bag like the guys who fish with fresh salmon roe use.
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[wiperhunter2]

Yes, when they are uncooked, that's the best way to fish them, other wise they will not stay on the hook, as the OP indicated.
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[RBL]

I crack them and lay them on the rocks, let the sun dry them out and they get a little tougher. Also using a treble hook helps.
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[Never_Skunked]

What you do to keep the mussel in the hook is: First take the hook and hook the black part of the mussel or called the . Then reverse the hook and punture through the mussel to hhe outside. If you need any help with bank fishing for wipers send me a pm and I can show you how it is done.
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[whit210]

Raid the Wife's or Mother's sewing box. Place the mussel on the hook then wrap thread around the mussel 6 or 7 times until it holds.
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[chipflipper]

small rubber bands, like used on Teeth braces work great.
keep them froze when banding them on.
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[chipflipper]

I think a mess bag would work great, what about a small piece of moma's panty hoes?
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[utahgolf]

easiest way: buy a small snap swivel and tie to line. Then take a small treble and back the eye of the hook through the middle of the mussel, then attach treble to snap swivel. Keep the treble hooks buried in the mussel. When the wiper hits the mussel, the mussel comes apart and exposes the hooks. Also that small snap swivel doesn't effect them biting at all, they put it all in there mouth and start munching. So to re-bait, all you have to do is remove the treble from snap swivel and back the eye through another mussel and reattach it. pretty easy and seems to be the best method to keep them on.
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[utfyrfytr]

Gee Thanks. I couldn't come up with one way that worked and you have given me eight and they all sound good.
Took the old Crestliner that I have been re-doing over to the west dike this AM and caught a few cats, all 14-18". While we were watching our lines and facing the dike we heard a commotion behind us and not 20 yards away was a large boil going on. It only lasted probably 20-30 seconds but it was fun to watch.
I haven't fished much for the past 20 yrs or so but hoping to get back at it a little this summer.
Thanks for all of the replies they will help.
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