Tips for cleaner use of wet-cured eggs?

[West Linn Wader]

Greetings Ifishers!

I just picked up some of Amerman's famous eggs and am wondering if anyone has any good tips for clean use of those little beauties. I am used to using dry cured eggs and some of the things I like most about those is that they are easier and cleaner to use. I have them already cut into small pieces which don't stick together (due to the powder medium) and they just aren't as messy in general.

I already have my wet-cured eggs cut into pieces and in the freezer. I am now wondering if there is some kind of dry medium I could try for when I take them out for use. I don't want to use borax so what else would work and not taint the cure already on these eggs? Powdered sugar?

In any case your tips for general cleaner use will be appreciated. I had the (brilliant if I do say so myself) idea to use gelatin wrappers like the ones that come around that Japanese Botan rice candy since they wouold dissolve in the water but haven't been able to find them.

Thx!

SF

[Danderson]

The only thing I ever add to his eggs is a little bit of marie's shrimp oil. Only when the time is right ofcourse :smile:

Hopefully scott will respond to your post and give you some better ideas. I use surgical gloves with the white liner not for scent issue but so my hands do not turn dishwater afterI rig up about 100 baits. I keep em fresh and change as soon as 1/2 my bait is white again. Good luck

[David Johnson]

The goo is the nature of the beast when it comes to wet eggs.

If you add any kind of sugar you are going to get sticky, runny eggs.

Some guys lay out their eggs and fan dry them to get them tacky, but that is taking away the perpose of a wet egg.

You could try putting them on a screan that is streached over a tupper-wear type container while fishing to drain them a little while on the water.

[Fishen Fool]

Grant layers them in paper towels after thawing them out. I fished with him last week and they are still kinda damp, but not nearly as messy.

[David Johnson]

A damp cloth towel works good for that too and it doesn't get blown around like paper.

[fishing is life]

Dave, do you use any particular detergent for your towels? i jsut use non scented deterrgent. i was thinking of using lemon joy to wash my rags.

[crabbait]

I buy a package of white terry cloth shop rags at G.I. Joes. They are cheap and about the same as a hand towel. Everybody on the boat gets their own towel, along with a tupperware container of eggs and one of sand shrimp. (No time for "could ya hand me the eggs, shrimp, towel", etc.)

After a day of bobber fishing the towels are the sweetest pink! We just rinse them over the side when they get too messy. The towels milk beautifully!

If you are looking for Scott to give you hints on how to keep the boat clean while egg fishing, keep looking. The entire interior of Scott's boat is the most awesome flo pink color when the fall pigs are running. I believe he uses hand towels as well. Rods and reels get a good scrub down after he is off the water. No time for "housework" when the bite is on.

[David Johnson]

FIL-

I just buy a bag of the towels Crab Bait mentioned and throw them away after they are egg soaked but a mild soap should do fine.

[Amerman]

Stinkfinger

Sounds like your name is great for these eggs. I would not add anything to the eggs to make them drier if you do you are taking away from the eggs. I would if you want drier eggs place them in the refridge either on a cookie sheet or in a Tupperware container. Let them tack up a little as the dehumidiher in the fridge draws out a little moister. This will dry the eggs a little without draining off the juice that gives out so much smell. I would only advice this for steelhead and would not do this for salmon.

Scott

[West Linn Wader]

They don't call me StinkFinger for nothin'! It's either eggs, shrimp or (on a good day) something I've landed!

Thx for the tips all.

SF

[ROGUE35]

get some depends bed pads and acouple of dry towels {one should be wet} set yor bait container on the depend and bait up towels are for your own hands .....

[fishbait]

Ya know, wet eggs can be kinda messy, but my main problem is all the darn fish slime on the bottom of my boat. Non messy wet eggs are kinda like a non dangerous sticky sharp trebble hook. Get some wet towles and enjoy the mess while you catch fish.

[Charlie]

I was fishing the other day with my friend, in his
son's drift boat who happens to be a guide. Anyway
in the boat were three Frizbees, I thought maybe if the fishing was slow we were going to play with
them on the beach, no he said turn them over and
put your bait (eggs/shrimp) in them and the mess
does not get all over the boat...great idea thought I would pass it on.
Charlie