Herring Brine

[Sometimeslucky]

Hey guys, I've only been fishing for about 4 years, usually using spoons, or squid as lures for salmon in the salt. It would be appreciated if I could get some information on brine for herring in order to get them hard. Also, how long can you leave them frozen before they turn to mush? Thanks.

[chinarider]

First of all, you'll want to post a newbie story in order to get a response.

While you are thinking of what to post, though, you may want to try the search feature - This topic has been covered many times and a little digging will yield what you seek.

Tom

[GutZ]

One thing I have been doing lately is to put two handfuls of rock salt in a qua rt jar, add a teaspoon of blue food color, shake well and add herring. This will keep in the freezer without freezing because of all the salt. We have even managed to get a few fish on 'em. We call 'em "Smurf's"

[Fishrite]

Here is a good one for you. I did the 1 cup of rock salt to 1 qt. of water also. My son, when he was 8 yrs. old put some "red hots" in my herring brine. It turned the herring pink. He was always trying something different. He tried them the next trip out, and darn if we didn't catch fish on them. Everyone kept asking what our "secret" was. :smile: :smile: :shrug: fishrite

[ampersat]

one thing i did different than the other guy in the boat was i used distilled water in my brine. my herring got bit.

all this fuss about fish having a great sense of smell and folks use tap water to brine their herring? BAH i say.

[Phishin Phool]

Shh, Don't tell anyone. I use three cups rock salt and a cap full of anise oil. Put into a small ice chest with tray of ice on top and put in freezer over night. Comes out nice and firm. have caught many a fish on this brine. :wink:

[Sometimeslucky]

Gentlemen, I would like to thank each of you for the welcome response. I can't wait to try out the advice I received. Who better to learn the trade from, than those who have seen it work!!!
Thank you very much.

[5-Cents]

OK here is my brine mix.

Distilled water, pickling salt, pure anise extract, sugar, powdered milk and blue food coloring.

Poor the salt into the water and shake. Keep adding salt until it wont dislove any more then put in a little more.

Add one to two caps of pure anise oil.

Add about 1/4 cup of sugar. I have had white and brown sugar work. Neither one seems better.

Add about 1.5 cups of powdered milk. This stuff really, really brightens the herring up big time!

Add a few drops of blue food coloring, or green if you like.

Cure the night before and keep in your cooler or the refridgerator. I like to use a large cracker jar with a screw on lid.

Good luck :cheers:

[Slugranch]

so uh, :rolleyes: how much water?, and are you using anise extract or oil?

[Sore Back]

I always use 2 quarts of tap water and 4 cups of rock salt per tray of large. Mix together, add herring and refrigerate the evening before your trip. Works great.

Good luck

[5-Cents]

Slugranch,

Water and salt depend on how much herring you are brining. I use a fairly large jar so I would guess I use about 5 cups of water but that will go up and down depending on how many herring I am working up. Key is to disolve the salt into the water until it wont disolve any more then add a little extra.

Shane

[pu-rvr-fishr]

I would suggest substituting the blue food coloring with Mrs. Stewarts Bluing http://www.mrsstewart.com. You can find it in any grocery store in the laundry department.

[jzell]

Yes you can mix yer own brine and there are some good formulas in the archives here.
But this year I tried Pro-Cures Brine-n-brite and their liguid blue dye.
Mix 1/2 their package in 1 quart of distilled water and teaspoon of dye. Gotta stir til well dissolved. I use a ZipLock storage container to mix and brine in. It may be a 2 quart size clear plastic container with clear blue lid. This container easily holds a dozen green label size baits. I thaw my baits enough to get off the tray without damaging scales (bout 1 to 2 hours at room temp). Then baits go into the brine. I have found the this brine liquid takes along time to freeze solid....which is good. Brining baits go back into the freezer for 12 to 24 hrs....so work a day or so ahead of when you use um. The night before I fish they move from the freezer to the refrig. Next morn they're pretty much ready to fish...may be a little frozen still but will thaw as you go.

This product has caught fish for me this year. I have found unused baits will refreeze once or maybe twice and stay firm and good. Some will say to throw out your baits after one use. But I have found this product will allow you at least two trips.

Maybe next year I'll play with some of the formulas found here but for now this works and is EZ.

Have fun