Curing Herring

[GutZ]

I tried to cure some herring last night, but they all dyed. <font color="blue">Blue </font> in fact. I suppose there is nothing I can do with them now, so I suppose I will throw them in the River, One at a time. Impaled on a hand tyed 4/0 5/0 Gamakatsu leader. Probably around Sand Island! See you out there!

1 Quart Jar
1 Cup Salt
1 Tbsp Slamola
1 Tbsp Blue Food Color
Add 1/2 dozen herring a bit of ice and fill jar with water. I have found that you can keep bait for a week or two as long as it is kept cold all the time.


Good Luck!

(Threads looks good Jenny!)

[gottafish]

does it fish better than frozen?? just wondering Why you would take the Time?

[GutZ]

<font color="blue"> Blue </font> is better!
At $5.50 per dozen I like to make 'em last as long as possible. We may only use 3 or 4 per day. In the jar, with the salt they will good next weekend. They hold up very well on the hook when they are cured. Also gives the secret mix some time to sink into the little buggers.

I know some will even use distilled water.

Anyone else got any "secrets" to share?

[wootersen]

regular table salt ?, or rock salt ?

[GutZ]

I used Rock Salt.

[fishingcoug]

I have never tried this. Is it worth the effort. How does it help?

[steelheadslayer]

The only thing I might do different is add some powdered milk or coffee mate. It helps to firm them up. I do like the way you do it though. A little cleaner and easier to keep them for a few days.

[k9jeff]

I have made my own cure numerous times. I got a little lazy this year and purchaed some of the pre made bait brine at the store and added some bait blueing to it. It worked pretty good, nice a bright, scales held well and they were firm.
I also have a new formula for prawns I put together. The kitchen looked like a lab for a while. They should be deadly. :grin:

[h20dog]

Now add a couple drops of pure anise oil for scent (sold in pharmacies) and a shot of Mrs Stewart bluing agent to brighten em up (sold in the laundry section at Safeway)
I only use distilled water and add ice cube to keep it cold

[El-Kabong]

How much powdered milk would you add to the original recipie?

[OuhtforTrouht]

Have you guys ever thought of using sea salt to cure your herring worms? It doesn't have the chemicals in it that other salts have which could give the herring an off smell or flavor that the Nookers might not like. Just a suggestion!

[fishingcoug]

Does this work on only fresh herring or can I buy frozen, thaw them and then brine them?

[Mojo]

BorntoFish has become the mad scientist of bait curing. Most TEAM MOOSE DROOL trips I get as much entertainment out of his bait as I do out of the fish

[h20dog]

I use frozen, just carefully remove them from the tray all frozen together, trying to keep the scales intact. They will separate as they thaw with less damage to the scales. Just my .02 :grin:

[GutZ]

Another beauty part of using Quart Jars is you can experiment. Try the Anise in one and one without for instance.

[dlgobeavs]

Dave's herring brine recipe:

3/4 gallon water
1 cup rock salt
1/2 cup powdered milk
6 drops blue food coloring
6 drops green food coloring.

Take an empty gallon milk jug put in HOT tap water up to about 3/4 full. Add rock salt and shake until dissolved. Add powdered milk and food coloring... shake until dissolved. Add about a few ice cubes to cool down the mix prior to putting the herring into the gallon jug. Add herring and let sit over night. I usually move the herring into a throw-away tupperware container in the AM prior to fishing... with a bit of the juice in the container to keep them brined. The reason I like using the milk jug, is because it makes the mixing process much easier, and you don't have to get a big pot dirty in the process. These herring will shimmer in the sunlight... guaranteed.

Serve with a 5/0 or 6/0 hook and garnish with flasher. :tongue:

Dave

[crabbait]

I cure all the herring I use and always start with frozen. Allow to thaw just enough to release from the packaging. Don't force 'em or you will peel the scales off, then straight into the brine.

They last for several days and refreeze fine. They stay on the hook much better and are brighter. Don't forget to inject with scent like a good herring oil (buy the big bottle and don't be stingy with it).

Or, you could just buy any old herring, rip it out of the package on the boat cuz ya forgot to take it out of the freezer the night before, stick the store-bought dull moochin' rig hooks in it, toss it over the side and hope the sucker spins.

Ya probly won't be needin' the net.

[5 Salt]

This one works well - you can cut it half for smaller batches


Water:
2-1/2 gallons of non-chlorinated water. Leave tap water sitting out overnight and the chlorine will evaporate. Chlorine smell is said to cause salmon to turn away.

Brightness:
3 tablespoons Mrs. Stuart's liquid laundry blueing. Makes scales and skin brighter and more reflective.

Salt:
4 cups: canning salt, rock salt, or kosher salt.

Powdered Milk:
1 cup powdered milk. This makes your meat firm without burning herring.

Scents:
Garlic oil from a jar of minced garlic or one of the prepared garlic scents.
Also try adding 2 tablespoons of scent of "slamola" - your choice.

This recipe will cure 4 to 6 dozen herring overnight. This solution will keep the herring firm for weeks if refrigerated.

Inject any number of scents to change the scent trail.