View Full Version : HERRING BRINE IDEAS?
Uncle Roman
08-15-2001, 05:08 PM
I would like to troll some herring one of these days and I am curious what experienced herring users do to their herring. Do you use a commercial brine mix? Homemade? In my limited experience I have noticed herring to be very soft when thawed out and not very durable. I'll probably buy frozen if I can even find any of that this year, and I would appreciate any curing tips you have. Thank you very much, images/icons/smile.gif
Uncle roman, I use a mixture of rock salt and I think it's called Mrs. Wrights blueing, it comes in a blue bottle in the laundry soap section of grocery stores. This is a type of whitener which keeps the brightness on the herring. The rock salt will firm up the fish and also help to keep the scales attached. I usually soak mine 12-18 hours then vacuum pack it. Be sure to keep it on ice while you are fishing to keep it fresh.
Hope this helps !
willierower
08-15-2001, 08:28 PM
UR,
Ive used Pro-Cure Brine and Bite. Even though I have yet to catch a salmon on herring, Ive had better luck firming up my herring with that stuff.
I know where there are some fish..... images/icons/grin.gif . If you are nice I will let you know, There close too images/icons/wink.gif
[ 08-15-2001: Message edited by: willierower ]
willierower
08-15-2001, 08:36 PM
Ah heck, You are an old high school buddy.......... Check your e-mail.
Uncle Roman
08-16-2001, 07:43 PM
Thanks for the input, I think I'll go with the brine and bite first, then I'll investigate that "bluing agent". Anybody ever think about MSG? I know I like it, whatever it is........
CAGEY
08-16-2001, 09:48 PM
M S G
MONOSODIUMGLUDIMATE = A FOOD PRESERVATIVE
AND A LAXATIVE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
DONT KNOW WHY THEY HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER
EATING AT SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN HOME.
HT Buzzo
08-17-2001, 10:34 AM
Anybody ever try any scent oil in their herring brine. I don't usually brine my herring, just cut-plug and pro-cure herring oil, but I was told there were ways to add scent to brine. The problem is brined herring don't seem to absorb scent as easily because the cells are so pumped up with saline. It will probably just take some trial and error, but I've heard from many guides that its not just good cures and brine that make your bait work, its the scents and oils that you use- this goes for eggs, shrimp, herring, or any other baitfish. Its also important to eliminate human odors by using latex or vinyl gloves and keeping your gear clean- hey, anything to up the percentages.
The life of a chinook fisherman is always intense.
HT
Richter
08-18-2001, 12:35 AM
HT Buzzo,
I almost always inject my bait with some sort of "secret sauce". Most of them are a combination of two or more scents but sometimes a straight herring or sardine oil works best. My favorite is a combination of herring, sardine & anise oil. Experiment using different scents on different rods until you find one that is really working that day. With nothing else seems to work try garlic!