herring prep?

WP · 03-06-2003, 06:11 AM

What do the rest of you salts do to take care of the herring you jig, to keep them usable? Do you do anything before you use them? I have used brine to toughen them and used them fresh frozen. I don't use bait as much as most so have a learning curve problem! For salmon, is it possible to get jigged herring to work as well as commercial stuff?
Inquiring minds wanna know :smile:
WP

Popeye · 03-06-2003, 06:19 AM

WP....Everyone does it a little different, but I was shown by an oldtimer many years ago and have had great success on Halis with them.
I cover the bottom of the bucket with rock salt, about 2 inches, splash a little water in it, and throw em in. The oldtimer said, "Don't let them drown!" their mouths will stay open.

Oh, I forgot.....Then I put a dozen in a gallon ziploc w/a big handful of rock salt, squeeze the air out, and freeze

[ 03-06-2003, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: Popeye ]

SlabQuest · 03-06-2003, 06:21 AM

I have heard (read) to drop them into a bucket of ice & salt to kill them immediately after jigging. Then the old wax paper on cookie sheet in the freezer.

I may be jigging herring in Westport this weekend since my boat is laid up.

Threemuch · 03-06-2003, 06:33 AM

I salted and salted. Our herring went into 100 pounds of ice with 25 pounds of rock salt. Then I salted them dirrectly. They firmed up a little. Jigged herring will always be soft compared to "starved" herring in trays. Good bait for bottomfish and halibut, even soft, and they are OK for RSKs too, but too soft for cut plugging.

SlabQuest · 03-06-2003, 07:33 AM

I guess I'll have to use the ol "toothpick trick" and troll them whole.

Hook-up · 03-06-2003, 09:38 PM

Also handle them as little as possible. The flash comes from the scales and you tend to knock them off when you handle them to much. Also if you really want to get fancy, stop by the local meat market and ask for a hand full of the foam trays they put the meat on. Most places will give you some or charge a few cents for them. Lay your herring on them before freezing just like the store bought ones. This helps so they do not stick together (less loss of scales) and they lay flat (swim better).